NHL Free Agency 2020: Henrik Lundqvist Signs with Washington Capitals
After playing 887 regular season games with the New York Rangers Henrik Lundqvist has signed with the Washington Capitals, which will keep him in the Metropolitan Division.
Henrik Lundqvist's deal is done in Washington. https://t.co/I6ICEWnzJB
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 9, 2020
done now: one year, $1.5 M for Henrik Lundqvist with the Capitals, as @TSNBobMcKenzie predicted earlier today
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 9, 2020
Lundqvist will share the goal crease in Washington with emerging starter Ilya Samsonov. In 2019-20, Samsonov, 23, started 22 games for the Capitals as a rookie, posting a .913 save percentage and a 2.55 GAA. Braden Holtby, who is now an unrestricted free agent, started 47 games and finished the 2019-20 campaign — his 10th in Washington — with an .897 Sv% and 25 wins. The Lundqvist signing officially closes the door on Holtby’s return, but this is a change that has long been expected.
Washington is as close to an ideal landing spot as one could come imagine for Lundqvist. He will likely be the team’s 1B behind Samsonov but should still see plenty of starts. Even more importantly, the Capitals are an excellent team that are just a few years away from winning a Stanley Cup. Lundqvist was linked to the Capitals several days before free agency officially opened today.
