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Henrik Lundqvist (born March 2, 1982, in Åre, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has twice been nominated for the Vezina Trophy, most recently finishing tied for third in the voting. His dominating play during his rookie season resulted in the New York media and Rangers fans giving him the nickname "King Henrik". During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, he led the Sweden national men's ice hockey team to their second Olympic gold medal.

Before joining the Rangers, Lundqvist played for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elitserien. During his years in Sweden, he developed into the league's finest goaltender, winning the Honken Trophy three consecutive seasons; 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005 he also won two of the most prestigious awards in Swedish ice hockey, the Golden Puck and the Golden Helmet.

Lundqvist is considered a butterfly style goalie, though unorthodox due to the aggressive way he performs the butterfly. He is best known for his sensational quickness, athleticism, and strong positional play. His puck handling is considered to be his biggest weakness.

Early life
Henrik and twin brother Joel were born to Eva Johansson and Peter Lundqvist. They grow up in Åre, Jämtland, an area where alpine skiing is the most popular winter activity, but Henrik and Joel chose to play ice hockey over the more popular winter sports. During the winters their kindergarten teachers used the kindergarten's 9x3 meter sandpit to freeze an outdoor ice rink where the twins would frequently skate. ''Their interest in hockey grew even larger when their father Peter took the twins to see Frölunda play in Scandinavium. Peter worked for a company who sponsored Frölunda, and Henrik and Joel saw many games in Gothenburg and Frölunda became their favourite team.'' In 1990 Henrik and Joel joined Järpens IF and started playing organized hockey for the first time. During one practice when the coach asked if anyone wanted to be a goaltender Joel grabbed and raised Henrik's arm and said that his brother would like to. In 1993 the family moved to Båstad, Scania, in souther Sweden to support Gabriella's tennis career, and Henrik and Joel's hockey career. Henrik and Joel joined Rögle BK, and were both selected for Scania's team in Sverigepucken in 1995. Henrik was selected to play for Scania in TV-pucken in 1996, and in 1997 when Joel was also selected. During the 1997–98 season Henrik and Joel were extensively scouted by Västra Frölunda HC, and after having played for Rögle in the 1998 Scandinavium Cup in Gothenburg, Frölunda's junior team manager and U16 coach Janne Karlsson contacted their father Peter who told Henrik and Joel, about Frölunda's interest in them, while driving home to Båstad.

Henrik and Joel decided to move to Gothenburg to play for Frölunda.

Henrik graduated from Burgården's gymnasium with a academic scholarship.


 * 00 WJC debut, NHL Draft

Frölunda (2000–2005)
After having a successful pre-season Lundqvist made his Elitserien debut in the season premier on September 21, 2000, in a 2–4 loss against Brynäs IF. Lundqvist bounced back and recorded his first win in the following away game against IF Björklöven, stopping 18 shots and only allowing a goal while being short handed. In his third straight start Lundqvist allowed two early first period goals in a game against Timrå IK and was pulled in favor of veteran keeper Håkan Algotsson. Lundqvist would only get to dress for another ten games this season, and only got one start, in a shoot out loss against Djurgårdens IF. Lundqvist lost his roster spot to Canadian veteran keeper Pat Jablonski who joined the team in October. Tommy Boustedt, who was the coach of the team at the time, later said that;Malfeasance, I think in hindsight, that he didn't get to start in more games that season. He showed then that he was that good. He should have played more, no doubt about it. Lundqvist played nine games for IF Mölndal Hockey in the Swedish second tier, Allsvenskan, before joining Frölunda's junior team in the J20 SuperElit in December. His confident was shattered, he had played poorly in Allsvenskan, had a tough start in the J20 SuperElit and allowed six goals in a exhibition game against Canada. National junior team coaches Bo "Kulon" Lennartsson and Mikael Tisell were worried and decided to have a talk with Henrik, where they questioned his motivation. Henrik managed to stop the collapse and the turning point came at the turn of the year at the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Moscow, Russia. He led the Swedish national juniors team to a fourth place finish in the tournament. After an upset 3–2 win over Russia in the quarterfinals, Sweden lost 0–1 against Czech Republic in the semifinals, and in over time (1–2) against Canada in the bronze medal game. He spent the rest of the seasons in the J20 SuperElit where he played 18 games, and was the minutes played leader for all goalies in the league during the regular season. In the playoffs he led Frölunda to their, and his, second straight Anton Cup win (Swedish Junior Ice Hockey Championship), after a 6–3 win over AIK IF in the semifinal and a 5–2 win over Leksands IF in the final at the Stockholm Globe Arena.

