It wasn’t Game 7, so the Rangers did have some wiggle room. But the pressure was on them to finish off the Canadiens after taking 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the series.

The Rangers already missed an opportunity to eliminate the Canadiens, losing a sloppy Game 5 at Bell Centre 7-4. Then in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, unheralded Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski matched Lundqvist save for save for nearly two full periods.

So, you don’t think the Garden Faithful was on edge with the looming possibility of the Rangers heading back to Montreal for a decisive Game 7?

“The tension in the arena was through the roof. Everyone’s on their feet, scoreless game, a game away from the Finals, first time in 20 years. The tension in the building was just palpable,” Moore recalled in a recent conversation with Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast.

If you were inside The Garden as Game 6 moved along on the night of May 29, 2014, you knew that there was a real good chance the first goal might just decide the outcome. So, when Moore buried a Brian Boyle feed at 18:07 of the second period, following an outstanding shift below the dots by New York’s fourth line, it felt like famed spoked ceiling could be blown into outer space.

Yes, the roar was that loud.

“So, to get that goal, when it went in, that tension was just unleashed, and as the goal scorer, it just went right through me,” Moore explained. “I remember turning around and just having this view of the whole side of the arena just going bananas, and I just felt like one with the whole building. Truly unique, special experience.”

Dominic Moore was proud to ‘protect the house’ for Rangers in Game 6 of 2014 ECF

As Moore pointed out, that goal was huge, but “There was still a lot of hockey left in the game.”

In fact, before the second period ended, Brad Richards took a hooking minor at 19:47. Moore played a big part in killing off that penalty. And when the game neared its conclusion, Moore was out there protecting the one-goal lead, something he takes great pride in even to this day.

“I think the other most memorable part of that game was knowing it was my job to close things out, win face-offs at the end of the game, protect the house,” he shared. “What an honor to be able to do that. And to have the seconds tick down and then rush back to Henrik to celebrate, that was a special night.”

You know the rest of the story. The Rangers lost to Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final that spring. Though the series was over in five games, the Rangers lost twice in double overtime and once in the first OT.

But that doesn’t take anything away from the memorable run the Rangers pieced together, nor the Game 6 heroics of Moore that lifted them back into the Cup Final.

“We are looking forward to the celebration of the Rangers Centennial season – one that will be truly unforgettable for our fans and honors the Rangers’ storied history,” MSG Sports executive chairman and CEO James Dolan said. “This is a special opportunity to recognize the great moments, players, and so much more that has brought us all together for a century of Rangers hockey.”

Something’s in the air… pic.twitter.com/Sxy4YA6lZE

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 15, 2025

Hall of Fame broadcaster Sam Rosen, who retired after last season after a 40-year run as the TV voice of the Rangers, will return to the Garden and serve as Master of Ceremonies for the on-ice portion of select theme nights.

Full list of Centennial Nights. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/daK6JnllPP

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 15, 2025

Let’s take a look at the eight special theme nights to be held at MSG this season.

Related: Why former Rangers coach told Henrik Lundqvist ‘You’re not the f***ing King!’

Birth of a Franchise: Oct. 20 vs. Minnesota Wild

The Rangers were actually an offshoot of the long-departed New York Americans. The Amerks drew so well that Tex Rickard, who ran the Garden, decided MSG should have its own team. Thus were the Rangers born – they entered the NHL along with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars (now the Red Wings) in the fall of 1926. The fledgling Rangers finished first in their division in 1926-27 and won the Stanley Cup the following season.

With Hall of Famers like Frank Boucher and Bill Cook leading the way, the Rangers were among the League’s most successful teams during their first 15 seasons in the NHL. They won the Cup again in 1933 and took it home for a third time in 1940, when another Hall of Famer, Bryan Hextall, scored the overtime winner in Game 6 of the Final in Toronto.

The Rangers of that era were known as “The Classiest Team in Hockey” – a night at the Garden was an event, with numerous celebrities often in attendance and many fans “dressing to the nines.” This night honors those early teams and their contribution toward building the franchise.

Milestones and Memories: Nov. 8 vs. New York Islanders

Vic Hadfield becoming the first Ranger to score 50 goals in a season. Ed Giacomin and Gilles Villemure sharing the Vezina Trophy. Triple-overtime goals by Pete Stemkowski and Marian Gaborik. And, of course, Mark Messier’s Cup-winning goal in Game 7 of the 1994 Final against the Vancouver Canucks that gave the Rangers their first championship in 54 years.

All these and more will be celebrated when the archrival Islanders make their first visit of the season to the Garden in early November. Don’t be surprised if there’s a mention of the first round of the 1994 playoffs, when the Rangers handed the Isles one of the worst beatings in postseason history, a four-game sweep that saw them outscore their biggest rival 22-3.

Original Six Era (1942-67): Nov. 16 vs. Detroit Red Wings

The Americans went out of business after the 1941-42 season, leaving the NHL with just six teams – none west of Chicago – for the next 25 years. The Rangers roster was decimated by World War II and they didn’t really recover until the mid-1950s, when a new wave of talent led by Hockey Hall of Famers Andy Bathgate and Gump Worsley arrived on the scene.

It’s appropriate that Detroit is the opponent on this night: Bathgate scored one of the most famous goals in Rangers history – a penalty-shot tally against the Red Wings on March 14, 1962, that was the key to getting the Rangers back into the playoffs. One of the most painful memories of that era also came against the Red Wings; Pete Babando’s double-overtime goal in Game 7 of the 1950 Final denied the Rangers another championship.

The New Garden (1967-91): Dec. 13 vs. Montreal Canadiens

The current Madison Square Garden opened midway through the 1967-68 season (the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 in their first game). The opening of the new Garden, with its five levels of colored seats (red, orange, yellow, green and blue), coincided with the rebirth of the Rangers under coach-GM Emile Francis, who got the Blueshirts to the Stanley Cup Final in 1972 (Rangers fans had to watch the Bruins skate around with the Cup after winning Game 6 at MSG).

The first two-plus decades of the “new” Garden also saw the Rangers reach the Final in 1979 (they lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens after upsetting the Islanders in the Semifinals), the Herb Brooks era, a surprise trip to the Semifinals in 1986 behind Vezina Trophy winner John Vanbiesbrouck, and a first-place finish (in the Patrick Division) in 1989-90 – their first since 1941-42.

