Blueshirts Lock Up Their ‘King’ for Six Years

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

Yesterday, the Rangers took a critical step towards securing their future, inking 25-year-old netminder Henrik Lundqvist to a six-year deal worth $41.25 million. Lundqvist has been the most critical component of the Rangers’ post-lockout turnaround, his presence between the pipes being the primary reason why the Blueshirts were able to reach the postseason in each of the last two seasons after a seven-year drought.

On an annual basis, Lundqvist will cost the Rangers $6.875 million against the cap — a thoroughly reasonable total given his importance to the club and, in particular, the importance of the position he plays. In the seasons following the lockout, NHL clubs have incomprehensibly handed out huge-dollar deals to forwards who play only 20–22 minutes per night. Perhaps the best way to look at Lundqvist’s contract is on a dollars-per-minute basis: He has proven himself to be durable enough to play 65–70 games per season.

Assuming he plays an average of 65 games a year through the life of the six-year deal, at an average of 60 minutes a game, he will play about 23,400 minutes for the Rangers, or about $1,763 a minute. Nice work, if you can get it. But when one compares Lundqvist against Buffalo Sabres winger Thomas Vanek, he looks like a spectacular bargain.

Last summer, Vanek was tendered a free agent offer worth $50 million over seven years by the Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres chose to match, and assuming he plays an average of 22 minutes per night (a high estimate) and suits up for 80 games per year, he will cost them $4,058 per minute — well more than twice what Lundqvist costs the Rangers.

Certainly, Vanek apologists will suggest that his ability to put the puck into the net for the Sabres is just as important as Lundqvist’s skill at keeping the puck out. But for numerous reasons, they would be dead wrong.

For one thing, Lundqvist’s presence between the pipes — particularly when he’s playing at his elite level — makes every Ranger better. Suddenly, the likes of Michal Rozsival and Marek Malik post results that would have previously been unimaginable. Suddenly, a Rangers team constructed around Jaromir Jagr — a formula that worked miserably for the Washington Capitals — was a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Lundqvist’s impact on that turnaround cannot be overstated. In contrast, Vanek’s productivity is inextricably tied to whatever center is — or isn’t — getting him the puck.

Meanwhile, back to the dollars-per-minute formula, it is without question a critical concern for every NHL team in this salary-capped era. Getting maximum value for every dollar spent is going to be the difference between success and failure.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, by investing so heavily in a trifecta of skilled forwards — Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, and Martin St. Louis — have hamstrung themselves. General manager Jay Feaster is incapable of upgrading his team’s defense or goaltending. A return to glory for the 2004 Cup champions is years away, no matter how well Hart Trophy candidate Lecavalier performs.

When goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin left in the summer of 2005 — after the Lightning chose to invest in the forwards — it was the death knell for their days of Cup contention. By failing to make the obvious move earlier this season to acquire netminder Ilya Bryzgalov before the Ducks waived him and the Coyotes claimed him, Feaster missed out on what was likely his only opportunity to save himself from the post-lockout era’s biggest fiscal gaffe. Bryzgalov has certainly been that important to the Coyotes — and the superior Lundqvist is on an entirely different stratosphere. Perhaps Vanek will play at an All-Star level for the majority of his contract. Perhaps his presence won’t prevent the Sabres’ general manager, Darcy Regier, from keeping his star goalie, Ryan Miller, in the fold. But as long as the Sabres are paying Vanek over $4,000 per minute, there is no way they can be expected to provide Miller with a Cup-caliber defense corps.

This is a key reason why the Sabres are likely on the verge of losing All-Star rearguard Brian Campbell, either via trade within the next two weeks, or via unrestricted free agency. You can bet that the Rangers will be amongst the most aggressive suitors for the talented Campbell’s services this summer (if not sooner).

For the Rangers, a better formula to follow is that of the Anaheim Ducks. First they locked up Jean-Sebastien Giguere to a long-term deal after he led them to the Cup finals in 2003. Then they signed Scott Niedermayer after the lockout and followed that up with by trading for Chris Pronger the following summer. The result was a Cup win last season, and this year’s Ducks have a good chance to successfully defend their championship.

With Lundqvist locked up, the Rangers can next focus their attention on a free agent such as Campbell — but they must also remember to save money for Marc Staal. The rookie rearguard has demonstrated uncommon maturity on the Rangers’ blue line this year and has been the team’s best back-liner on many occasions already. With Lundqvist providing the foundation, the Rangers are the anti-Lightning: a burst of sunshine with the potential to captivate New York’s finicky sports fans and help hockey reclaim its rightful place as one of the four major sports.

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.


The New York Sun

© 2024 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use