Henrik Lundqvist: "Rangers wanted to move on - but I was not done"

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The dream was to end his NHL career where it all began - in the New York Rangers. Instead, Henrik Lundqvist was forced out and now the 38-year-old tells SVT Sport exclusively about the process. - When Rangers said they wanted to move on, I felt "but I want to play more", I want to win, he says. Barely two weeks ago, the Swedish goalkeeper star was bought out of his contract with the club he represented for 15 seasons, the New York Rangers. 

 Now the moving load goes to division rival Washington Capitals where he will compete for the first spade with Russian 23-year-old Ilya Samsonov. - They have a young goalkeeper in Samsonov who was very good in his first season. Part of my role will be to support and help him, but it really does not matter if he is old or young, as goalkeepers you have to work with each other. But I go there because I want to play and I want to win.

 That is the goal, says Lundqvist in an exclusive interview with SVT Sports Marie Lehmann. - I am incredibly grateful for everything they have given me in 15 years in New York, but I like hockey and felt that I was not done.

 When they said they wanted to move on, I felt "but I want to play more". I want to fight, I want to try to win. 

Then you have to try to see yourself in another team's jersey, he continues. 

 

Lundqvist - often called "King Henrik" in New York - has for many years been clear that he wanted to end his career in Rangers where he became an audience favorite and club icon. That will not be the case. When asked how he managed to let go of that dream and move on, he answers: - It took a few months this spring, I can say. It was incredibly tough, I will not stick it under a chair. It was a period where I got to work on my thoughts. It is reminiscent of losing a family member or close friend, it becomes a mourning job. That was actually it for me, a mourning job, says Lundqvist and continues: - There are different steps you go through but in the end I ended up in a phase of gratitude and just felt "thank you for everything". Then I could also relax and look ahead. But it took time.

 https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/henrik-lundqvist-4