Fan Favorites: Jan. 8 vs. Buffalo Sabres

Current Rangers forward Matt Rempe is proof that the most popular Rangers aren’t always the stars. Staten Island native Nick Fotiu was the Rempe of his era – he was beloved by Garden fans for his willingness to stand up for his teammates and hit opponents – and score the occasional goal. He was also renowned for tossing pucks into the stands at the end of warmups.

There also figure to be plenty of “Eddie” cheers for Giacomin, arguably the most popular Rangers goaltender of all time, who died Monday at age 86. Players like Stemkowski, John Davidson, Adam Graves and numerous others whose names still bring back fond memories for Blueshirts faithful can also expect a warm welcome.

Legendary Blueshirts: Jan. 26 vs. Boston Bruins

Want to get an idea of who will be here on this night? Start with Messier, whose No. 11 hangs in the rafters at MSG. Add Graves, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, Hadfield, Jean Ratelle and Henrik Lundqvist. Then there are those who are no longer with us — Giacomin, Howell, Bathgate and arguably the greatest Blueshirt of them all, Rod Gilbert, who passed away in August 2022.

Hopefully early-era players such as Cook and Boucher are also remembered for their accomplishments despite not having their numbers retired.

Goaltenders: Feb. 5 vs. Carolina Hurricanes

The Rangers have been blessed with elite goaltending for most of their time in the NHL. Dave Kerr not only carried them to the 1940 Cup, he was the second hockey player ever featured on the cover of Time magazine (in March 1938).

Chuck Rayner got the Rangers within one goal of winning the Stanley Cup in 1950, Worsley excelled for the Rangers in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and Giacomin (by himself and then in a tandem with Villemure) was a key to the team’s revival under Francis.

Richter was the first Rangers goaltender to win 300 games and the last to win the Cup. Lundqvist is sixth in NHL history with 459 wins and owns the team record with 64 shutouts. He was succeeded by Igor Shesterkin, who has continued the Rangers tradition of elite goaltending.

The Modern Era (2004-Present): March 5 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Rangers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since play resumed after the 2004-05 lockout, but they’ve been among the more successful teams in the past two decades.

Their accomplishments include a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, five trips to the Eastern Conference Final (2012-14-15, 2022 and 2024), and winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024.

There have been plenty of individual accomplishments as well.

Jaromir Jagr set franchise single-season records for goals (54) and points (123) in 2005-06. Artemi Panarin reached the 120-point mark in 2023-24, Adam Fox won the Norris Trophy as the League’s top defenseman in 2021 and Chris Kreider became the fourth player in team history to score 50 goals in a season when he had 52 in 2021-22. Then there’s the achievements of Lundqvist and Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender 10 years apart.

Dubbed “The King” early in his career, Lundqvist was the undisputed No. 1 goalie and face of the Rangers franchise for 15 seasons, beginning in 2005-06. He’s the winningest goalie in Rangers history, and sixth all-time in the NHL, with 459 victories. His six Game 7 victories in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are tied with fellow Hall-of-Famers Martin Brodeur and Patrick Yor for most in League history.

But like any athlete, Lundqvist had some rough patches during his career. He wasn’t perfect.

And Lundqvist revealed on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast that one difficult stretch prompted coach John Tortorella to shred the superstar goalie during a 1-on-1 meeting.

“I was playing good, but then had a few games when I was not very good. I was terrible, OK?,” Lundqvist told co-hosts Paul Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney and Keith Yandle. “And I get a text one day, ‘Hey Hank, Torts wants you in his office tomorrow morning at nine.’ So, I get there and we have this long conversation. ‘I don’t know what you’re doing. Where’s your focus at? I saw you at The Garden watching a show the other night and you’re not playing great,’ and this and that. And there was a list of things he didn’t like.

“He ends with, ‘People treat you like you’re The King around here. Guess what? You’re not The f***ing King!” Then there was a lot of yelling, not from my side, mostly from Torts.”

Woah!

Remember, Tortorella coached the Rangers from 2009-13 during the rise of Lundqvist’s powers, including his Vezina Trophy-winning season in 2011-12. So, that was a serious power play by Torts.

Though not thrilled with the coach’s outburst, there was one thing more than anything which upset Lundqvist. It was the notion that attending a concert on a night off hurt Lundqvist’s focus on doing his job properly.

“I didn’t say much because I knew I didn’t play great,” Lundqvist explained. “I just said, ‘You can never question my commitment to the game.’ I know that in my heart always.”

Related: Keith Yandle explains unspoken Henrik Lundqvist rule he broke after joining Rangers in 2015

Henrik Lundqvist appreciated ‘that energy and fire’ of former Rangers coach John Tortorella

What you need to know about Lundqvist is that — aside from the jab at his focus — he accepted what Tortorella said and didn’t hold a grudge. All in all, the two had a very good relationship.

In fact, Lundqvist told the Spittin’ Chiclets crew that Tortorella is the one coach who impacted him most of the four he played for in New York (also Tom Renney, Alain Vigneault, David Quinn).

“I resonated with him a lot, in terms of that energy and fire. That part I really enjoyed … that part of Torts is what really resonated with me. The fire,” Lundqvist explained. “I love going out into a game and feeling like we’re going to war. And if I had a coach that helped us as a group get there, even better.”

Tortorella certainly was that.

“That passion that he brought to every game, every practice, the speeches, I was fired up for every game.”

And when it came to confrontation with Tortorella — who seemed to thrive on such moments — Lundqvist pointed out one very important factor that helped make Torts such a successful coach.

“That’s the good thing about him, you clear the air and move on. It’s over.”

The Blueshirts made the playoffs 15 times from 2005-06 through 2024-25 after extending a seven-year non-playoff streak by coming up short from 2000-01 through 2003-04 (there was no hockey in 2004-05 because of the lockout). They got to the NHL final four in 2012, 2015, 2022 and 2024, and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, when they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games in their first trip to the championship round in 20 years.

Even without a Cup, the period from 2000-25 provided plenty of postseason thrills, including a series-clinching third-period hat trick, the longest overtime win in eight decades, the win that got the Rangers to the 2014 Final, and a memorable comeback and Game 7 win.

Here’s a look at five unforgettable playoff games from the first 25 years of this century.

