Long Live The King
~ When InGoal Magazine began reflecting on the career of Henrik Lundqvist after he announced his retirement Friday following heart surgery that kept him out of the NHL last season, it was hard to know where to start but clear it would take more than one story. We began where his playing partners all suggested, by celebrating Lundqvist’s ferocious work ethic and dedication to his craft, a great lesson for all goalies that the ones who make it look easy rarely take it easy in practice. In Part 2, we look at Lundqvist’s role in his native Sweden, where he inspired the next generation of goaltenders
It’s not hard to find the impact that Henrik Lundqvist had on Swedish goaltending.
Just ask the goalies who have followed him to the NHL.
“He’s inspired a whole generation in Sweden,” said Eddie Lack, who played 143 NHL games over six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils, and with Lundqvist at the 2017 World Championships. “For me and for most Swedish goalies it was huge having someone that came from Sweden and become a superstar right away. He broke a lot of ground for the rest of us. He showed a lot of people what Swedish goalies can be and I think that he inspired so many young athletes to start playing goalie.”
Still ahead in this article:
The exact count of Swedish goalies who reached the NHL before Lundqvist versus after his 2005-06 debut is in the next paragraph — and the gap between those two numbers is the whole argument.
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Join thousands of goalies, parents, and coaches who train smarter with InGoal.
15+ years of goaltending film & coaching
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