Translated Henrik Lundqvist Aftonbladet Interview

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Lundqvist: The first week I thought - How will this go?

The star of her newborn daughter, the quest for the Stanley Cup - and lockout threat

NEW YORK. NHL's biggest, toughest and most målfarlig forward stars have been trying for years.

But it took a little princess to bring King Henry disconcerted.

Her name is Charlise, she arrived six weeks ago and has turned upside down daddy goalkeeper icon existence.

- After the first day I was exhausted and wondered "how is this going?" But you get used to it after all, tells a happy smile Henrik Lundqvist during a long interview with Sportbladet about his new life, the Vezina Trophy triumph and the chances that he plays in Frolunda if there is a lockout.

It's a great year he has behind him, Henrik Lundqvist.

He had to return to Sweden and Frölunda with his New York Rangers, he became a TV star in the HBO series "24/7", he played the Winter Classic match before 47,000 spectators in Philadelphia, he carried his Blåskjortor until the conference finals, and was honored Finally Vezina Trophy - the price every year to the NHL's best goalie.

- Yes, that is genuinely a special season. It has never been more fun to play hockey, says the now 30-year-old crowd favorite at Madison Square Garden when we meet in New York, where he first spent a whole summer.

And yet:

The great reward, he received a month later, when the dust had settled and all prices were distributed.

This gave little Charlise and "King Henry" became a father for the first time.

- It's cool and exciting, your life will be different. But while there has been much like I expected. You must redirect their everyday life a little bit. I have been very spontaneous before, but now you have to manage their time in a different way.

Has there been emotionally overwhelming?

- It will be stronger and stronger for me. As the guy has not really the same bond as the mother and the first month we have not so much exchange of visitation. She does not even look at you, you get a blank stare. As my in the locker room after the loss, he he. But now it is come and as soon as you get a smile, it's very funny. The more time I spend with her, the stronger it becomes.

How has it gone to sleep then?

- Well, there have not been so good, ha ha. She has been very kind, but there is still much that must be fixed and trixas with, so after the first few days I was exhausted and wondered "how is this going to go."

- I am accustomed to sleep ten hours, that's what I need to not wake up grumpy. But it's a process, you get used to and we will find a solution even during the season.

You hear other players who become parents say that they suddenly have a different focus, such as forgetting losses quickly when they come home and meet her children. It sounds like a good thing for you ...

- He he, yes. it will be fun to see how people are affected. Hopefully I will be a better person and teach me prioritize the right things even more. Whether you like it or not I just had to drop things when you come home. Before, you could put himself in the first place all the time, now it is she who is the main priority.

The other nice price you got this summer, Vezina ... it meant too much?

- Yes, it did. To receive that price has long been a goal and a dream. It is a vote, and all might not think I deserved it, but enough people did it anyway.

And now all that remains is to win the Stanley Cup then?

- Yes, to get the win becomes more and more important. In the beginning when you come over here thinks most of yourself, you are so busy to even take a seat. I still focus on my own game, but I look at the same time broader and really want to win.

You seem to find yourself in a good location too.

- Yes, we are on the right track. We had a good season last year, has done the right things in the summer and are a better team now.

You have mainly acquired Rick Nash. Have you met him yet?

- Yes, it seems like a really good guy and he's excited to be here. He has been a top player on a team like Columbus and now he can get to a place like this team, on a much larger market.

Now it's just the question if there is any play at all. Lockout threatens.

- Yes, it's unfortunately so.

You have personally been involved in a couple of those meetings here in New York. How did it happen?

- Everyone is involved, we want to be updated and know what is happening. We have our views and find it difficult to understand how the owners look at things. Their first bid was immediately embarrassed. The league is going well, revenue has increased tremendously over the past seven years. Yet they want us to go back to 2004 levels. I can not get it together.

That kind of detail you feel the standards if it gets into the question, but how do you explain to a public that may not be familiar with and just see that there are people who are very good as quarrel?

- It is very difficult, it is a sensitive issue. I understand that people can question whether we really deserve all this money, but this is more about right and wrong and it never feels good to be utilized. And those who say that we have a lot of money to get involved with our hobby do not really understand what we are going through.

If it gets lockout then, you come home to Frölunda then?

- I told my brother to keep me updated on what is happening at home, but they have not quite decided what to do, and it must feel good for them too. You do not want to got there and ask something organizationally and then dragging. But if there is gambling in Sweden is definitely just Frölunda apply.


Thank you to reader Johan for sending me this article!

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