May 16, 2024: Chris Kreider’s third-period heroics send Rangers to East Final

No Rangers player scored more goals this century (326) than Chris Kreider, whose time in New York came to an end on June 12 when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, aka “Rangers West.” Kreider’s most memorable game with the Rangers came 13 months earlier, in Game 6 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The 2023-24 Rangers set team records for wins (55) and points (114) on the way to the Presidents’ Trophy, swept the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs and won the first three games in the second round against the ’Canes.

But Carolina won the next two games to get the series back to Raleigh with a chance to pull even, and their momentum continued into Game 6. Carolina led 3-1 after two periods and was less than 20 minutes away from sending the series back to Madison Square Garden before Kreider had the period of a lifetime.

Chris Kreider stepped up and made history! @NYRangers | #NYR | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/5uOvOKxdy9

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) May 17, 2024

The big left wing cut the deficit to 3-2 by beating Frederik Andersen from behind the goal line at 6:43, then tied the game at 11:54 with a power-play goal. He completed his natural hat trick and put the Rangers ahead 4-3 by tipping Ryan Lindgren’s shot past Andersen at 15:41. Barclay Goodrow’s empty-netter capped the 5-3 win — and one of the great comebacks in Rangers history .

“He took over the game,” captain Jacob Trouba said. “He’s shown the ability to do that at times. … A lot of guys call him ‘The Horse,’ and that’s what he is.”

Kreider was the third Rangers player to score three goals in a series-clinching game — and the first since Mike Gartner in 1990. He joined Mark Messier in the famous “Guarantee Game” in 1994 and Wayne Gretzky in 1997 as the only Rangers to score three goals in one period of a playoff game

“We talk about being a resilient group and a competitive group,” he said afterward, “and I think we showed that tonight.”

May 2, 2012: Marian Gaborik scores 3OT goal against Capitals

Rangers fans of a certain age still remember Pete Stemkowski’s triple-overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1971 Semifinals against the Chicago Black Hawks (as they were known then). The goal at 1:29 of the third OT was the latest goal by the Rangers for more than 40 years, until Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Capitals in 2012.

Each team scored once in the second period before the goaltenders — Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers and Braden Holtby of the Capitals — took over. The third period was scoreless, as were the first and second overtimes.

The goalies continued their run of perfection until well past the midway point of the period when Marian Gaborik, who had scored 41 regular-season goals but none in the Rangers’ previous eight playoff games, put his name in the team record book.

Marian Gaborik scores the 3OT winner vs. WSH on this day in 2012! #NYR pic.twitter.com/9TXPWMM9zu

— Michael Silvers (@msilvers1979) May 2, 2024

The goal came practically out of nowhere. Dan Girardi controlled the puck along the right wall in the offensive zone and sent it to Brad Richards behind the net to Holtby’s right. Richards sent a quick pass in front of the net to Gaborik, whose quick shot ended the game at 14:41.

“I just tried to get open,” Gaborik said simply. “It was a beautiful pass. I just tried to get good wood on it.”

In the blink of an eye, the Rangers owned a 2-1 lead in the series, which they went on to win in seven games.

“It was about will,” Gaborik said. “We wanted to win this game, and it feels great to get the winner.”

May 29, 2004: Rangers reach Final for first time in 20 years

Rangers fans in the spring of 2014 were been champing at the bit to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, something that hadn’t happened since the Blueshirts won it all 20 years earlier.

But the 18,006 fans who packed Madison Square Garden for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens were confident that this was going to be the night the drought ended. They were right.

The Rangers came out flying. They dominated play in the first period, outshooting the Canadiens 11-5 — but couldn’t get a puck past Dustin Tokarski (Carey Price was out with an injury). The Canadiens nearly broke the scoreless tie early in the second, but Lundqvist made the save of the series when he got his blocker on a shot by Thomas Vanek.

FLASHBACK – A superhuman save and a fourth line goal propel the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years as they defeat Montreal 1-0 on this day in 2014. Where were you? #NYR pic.twitter.com/ba9jmUxfPw

— Michael Silvers (@msilvers1979) May 29, 2018

The Rangers finally got on the board from an unlikely source. Dominic Moore found a little room in front, took Brian Boyle’s passout from behind the net and beat Tokarski at 18:07 of the second.

There’s always the temptation to go into a shell in the third period when you’re protecting a lead, but the Rangers opted to stay aggressive — and it paid off. They outshot the Canadiens 13-5 — and as the waning moments of the third period approached, fans began to count down before erupting in celebration as the buzzer ended the 1-0 win. The Garden shook — and the Rangers were back in the Final.

“We played so well the entire game,” Lundqvist said. “For me it was more about just being focused on the shots they had.”

May 8, 2015: Ryan McDonagh’s OT goal saves Rangers season

The Rangers were on the verge of seeing one of the great seasons in their history go down the chute as time ticked down in the third period of Game 5 in the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Capitals.

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers were down 3-1 in the series and 1-0 late in Game 5 in front of a stunned crowd at the Garden.

The clock ticked under 2:00 remaining in regulation with the Rangers still trailing. Coach Alain Vigneault called for Lundqvist to come to the bench in favor of a sixth attacker — but before he could get there, the Rangers tied the score. Derek Stepan’s pass found Kreider, whose shot through traffic went past Holtby with 1:41 remaining to make it 1-1.

The Garden was rocking when the teams came back onto the ice for overtime. The Rangers outplayed the Caps before Stepan controlled the puck in the offensive zone as the midway point of the first OT neared. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh jumped off the bench — and Stepan found him racing toward the slot.

One perfect pass and a well-placed shot later, the Rangers were still alive. The Garden erupted as McDonagh’s shot beat Holtby and gave the Blueshirts a season-saving 2-1 win.

May 13, 2015: Derek Stepan steps up with Game 7 OT winner

Five days after setting up McDonagh’s season-saving overtime goal against Washington, Stepan got the chance to step into the hero’s spotlight on his own.

The Rangers forced Game 7 at the Garden by holding off the Capitals 4-3 at Verizon Center in Game 6. But while logic said the momentum was with the Rangers, the visitors didn’t seem impressed – they grabbed a 1-0 lead when Alex Ovechkin beat Lundqvist at 12:50 of the first period.

However, Capitals defenseman Mike Green took two penalties early in the second period, and the Rangers capitalized on the second one when Kevin Hayes scored at 6:22 to tie the game 1-1. Hayes became the first Rangers rookie to score in a Game 7 since Muzz Patrick in 1939. 

The Capitals, who had dominated the first period, had the upper hand late in the second but couldn’t get another puck past Lundqvist. Neither team scored in the third period, so the Rangers were off to overtime for the fourth time in the first two rounds.

