NHL's Top 50: Henrik Lundqvist (No. 10)

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 10 is New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

There were 21 goalies selected in the 2000 NHL draft before the New York Rangers picked Henrik Lundqvist with the No. 205 pick. None of them, including Rick Dipietro, the No. 1 pick that year, have had more success than the now-27-year-old Swedish product, as he's blossomed into one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL.

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

Earlier this season he became the first goalie to ever record four consecutive 30-win seasons to start his career, and while that record may be somewhat misleading due to the fact he plays in an NHL without tie games, it's still an impressive feat.

The Rangers' 2008-2009 season came to a rather disappointing end in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, as they watched a 3-1 series lead slip through their fingers against the Washington Capitals, Lundqvist was probably the only reason they had a chance to play in the postseason. New York was the only playoff team this season to have a negative goal-differential (minus-eight), while only four teams scored fewer goals during the regular season (Phoenix, Los Angeles, the Islanders and Colorado).

Lundqvist has been a workhorse for the blue shirts the past three years, playing over 70 games each season, finishing in the top six for games played among goalies each year. He's never had a save percentage lower than .912, and his career mark of .917 is second among active goaltenders, trailing only Vancouver's Roberto Luongo. What makes all of that even more impressive is that he faces some of the most challenging shots in the NHL. According to the expected save percentage (via Behind the Net), Lundqvist has faced the hardest shots in the NHL over the past two seasons, and has still managed to help carry the Rangers, sometimes single-handedly, into the postseason.

He's yet to win any individual awards in the NHL, though he has been a finalist for the Vezina Trophy three times, and, oddly enough, the first year he wasn't a finalist (this past season) was the year he was selected for his first All-Star game. On the international stage, he was the starting netminder for Team Sweden during the 2006 Olympics when it claimed the Gold Medal, and he's also won the Golden Puck and Golden Helmet awards in the Swedish Elite League.

Finally, your obligatory YouTube video...

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-08-2009 @ 11:06AM

Master said...

I don't know if i'd start the top ten with lundqvist or put him right ahead of brodeur. Martin might have past his peak but lundqvist hasn't reached his yet. That being said I think he hasn't been given the chance to prove himself in playoffs as much. We still haven't seen him in a conference or stanley cup final, so I'll reserve judgement until then (if the rangers ever get there).

8-14-2009 @ 12:13AM

stevedwolf said...

What about Tim Thomas? He has been the best goalie over the last two seasons. Please do not tell me that the Bruins play a defensive style. The Bruins scored the second most goals in the NHL last year. My vote is for Thomas.

9-15-2009 @ 12:34AM

Shit face said...

he hasnt played in the stanley cup finals but hes proved himself in the olympics!!!

8-08-2009 @ 11:28AM

cirenehoc said...

Long live the KING!!!

8-08-2009 @ 1:17PM

fouritiswritten said...

lundquist could be the only reason the rangers made it into the playoffs

8-08-2009 @ 11:51AM

claytor said...

If Henrik is ranked this high, certainly Luongo is top five. Prolly wouldnt have started off his career on 30 win streaks if not for the removal of the tie, great goalie nonetheless.

8-08-2009 @ 12:16PM

NJD4ever said...

Lunqvist ahead of Brodeur LOL.
Sure this guy can play, but he never proved anything.
"he became the first goalie to ever record four consecutive 30-win seasons to start his career"
what is this crappy stat???, Brodeur win 40+ game every season when he is not injured.
But nothing surprising for somebody who thinks Chris Pronger is the 17th best player in the league LOL again.
This top 50 is a joke like everything else on AOL.

8-08-2009 @ 2:47PM

efilecin said...

The only reason to not make Marty the number 1 goalie is to get people to pay attention to this stupid list. this guy might as well make his mother the number 5 overall player in the NHL . Lunqvist at 27 has 0 stanley cups how many shutouts? How many playoff wins? my 7 year ols daughter could put together a better list. This must have been put together by a yankee fan

8-08-2009 @ 3:12PM

Colonial said...

I'm amazed at the outrage.

