Henrik Lundqvist just the third goalie to play his first 700 games with one NHL team
The King is so special to the Rangers.
Henrik Lundqvist has now played 700 NHL games.
That’s special for a lot of reasons, as the Elias Sports Bureau details.
It’s special because he’s only the 25th goalie to ever play that many games. Lundqvist has now tied Tomas Vokoun, who hasn’t played in the NHL in four years; he’s still “only” 34, so you figure he has quite a few seasons left in him, too.
Save percentages aren’t available for every goalie who has played 700+ games, but for those who are - Lundqvist is second on the list at .921, just one percentage point back of Dominik Hasek. These have been a very good 700 games.
It’s special because Lundqvist is only the fifth goaltender born in Europe to achieve this feat. There was also the aforementioned Vokoun, as well as Olaf Kolzig (719), Hasek (735), and Nikolai Khabibulin (799). He’ll almost certainly pass Kolzig and maybe even Hasek this season; he’ll probably pass Khabibulin soon enough, too.
It’s special because goalies simply do not spend this many games with just one team. They just... don’t. Kolzig and Martin Brodeur are the only other ones to have ever done so.
Lundqvist is one of the most prominent goalies in the NHL today - and it has all been with the Rangers. That’s special.