Washington had the better of play for much of overtime, but Lundqvist was equal to the task and gave the Rangers a chance to win.

Stepan won an offensive-zone face-off, and Girardi took a shot that was stopped by Holtby. But he couldn’t control the rebound; the puck came into the slot and Stepan buried it — setting off one of the biggest celebrations in Garden history.

The Rangers won their NHL-record sixth consecutive Game 7 and became the first team to win a series in successive years after trailing 3-1, having done the same thing against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round in 2014.

“You have to believe in the group and how we play,” Lundqvist said, “and that someone in this room is going to be the hero.”

On this night, it was Stepan, the second-line center on our All-Quarter Century Rangers team.

Yandle was also one of the friendliest and funniest players in the League. He was known as much for his quips and big smile as he was for being a three-time participant in the NHL All-Star Game and his five 50+-point seasons.

But it’s his big personality that almost landed Yandle in hot water after the Rangers acquired him in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes late in the 2014-15 season. That’s because around the Rangers in those days, there was an unwritten rule that no one bothered uber-intense goalie Henrik Lundqvist before a game.

No one, that is, except for the newest Ranger.

“I remember one of my first times in that area where the guys would eat at MSG, like a little lounge area, and Hank would come in wearing a three-piece suit looking like a dime with his headphones on, and I was like, ‘Hey, what’s up Hank?!’ and give him a high-five,” Yandle recounted on a recent edition of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast he co-hosts with Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney. “And everyone is like ‘You do not talk to him on game day.” And I’m like, ‘Yeah, we do. We talk to him.'”

The story surely resonated with Lundqvist, the podcast guest sitting across the couch, when Yandle told the tale. Lundqvist laughed at the memory, though neither he nor Yandle shed any light on whether the defenseman approached The King like that again through their next season as teammates.

Henrik Lundqvist explains why he wore ‘Mickey Mouse’ gloves under his blocker and snag 🧤https://t.co/guivt7rp5X pic.twitter.com/e5C10uwHG8

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) July 31, 2025

However, Lundqvist did explain his game-day intensity.

“I had days I don’t think I spoke. I was quiet on game days,” he said. “I think I got better over the years, but I was so in my head just thinking about the game and just kind of dealing with the pressure.”

Lundqvist grew even more reflective.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself, and maybe sometimes a little too much. That made me, maybe, a little intense at times.”

Related: Rangers legend ‘never really had a chance to say goodbye’ until Chris Drury phone call changed everything

Henrik Lundqvist, Keith Yandle recall failed Cup run with Rangers in 2015

Lundqvist had a quip of his own when asked on the podcast what kind of teammate Yandle was.

“Great guy in the locker room. Maybe not the best shot blocker … but he wouldn’t screen me!” Lundqvist said, cracking up the co-hosts, including Yandle.

“But I was pretty intense, so it always great to have teammates that kind of made you smile every day. I loved that.”

Yandle helped the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15. He also had seven points (two goals, five assists) in the 2015 Eastern Conference Final, when the Rangers lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Overall, Yandle had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 19 postseason games that spring.

Lundqvist and Yandle discussed how decimated the Rangers’ lineup was when they dropped Game 7 against the Lightning at Madison Square Garden.

“I have to say, that I thought ’15 was going to be our year after losing the year before (in a five-game Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings). In 2015 we had a great team,” Lundqvist explained. “But then we came up short against Tampa in Game 7.”

Then Yandle piped up.

“[Dan] Girardi had a broken foot. I had a separated shoulder. [Kevin] Klein had just broken his arm,” Yandle recalled, forgetting to mention how captain Ryan McDonagh also played with a broken foot.

That led to the former teammates discussing the Rangers’ other major injury that spring. Forward Mats Zuccarello took a slap shot to the head in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins and didn’t play the rest of the playoffs because of a frightening injury.

“He couldn’t speak. He speaks like four languages and he couldn’t speak anything,” Yandle offered.

“He skated off the ice and he couldn’t say one word,” added Lundqvist. “It hit a part of the brain that controls your speech. … He came back about a week or so later and came to dinner and he was struggling speaking. Everyone was like, ‘Oh my God.'”

The 2015 run, which ended with a 2-0 loss at Madison Square Garden in Game 7, was pretty much the last go-round for that Rangers core, which had reached the conference final three times in four years. Yandle was traded to the Florida Panthers after the 2015-16 season — and shortly thereafter, the rebuild was on in New York.

Lundqvist had his contract bought out after the 2019-20 season and heart surgery soon followed, ending his career.

But as this interview pointed out, the good memories trumped the bad or bittersweet ones — and the special friendships still carry on.

“I never really had a chance to say goodbye, to get closure,” Lundqvist said this week on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.

So when Lundqvist officially announced his retirement on Aug. 20, 2021 while back home in Sweden, that feeling lingered. But just as he was finishing up a media session that day, his phone rang.

“I see it’s (Rangers general manager) Chris Drury,” Lundqvist recalled. “He says, ‘Congrats,’ and then, ‘Your jersey is going up this year.'”

Five months later, with his heart surgically repaired and his NHL career in the rearview mirror, Lundqvist stood on the Garden ice one last time as he and the Rangers Faithful each were given a proper goodbye.

But the call from Drury only tells part of the story. Before any of that, Lundqvist was still planning to suit up again, hoping for a fresh start with the Washington Capitals until an uncomfortable update from his doctors changed everything.

Related: Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin lead Rangers All-Quarter Century team

Henrik Lundqvist’s battle off the ice before retiring in 2021

Lundqvist had long known about a leaky valve in his heart, but it remained steady for years. It was something he and his doctors monitored, not something he thought would end his playing career. That changed during his first round of medical testing after he signed a one-year contract with the Capitals in October of 2020.

“The leak was getting worse. The pressure in my heart was going up. My aorta was growing too much,” he explained. “There were a few things going on.”

Still, Lundqvist was determined to continue playing after the Rangers bought out his contract following the “bubble” postseason in the summer of 2020. In his mind, he was already on his way back.

“I really thought it would come down to my convincing my wife, like, ‘no, no, I’m going to do this,'” he said. “Yeah, the risk is a little higher now, but I was ready to go.”

A month later, back home and getting ready for training camp for the delayed 2020-21 season, Lundqvist packed his bags, only to get a call that changed everything,

“All the tests, everything is actually worse than we thought,” doctors told him.