Both Marty and Henrik have played at very close to the same level the past few seasons. When you take into account that Broduer is clearly on the downside of his career while Lundquist is just beginning to hit his prime, its not a surprise to see Henrik ranked slightly higher. By the criteria for the list: which player would you rather have for the upcoming season, I'd take the Lundquist over Broduer too.

8-08-2009 @ 3:16PM

hello said...

you guys are on crack
Lundqvist is a better goalie than Broduer?
the man hasn't won anything yet
what are smoking over there?

8-08-2009 @ 3:26PM

dave0242 said...

This save on Savard was better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyBB5mdpyI8

8-09-2009 @ 12:46AM

blindskateluke said...

Nah, I'll take the save on Carcillo.

8-08-2009 @ 3:41PM

The vitriol for Henrik is amazing. Look, i like Marty as much as the next guy, but lets face it, hes coming off an injury shortened season, is 37, and after those two nifty shutouts when he came back? played pretty ordinary the rest of the way.

The Canes virtually clowned him in the playoffs, and people will go oh, that was the lax defense of the Devils fault, but thats pretty much taking away from him as well, by implying he needs an all world defense in front of him to be superb. Henrik had garbage on defense as well, and played on his head most of the way.

At this point, id take Henrik, Ryan Miller or Luongo over Marty, seeing as how all three seem to put up marvelous numbers despite the lack of defensive depth around them. Luongo and Miller better make this list, or ill be pissed.

8-08-2009 @ 3:43PM

eichoro said...

For all you TOOLS that claim Lundqvist hasn't won anything:

HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! THE GUY LED TEAM SWEDEN TO AN UNLIKELY GOLD MEDAL DURING HIS ROOKIE SEASON IN THE NHL.

Not to mention, the Rangers haven't failed to make the playoffs since the guy has showed up between the pipes for them. Lundqvist has already lead some bad Ranger teams (with NOTHING on offense and little hope of making the playoffs) into the playoffs with some incredibly clutch late-season runs. When they do get into the playoffs, the Rangers simply show themselves to be what they are: a mediocre team with a really, really good goaltender. Being a Ranger/hockey fan my whole life, I've watched this guy play very closely and I can say this with absolute confidence: there may not be a better goalie in the NHL. You can argue that Luongo is better, but Lundqvist is undoubtedly very close, if not better.

Lundqvist is young and has yet to reach his peak. There is NO WAY IN HELL YOU RANK AN AGING BRODUER ABOVE HIM. When the Rangers finally do put together a good team in front of him, and they are a team with a multitude of rising young stars, he will do what he's always done and keep the puck out of the net.

8-08-2009 @ 4:05PM

wackenpuss said...

Brodeur will go down as one of the best who ever played but what he was capable of in the past isn't what he can do today. Lunqvist 2009 couldn't out play Brodeur 2001 but Lunqvist 2009 has the edge over Brodeur 2009.

Brodeur is still among the leagues top goalies but if I was picking one to build my team around, I would have to go with a younger guy. Luongo would provably be my first choice.

8-08-2009 @ 4:52PM

I'm not sure about this one. Every time I see Henrik play, he's either an absolute brick wall aor he's giving up five goals in one period and getting pulled. I think it's fair to say that the Rangers would not have gotten to the playoffs without Henrik and there's no way they stretch the Capitals to seven games without him -- he was the only reason the Rangers even won playoff games vs. the Caps. Henrik can be awfully good, although I'm not sure if he's the consistent lockdown goalie to warrant the No. 10 ranking -- he did wilt in two playoff games vs. the Caps (got pulled).

As good as Henrik can be, I'm sure the Rangers would take a cheaper option to free up payroll to go after more upgrades on offense.

8-24-2009 @ 9:03PM

kerleyfries2 said...

cmon, lundqvist is the reason the rangers make the playoffs since hes been here...and for you stat looker upers, jagr did play great when he was here, but the fact is late in the season (march mostly)..henrik turns into a god

8-26-2009 @ 10:00PM

RSPILL68 said...

Henrik is without doubt the best goalie in the NHL at the moment. he hasnt even reached his peak yet and hes led not that great teams into the playoffs every single year. in 05 06 they had Jagr, but thats it. Marty is a good goalie and I respect him but i think Henrik in his prime will be better the Marty in he prime