Henrik Lundqvist chirped by former Rangers teammate in playful TNT moment
Ryan Strome was teed up perfectly to take a playful jab at Henrik Lundqvist on national television Wednesday night, and the quick-witted former New York Rangers center didn’t miss this open-net opportunity.
Currently a member of the Anaheim Ducks, Strome was being interviewed during warmups prior to their game against the Utah Hockey Club, which was being broadcast on TNT. Working as a TNT studio host was Strome’s former Rangers teammate, the always dapper Lundqvist, who opened things up with a friendly tone of familiarity.
“‘Stromer,’ Hank here. Hope you’re doing good buddy.”
A couple questions and answers followed before another former Rangers player in the studio, Anson Carter, decided to stir things up a bit.
“Hank was just talking about being honest. So, I’m going to be honest now. What was it like having Hank as your teammate?,” Carter asked as laughs could be heard in the background.
Strome’s known more as a playmaker, a set-up guy, throughout his NHL career. But this time, he was happy to be the one set up. And he made sure to finish, with Carter picking up the assist.
“Unreal. It was unreal” Strome began with a smirk. “I’ve got a few good stories. One time, he came to the practice rink and he was in a three-piece suit and I’m wearing track pants. I’m like, ‘Hank, what’s going on here?’ And he had an appearance for like half my salary after practice!”
With one quick anecdote, Strome was able to playfully jab Lundqvist, who was always the best-dressed and highest-paid player with the Rangers.
After the laughs died down in the studio, Strome dished a pretty sweet compliment the Hall of Famer’s way.
“I love his competitiveness. Hank’s the best. We had a couple tough years there and his competitiveness rubbed off on everybody, and left a lasting impact on a lot of guys. You don’t get to play with legends very often. And Hank, it was a great time.”
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Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Strome were Rangers teammates for ‘couple tough years’
Strome and Lundqvist were Rangers teammates for two seasons, and the 31-year-old is right, those were a “couple tough years.” The Rangers had 78 points and failed to make the playoffs in 2018-19, the same season Strome was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Things did look up some in 2019-20, though the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing bubble play-in tournament knocked things off the rails.
That ended up to be Lundqvist’s final season in the NHL. Strome played two more seasons with the Rangers and helped them reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2022, the same season he scored an NHL career-high 21 goals.
Strome signed with the Ducks and recorded 41 points each of the past two seasons. He has 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) this season.
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