“My pressure used to be 19 or 20. I was at 60,” Lundqvist said. “At 70, your heart stops. My aorta was too big. They needed to replace it. And the valve, it was just hanging on.”

The fight was over before it ever began.

“So yeah, it became an easy decision. I had to do it,” he said. “If it had been a gray area, I probably would’ve pushed through. But when you hear that? You know there’s no going back.”

Related: Rangers’ most memorable regular-season games from 2000-25, including this Henrik Lundqvist gem

Post-surgery rehab

The surgery at Cleveland Clinic in January of 2021 was a success, but the following weeks were anything but easy. At first, even the basics were challenging.

“The first couple weeks after the open-heart [surgery], I was hardly walking,” Lundqvist said. “Every week just got better and better.”

Day 3. Surgery went really well. About 5 hours to get it all taken care of. Really appreciate the great staff here at the Clevland Clinic. Last few days has been pretty crazy but feel like I’m in really good hands. Every day is a step in the right direction 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/wjMTosFWQy

— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist) January 8, 2021

Still, Lundqvist thought the comeback was on. “In my head, I was coming back,” he said.

Seven weeks out, he returned to the ice. It was just a few light skating drills to get a feel for the pace.

“I was in a good pace to start skating — not bad,” he said. “I was just on the ice to feel, to get the timing. No high shots, obviously … just on-ice shots for the first couple weeks, then to put pressure on the chest.”

Physically and mentally, Lundqvist felt strong. He was progressing on schedule, and even ahead of it in some ways.

“You have to wait for your chest to heal in terms of pressure,” he said. “You can’t exercise hard after three weeks. You’ve got to do it week by week, and kind of listen to your body.”

But as weeks went on, reality set in, even after Lundqvist confirmed he wouldn’t be able to play in 2020-21.

“Honesty, physically, mentally, I felt so good,” Lundqvist said. “But I knew I can’t .. I can’t fight this thing.”

After everything he’d been through, and everything he still wanted to accomplish, the decision became clear.

“It was time to hang it up.”

A proper goodbye

By the time Lundqvist officially retired, he had already come to peace with the reality the he’d never play again. Emotionally though, something felt unfinished.

The Rangers reached out shortly after his announcement in Sweden to let him know his No. 30 would be retired in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

“My last game was in the bubble. No fans. I never really had a chance to say goodbye,” Lundqvist said.

And when January 28, 2022 arrived, it was as unforgettable Garden moment.

Fans (who normally show up right before puck drop) poured into the Garden hours early. The concourses overflowed, and some paid more for their ticket than they ever had just to be in the building. It was a once in a generation kind of night — not just for Lundqvist, but for everyone who had ever watched the future Hall of Famer play.

By the time he stepped onto the ice, the roar inside MSG was deafening. Chants of “Henrik! Henrik! Henrik!” shook the building. Between the video tributes and standing ovations, the emotion all built towards the moment when No. 30 was raised to the rafters.

It was a thank you, a celebration and a proper goodbye to the Garden faithful.

“It was an incredible moment for so many reason. I’ll never forget it.”

The Rangers had some of the most memorable individual performances in their history during the past 25 seasons, including the third five-goal game since they joined the NHL in 1926. There was also a sensational 42-save shutout performance by a Hall of Fame goalie, a record-breaking night by a future Hall of Famer, and memorable comeback wins — including one in the 2024 Stadium Series.

Here’s a look at five regular-season games from the first quarter of this century that Rangers fans won’t forget for a long time.

Related: Rangers not alone facing crucial decisions with key prospects, young NHL players

March 5, 2020: Mika Zibanejad caps 5-goal night with OT winner

Mika Zibanejad was in the midst of a career year when he had a career night and powered the Rangers to a 6-5 overtime win against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden.

Zibanejad joined Don Murdoch and Mark Pavelich as the only players in Rangers history to score five goals in a game. And he became the second NHL player to complete a five-goal game with an overtime goal, joining Sergei Fedorov for the Detroit Red Wings against the Capitals on Dec. 26, 1996.

Zibanejad wouldn’t have made all that history if it weren’t for Washington’s Alex Ovechkin. The Rangers center completed a hat trick 12 seconds into the third period, only to have Ovechkin tie the game at 9:22. Zibanejad put the Rangers ahead with his fourth goal of the night at 18:18, but the Caps got even again when Ovechkin scored 59 seconds later.

Luckily for the Rangers, overtime is sudden death – so when Zibanejad scored 33 seconds into OT, it was all over.

AHHHHHHHHHH

ZIBANEJAD NETS HIS 5TH OF THE GAME FOR THE OT WINNER!!!!#NYR | @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/3Q63lIrUrM

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) March 6, 2020

Zibanejad was greeted by an empty locker room when he entered after his big night — until his teammates came out of hiding and quickly mobbed him.

“The puck followed me today, I guess,” Zibanejad said postgame. “You look at the goals, some unbelievable plays were being made. Today I was at the right spot at the right time.”

March 29, 2006: Jaromir Jagr breaks Rangers points record

Jean Ratelle’s single-season team record for points (109) had stood since 1972 when the NHL resumed play in the fall of 2005 after a lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season. The Rangers hadn’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 1996-97. Both droughts ended in 2005-06 thanks to one man: Jaromir Jagr.

New Rangers coach Tom Renney put Jagr on the right side of a line with Martin Straka on the left and Michael Nylander in the middle – and the trio clicked right away. Jagr, a five-time NHL scoring champion and then in his age-34 season, produced like he was in his prime again.

Jagr led the NHL in scoring for much of the season, and came to the Nassau Coliseum on March 29 looking to make franchise history – after he had already tied Ratelle’s record for points and Adam Graves’ mark of 52 goals, set in 1993-94. He blew past Ratelle with a four-primary assist night in the Rangers’ 5-1 win over their archrivals.

No. 68 surpassed Ratelle’s mark 7:23 into the game when he assisted on Petr Prucha’s goal, then set up all three goals in Straka’s natural hat trick. He could have broken Graves’ record as well but missed on a third-period breakaway. However, he got goal No. 53 against the Boston Bruins on April 6 and finished with 54.

Still, Jagr was elated to set the team mark for points; his season total of 123 is still a Rangers record, as is his goals mark.

“It’s a big honor when you consider all the great players who’ve played for his organization,” he remarked postgame. “It could have been a lot more points. We had a lot of chances. I had a lot of chances.”