Lundqvist's played his first game of the 2001-02 season on September 27, against Linköpings HC in the fifth round of Elitserien. Frölunda won the game 3–1 and Lundqvist stopped 23 shots. A few days later he got the chance to play again, this time against Malmö Redhawks, in a game that ended with 3–4 shoot out loss. However, Lundqvist quickly got revenge for the loss when he recorded his first shut out in Elitserien after having saved 30 shots, in a 5–0 win over Brynäs IF on October 13.


 * 02/03: Norrena battle, championship


 * 03/04: starter


 * 04/05: lockout, championship

Lundqvist began his professional hockey career at the age of 18 with Swedish Elitserien League team Frölunda HC (then known as Västra Frölunda). In 180 appearances with Frölunda he compiled a 1.96 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, leading them to four consecutive playoff appearances and winning two titles, in 2003 and 2005.

While playing in the Elitserien, Lundqvist was the starting goaltender for the Swedish national men's hockey team, earning a silver medal at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. In December 2004, The Hockey News rated him the sixth European prospect and the lone goaltender in their European top 10 list. Also in December, Lundqvist joined fellow Rangers prospect Al Montoya on McKeen's list of top goaltending prospects, where he was ranked seventh amongst that group.

During the 2005 season, he broke four Swedish national records: lowest goals against average (1.05), best save percentage (.962), longest time without allowing a goal (172 min 29 sec) and most shutouts in a season (6). He was also named Best Goaltender, Best Swedish Player and was selected as the league's MVP by fellow players.

New York (2005–present)
At the beginning of his rookie season in 2005-06, with starting goaltender Kevin Weekes injured, Lundqvist made his NHL debut on October 8, 2005, against the New Jersey Devils, stopping 24 of 27 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss. A few days later on October 12, 2005, Lundqvist posted his first career NHL win against the Devils. His first career shutout came on October 17, 2005 against the Florida Panthers, and with it Lundqvist became the first rookie goaltender to record a shutout for the Rangers since John Vanbiesbrouck on January 2, 1985. During the season Lundqvist also became the first Rangers rookie to post 20 wins in a season since Mike Richter recorded 21 in 1990-91. Finishing the season with 30 wins, Lundqvist broke the Rangers rookie goaltending record of 29 wins, previously held by Jim Henry (1941-42) and Johnny Bower (1953-54). Lundqvist was among the league leaders in several categories: fifth in goals against average (2.24), fourth in save percentage (.922), 11th in wins (30), and tied for 16th in shutouts with two. His regular season success did not continue in the playoffs, where he appeared in three playoff games, posted a 0–3 record, a 4.40 goals against average, and an .835 save percentage in a series loss to the Devils. He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's best goaltender, but he was not a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year, due to a high quality crop of first-year players. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, along with Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Brad Boyes, Dion Phaneuf, and Andrej Meszároš. He won the 2005-06 MetLife/Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, a New York Rangers team award.

