lundqvist Henrik Lundqvist won’t be hitting the open market this summer. The New York Rangers have locked up the franchise goaltender to a seven year, $59.5 million extension. The deal will be the highest cap hit for a goaltender in NHL history.
While the Rangers probably went a year or two longer than they wanted, the Rangers had no choice but to make this deal with the 31 year old netminder. With the cap expected to be in the $90-$100 million range in the next five to six years, this is not a bad contract, assuming the Rangers are getting another four to five great years out of Lundqvist.
Lundqvist is having a down season, but has a career 2.26 GAA and .920 save percentage. That’s Elite. In the post-season, he’s 30-37 but his win-loss record is more of a product of the team around him. Lundqvist has a career 2.28 GAA and .920 save percentage in 67 post-season games.
Marc Andre Fleury by comparison has a career 2.73 GAA and .903 save percentage in the playoffs but is 45-34 in 80 post-season games and has a Stanley Cup ring. Unlike Lundqvist, Fleury has often had a great team around him.
The burning question now for the Rangers is whether they will be able to build a true Cup contender around Lundqvist during his prime years of this contract. The Rangers have been a middle of the road playoff team for several seasons now as they are a mis-managed team.