Feb. 14, 2012: ‘The King’ reigns supreme in Boston

Henrik Lundqvist is the greatest goaltender in Rangers history, as well as the only 21st-century Blueshirt to earn induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His 459 wins are sixth in NHL history and by far the most by a Ranger.s goalie His 64 shutouts are also a team record.

But it was his 42nd career shutout, at TD Garden in Boston on Valentine’s Day in 2012, that, perhaps, ranks as the best performance of his career.

The 3-0 final score doesn’t do justice to Lundqvist’s play that night. After Ryan Callahan and Ryan McDonagh scored for the Rangers in the first period, the Bruins took over the game everywhere but on the scoreboard. The Bruins outshot the Rangers 14-5 in the second period and 18-3 in the third, when they had 34 shot attempts to five for the Rangers (including a goal by Artem Anisimov early in the period). They finished with 79 shot attempts to 31 for the Rangers.

Boston’s 32-8 margin in shots over the final 40 minutes and 42-20 for the game meant nothing on a night when “The King” was flawless. Perhaps his best save came in the second period, when he was flat on his back but had a blast by Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara from the slot that hit the back of his helmet or between his shoulder blades and deflectt to the corner. He preserved his shutout late in the third period with a spectacular glove save on Tyler Seguin on a power-play breakaway.

Related: Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin lead Rangers All-Quarter Century team

Nov. 23, 2019: Rangers overcome 4-goal deficit to win in Montreal

Facing the Canadiens in Montreal has always been a nightmare for the Rangers. They are 70-210-2 with 40 ties against the Canadiens since entering the NHL 99 years ago and have had multiple double-figure losing and winless streaks. That includes an 0-21-4 streak in the early 1950s. More recently, the Rangers were 2-13-2 at Bell Centre from October 2009 through Dec. 1, 2018.

So when the Canadiens jumped to a 4-0 lead against the Blueshirts on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in 2019, the sellout crowd in Montreal was confident the night would end as it usually did when the Rangers were in town – with a Habs win.

But this time was different.

Down 4-0 less than three minutes into the second period, the Rangers scored three times before the midway mark of the period to cut the deficit to one. Montreal’s Artturi Lehkonen and New York’s Artemi Panarin exchanged goals 31 seconds apart early in the third period, but Brendan Lemieux tied it with a shorthanded goal at 8:40 before Jacob Trouba scored the game-winner at 12:10.

“It’s just an unreal feeling that the guys kept at it, nobody gave up,” said Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who made 38 saves. “It’s rare that you get to come back from 4-0.”

How rare? It was just the fourth time in their history the Rangers won after trailing by four goals, and the first since Dec. 26, 1991, against the Capitals. They haven’t done it since.

Feb. 18, 2024: Comeback win keeps Rangers perfect outdoors

The Rangers will take a 5-0-0 record in outdoor games into the 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park on Jan. 2. They’re the only team that’s played more than three outdoor games without losing – and the reason is their refusal to roll over in their most recent one, against the Islanders at MetLife Stadium in the 2024 Stadium Series.

Eric Gustavsson gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead 1:28 into the game, but the Islanders scored the next four goals and led 4-1 just 1:03 into the second period. Vincent Trocheck scored twice to make it a one-goal game after two periods, but Alexander Romanov’s goal early in the third looked like it had put the game away.

But the Isles couldn’t stay out of the penalty box down the stretch, and the Rangers took advantage. With Igor Shesterkin off for an extra skater, Chris Kreider’s goal made it 5-3 with 4:08 left. Scott Mayfield’s tripping penalty with 2:28 remaining gave Rangers coach Peter Laviolette another chance to pull Shesterkin for a 6-on-4 opportunity. The move paid off again when Zibanejad beat Ilya Sorokin for the tying goal with 1:29 to play.

The reeling Islanders managed to get the game to overtime, but Panarin took the puck away from Noah Dobson and scored 10 seconds into OT for a stunning 6-5 win.

“I was flooded with emotions,” Panarin said. “I had to hold back tears. It was so much of a spectacle.”

It was the first outdoor win in five tries for Laviolette.

“These games that take place are special, I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of them,” he said. “There have been some good ones but this one has to be up there, near the top of the list.”

It’s hard to believe that the first 25 seasons of the 21st century have come and gone. For the New York Rangers, it was a time of highs and lows.

The highs include a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, when they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games (three of the losses came in overtime). There were also three trips to the Eastern Conference Final (2015, 2022, 2024), two Presidents’ Trophies (2015 and 2024), and single season records for wins (55) and points (114), both in 2023-24.

On the downside, there were the final four seasons (2000-01 through 2003-04) of a seven-year playoff drought. There was also a last-place finish in 2017-18, as well as perhaps the most disappointing season in franchise history, when they went from winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 to missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season – becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to do so.

The Rangers didn’t lack for talent during the first quarter of the century. They’ve already had one player (Henrik Lundqvist) earn induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame after playing his entire NHL career with the Rangers, as well as two who spent time on Broadway after 2000 near the end of theirs (Eric Lindros, Martin St. Louis).

Here’s our 20-man All-Rangers team for the first quarter of this century, including two goalies, six defensemen and 12 forwards.

Goaltenders

Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin

Lundqvist, a seventh-round pick in the 2000 NHL Draft, is the greatest goaltender in Rangers history. He almost literally walked in off the street at training camp in 2005, quickly took the starting job and held it for 15 years. “The King” is sixth in NHL history and tops among Rangers goaltenders with 459 wins. His .918 save percentage is also the best in Rangers history, and his 2.43 goals-against average is the best among Rangers goaltender since World War II. He won the Vezina Trophy as the top NHL goalie in 2011-12 after being a finalist in his first three seasons, and set an NHL record by winning six consecutive Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But when it’s time to do the All-Half Century team, it’s not impossible that Igor Shesterkin will own at least some of the records Lundqvist now holds. He’s already won the Vezina Trophy (in 2021-22) and has 162 wins in his first six seasons. The Rangers bet that Shesterkin will remain among the League’s elite by signing him to a record-setting eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 million average annual value), richest for a goalie in NHL history. The Rangers are hoping he’ll do the one thing Lundqvist couldn’t do – lead them to the Stanley Cup.