On December 14, 2006, against the Dallas Stars, Henrik became the first NHL goaltender to face his twin brother. He and his brother are only the third set of twins to play each other in an NHL game. The game was won by Henrik and the Rangers. In the Rangers 7-0 win in game three of the 2007 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals over the Atlanta Thrashers, Lundqvist became the first Rangers goalie since Mike Richter in 1997 to post a playoff shutout. The win was also the Rangers first home playoff win since Richter's shutout. For the second consecutive year, Lundqvist was a finalist being considered for the Vezina Trophy. Because Lundqvist was tied with Miikka Kiprusoff for third place in balloting, there were four finalists for an NHL individual trophy for the first time in league history. During the off-season, Lundqvist re-signed to a one-year, $4.25 million (USD) contract with the Rangers.

On February 13, 2008, Lundqvist signed a six-year contract with the Rangers worth $41.25 million, averaging $6.875 million a season. This made him the highest paid goaltender in the NHL on average over the length of his contract. On February 24, 2008, Lundqvist became the first Rangers goaltender to record eight shutouts in a single season since Eddie Giacomin in 1970-71. On March 6, 2008, Lundqvist recorded his 30th win of the season, making him just the second goaltender in NHL history to reach this mark in each of his first three campaigns. Ron Hextall also accomplished the feat from 1986-89 with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Juniorkronorna
Lundqvist is the all time leader among goaltenders, and eleventh overall of all players, in games played for the Swedish national junior's ice hockey team.

At the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Moscow, Russia. He led the Swedish national junior's ice hockey team to a fourth place finish in the tournament. After an upset 3–2 win over the hosting nation Russia in the quarterfinals, Sweden lost 0–1 against Czech Republic in the semifinals, and lost in over time (1–2) against Canada in the bronze medal game.

2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

Tre Kronor
Lundqvist debuted for Tre Kronor on November 10, 2002, during the 2002 Karjala Tournament in Helsinki, Finland. Acctual debut Baltica Brewery Cup 2002 in december. Lundqvist was selected to the 2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships but was third string goaltender behind Tommy Salo and Mikael Tellqvist. The following year at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships Lundqvist was the starting goaltender and he was selected to the tournament all star team.

Lundqvist and Jörgen Jönsson were the only two Elitserien players selected to play for Sweden at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Lacking experience on the smaller ice surface Lundqvist was again third string behind Salo and Tellqvist. In the Euro Hockey Tour during the 2004–05 season, Lundqvist was named best goaltender in Karjala Tournament and Sweden Hockey Games by the directorate and also to the media all star team in both tournaments. Lundqvist played in all nine games during the 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.

Lundqvist's most memorable international performance came at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where he led the Sweden to the gold medal over their arch rival, Finland. With only 30 seconds left in the final, Lundqvist made a fantastic and almost impossible save and brought home the gold for Sweden. In six Olympic starts, Lundqvist went 5–1, allowing only 12 goals with a .907 save percentage.

Inline
Lundqvist led team Sweden with spectacular goaltending to their first ever medal in Inline hockey when they won Gold at the 2002 World Inline Hockey Championships.

Off the ice
In 2007 a video appeared on the website YouTube with a drunk man impersonating Henrik. Both the two major Swedish tabloids, Aftonbladet and Expressen wrote about the event, and Aftonbladet later released a statement from a man claiming to have been the impersonator in the YouTube clip.

In April 2006 he was named one of People's World's 100 Most Beautiful People.

In 2004 he was awarded Best Dressed in Sweden.

Played guitar in a rock band called Box Play.

Records

 * Elitserien record for GAA of season 2003 (1.45)
 * Elitserien record for SVS% of season 2003 (94.81)
 * Elitserien record for GAA of season 2005 (1.79)
 * Elitserien record for SVS% of season 2005 (93.55)


 * New York Rangers single season record for most wins by a rookie goaltender with 30 victories in the 2005-06 campaign.
 * New York Rangers record as the Second Goaltender all time to record back to back 30 win seasons with 30 in 2005-06 and 37 2006-07 seasons. The first being none other than Eddie Giacomin.

Transactions

 * June 25, 2000 — Drafted by the New York Ranger in the 10th round, 199th overall