Defensemen

First pair: Adam Fox and Ryan McDonagh

Fox, a native of Jericho, New York, was adamant that he was going to play for the Rangers. Happily for the Blueshirts, he was successful forcing his way to Broadway after a pair of trades before he had had even played a single NHL minute. He’s by far the highest-scoring Rangers defenseman so far this century (369 points; 63 goals, 306 assists in 431 games), won the Norris Trophy as the League’s top defenseman in 2020-21, and has been as First-Team All-Star twice (2021 and 2023).

McDonagh was the fruit of one of the great trades in Rangers history – they got him from the Montreal Canadiens in a 2009 deal that also shed the salary of veteran center Scott Gomez. He played seven-plus seasons with the Rangers and was their captain before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won two Stanley Cup championships. He was plus-141 with the Rangers, the best mark by any Blueshirt in the 21st century.

Second pair: Marc Staal and Brian Leetch

Staal played more games on the blue line that any Rangers defenseman since 2000 (892 in 13 seasons), even though he sustained a pair of serious injuries earlier in his career (concussion, eye). He was never a great scorer but was a reliable top-four blue-liner who could play effectively for 20-22 minutes and appeared in 72 or more games 10 times. He’s second in blocked shots (1,162) and hits (1,308).

Leetch’s prime seasons were in the 1990s, but he was still effective even as the team around him collapsed until the Rangers sent him to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2004 NHL Trade Deadline. His 200 points from 2000-04 are fourth among Blueshirts defensemen, and his 0.74 points per game is second.

Third pair: Dan Girardi and Michal Rozsival

Dan Girardi doing the #NYR line read before the 2012 Winter Classic pic.twitter.com/cDPmVRlN5w

— Missin Curfew (@MissinCurfew) December 29, 2024

Every team needs a defenseman to do the dirty work. That describes Girardi to a T. No Rangers defenseman in the first 25 years of this century had more hits (1,798) and blocked shots (1,691). Despite all that grunt work, he averaged 22:15 of ice time in 788 games.

Rozsival is often overlooked, but was an effective and unheralded defenseman who averaged 22:52 of ice time in 432 games with 42 goals and 176 points. He helped the Rangers return to the playoffs in 2005-06 with 30 points (five goals, 25 assists) and a plus-35 rating.

Forwards

First line: Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad

Kreider is the Rangers third-leading career goal-scorer (and tops in the 21st century) with 326 and one of only two 50-goal scorers (52 in 2021-22) this century. He’s also tops among forwards since 2000 at plus-121, led all Rangers with 13 shorthanded goals and is tied with Camille Henry for the franchise’s all-time record with 116 power-play goals.

Panarin is the best free-agent signing in Rangers history. He’s led them in scoring in each of his six seasons in New York, his 1.28 points per game are the best in team history, and his 120-point performance in 2023-24 is second behind Jaromir Jagr.

The trade that brough Zibanejad to the Rangers from the Ottawa Senators in July 2016 is one of the great deals in franchise  history. Though he’s struggled in the past couple of seasons, the 32-year-old’s 589 points are the most by a Ranger since 2000, and he’s scored at least 20 goals in eight straight seasons.

Second line: Mats Zuccarello, Derek Stepan, Jaromir Jagr

“Zuc” was one of the most popular players in team history as well as one of the best this century. His 352 points (113 goals, 239 assists) are fifth among all Rangers since 2000, and he led them in scoring in 2013-14, the last time the Blueshirts reached the Stanley Cup Final.

It was easy to overlook Stepan, a fine middle-six center who scored 17-22 goals and 44-57 points in each of his eight seasons with the Rangers. He was also at least plus-5 in all eight seasons, and his plus-109 total is second among forwards.

Jagr was the biggest reason the Rangers ended their seven-season playoff drought in 2005-06; he set franchise single-season records that still stand with 54 goals and 123 points. His 1.15 ppg is second to Panarin all-time.

Third line: Rick Nash, Ryan Callahan, Marian Gaborik

The Rangers acquired Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2012, and never quite lived up to his superstar status. But Nash did help the Blueshirts reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and scored 42 goals in 2014-15, when they won the Presidents’ Trophy. He finished his time in New York with 145 goals in 375 games.

“Cally” was the Rangers captain from 2011-12 until he was traded to the Lightning before the 2014 trade deadline. He was a heart-and-soul player, who also had three 20-goal seasons in a four-year span and held the team record with 285 hits until Will Cuylle surpassed him with 301 last season.

The Rangers got their money’s worth from Gaborik during his three full seasons in New York after signing as a free agent in July 2009. He scored 44 goals in 2009-10 and 42 in 2011-12. His goal against the Washington Capitals at 14:41 of the third overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals is still the latest in team history.

Fourth line: Brandon Dubinsky, Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller

Dubinsky had the only two 20-goal seasons of his career during his six years in New York — as well as his only three seasons with at least 100 penalty minutes. Like Callahan, he was no fun to play against.

The addition of Trocheck as a free agent in the summer of 2022 has paid off handsomely for the Rangers. He has 200 points (73 goals, 127 assists) in 246 games and has been one of the League’s top face-off men during that time. His 52 assists and 77 points in 2023-24 were career highs.

The Rangers brought Miller back in late January in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, just short of seven years after they traded away their 2011 first-round pick. He became one of the NHL’s most productive centers with the Canucks in the 2020s and averaged more than a point a game after his return to Broadway, where he figures to be the first-line center this season. Miller had a pair of 22-goal seasons with the Rangers before they traded him to the Lightning ahead of the 2018 deadline.

The vast majority of Rangers games during the past two decades have been started by goaltenders who were selected after the 100th pick in their respective drafts. The Rangers captain from 2011-14 was also taken well after pick No. 100 in his his draft year, as were a pair of excellent defensive forwards who were part of the 2013-14 team that lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final.

Most recently, three forwards who were part of this past season’s team and appear to be staples next season were lower-round picks within the past six years: Brett Berard (2020; fifth round, No. 134), Matt Rempe (2020; sixth round, No. 165) and Adam Edstrom (2019; sixth round, No. 161).

Each hopes to enjoy the success that these five later-round choices (all taken after pick No. 100) enjoyed with the Rangers.

Related: NHL insider fuels trade rumors, states Rangers coach ‘not huge fan of K’Andre Miller’s game’

Igor Shesterkin (2014; Round 4, No. 118)

Igor Shesterkin wasn’t even the first goaltender taken by the Rangers in the 2014 draft. That honor belongs to Brandon Halverson, who played one game in relief with the Rangers on Feb. 17, 2018, and finally made his first NHL start with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 22 of this past season.

Meanwhile, the Rangers waited on Shesterkin, who thrived in the KHL before signing with the Rangers in the summer of 2019.

Shesterkin was 10-2-0 in 12 appearances in 2019-20 before the regular season came to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic. Two seasons later, he won the Vezina Trophy as the top NHL goaltende, when he led the League in goals-against average (2.07) and save percentage (.935). He also led the Rangers to the 2022 Eastern Conference Final; though they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, Shesterkin excelled with a 2.59 GAA and .929 save percentage.

Shesterkin’s remained one of the top handful of goalies since then, averaging more than 36 wins in a three-season span. He helped the Rangers to a franchise-record 55 victories in 2023-24 on the way to winning the Presidents’ Trophy and again reaching the Eastern Conference Final.

Shesterkin begins an eight-year, $92 million contract, the richest fora goalie in NHL history, in 2025-26 – meaning he figures to be with the franchise for a long time. It’s been a remarkable first six NHL seasons for a player who lasted well beyond the first 100 picks in his draft year.

Henrik Lundqvist (2000; Round 7, No. 205)

The Rangers were looking for a goaltender in the late rounds of the 2000 NHL Draft. Little did they know they would find a future Hall of Famer and the winningest goaltender in their history with the 205th pick.

Christer Rockstrom, then the Rangers’ head European scout, had seen a young Swedish goalie names Henrik Lundqvist play in the years leading up the to 2000 draft. Lundqvist didn’t impress in international tournaments, but Rockstrom saw him play with his club team and at practice. He was impressed, as was Jan Gajdosik, a European scout for the Blueshirts.

Don Maloney, who was overseeing the draft table, happened to look to his left when the Rangers turn in the seventh round approached and saw Lundqvist’s name at the top of Rockstrom’s list. A few minutes later, the Rangers had their goaltender of the future.

It took a while – Lundqvist’s game developed in Sweden, where he won an SHL championship with Frolunda, until he came to North America in 2005. He began 2005-06 as the backup to Kevin Weekes but soon became the starter and kept that role for the next 15 seasons. He won at least 30 games in each of his first seven seasons and 11 of the first 12 (ironically, his 24 wins led the NHL during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season).

Lundqvist was a Vezina Trophy finalist in each of his first three seasons before winning the award in 2011-12. He backstopped them to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, though the Rangers lost to the Kings in five games – with three of the losses came in overtime.

He signed with the Washington Capitals for the 2020-21 season but had to retire because of a heart problem, meaning that Lundqvist played his entire career with the Rangers. He retired as holder of team records with 887 games played, 459 victories, 64 shutouts and a .918 save percentage (minimum 60 games played). His No. 30 hangs in the rafters now and forever at Madison Square Garden.

Lundqvist was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023, capping one of the greatest unexpected careers in NHL history.

Ryan Callahan (2004; Round 4, No. 127)

Few players in Rangers history have worked harder than Ryan Callahan, who went from being left out of the intrasquad game at training camp in 2005, one year after being drafted, to captain of the Blueshirts six years later.

“He put so much into the game,” former Rangers coach John Tortorella told the New York Post after Callahan officially retired in December 2020. “In my mind, he epitomized the way you have to play the game, at least in my opinion. He did it by pure effort and desire. Never took a shift off. Never took a practice off.

“And that’s how he becomes the captain of the Rangers.”

Callahan, who held the team record for hits (285 in 2009-10) until Will Cuylle surpassed him with 301 in 2024-25, was part of the “Black and Blueshirts,” and would do anything the Rangers needed to win. Block a shot? He broke his ankle in 2010 blocking a blast from Zdeno Chara. Step into an opponent? He had at least 224 hits in four straight seasons from 2008-09 through 2011-12. 

But Callahan also was a skilled forward, who produced solid offensive numbers. When he was piling up all those hits from 2008-12, he also averaged 23 goals and 45 points, including 29 goals and 54 points in 2011-12, when he helped the Rangers finish first in the Eastern Conference and get to the conference final.

However, his numbers began to drop off, and with Callahan headed for free agency after the 2013-14 season, the Rangers traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 5, 2014, as part of the package that brought Martin St. Louis to Broadway. Callahan missed the run to the 2014 Cup Final but got a measure of revenge the following year when he and the Lightning defeated the Rangers in Game 7 of the East Final to advance to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Callahan’s body began breaking down not long after. He played his last NHL game in 2018-19 and retired in 2020. As he told the Post, “I gave everything I had until there was nothing left to give.”

Jesper Fast (2010; Round 6, No. 157)

Fast really was fast — coach Alain Vigneault nicknamed him “Quickie.” But his journey to the NHL took a while.

The forward from Sweden spent two more seasons in his native country before the Rangers signed him in May 2012. He played one more season at home with HV-71, winning the Swedish Hockey League’s equivalent of the Lady Byng Trophy, when he finished with 18 goals and 35 points in 47 games.

HV-71 was eliminated from the SHL playoffs earlier than expected, and Fast joined the Rangers organization. He scored a goal for the AHL Connecticut Whale (now the Hartford Wolf Pack) in his North American debut but sustained a knee injury and didn’t play again until the following season.

He spent most of 2013-14 in the minors but did get into 11 regular-season and three playoff games with the Rangers. Fast was a regular by the end of the following season and remained one through 2019-20. He developed into a dependable bottom-six forward and penalty-killer who was effective on the forecheck and averaged 10 goals and 26 points during a five-year span. He helped the Rangers get to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2015 and had career-highs of 13 goals and 33 points in 2017-18.

Fast became a free agent in the summer of 2020 and signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. He played four seasons with the Rangers rival and was on the losing end when New York defeated Carolina in the second round in 2022. A neck injury kept him out of the rematch in 2024, when the Rangers again knocked off the Hurricanes in six games, and he retired in June 2025 after missing all of 2024-25 following offseason neck surgery. He ended up playing 703 regular-season games, 422 with the Rangers, and scored 55 of his 91 goals with New York.

Carl Hagelin (2007; Round 6, No. 168)

Hagelin, another swift forward from Sweden, took a different path to the NHL after he was selected by the Rangers in 2007, following two excellent seasons in Sweden’s Under-20 league.

Instead of staying home as Fast did, Hagelin came to North America and played four seasons at the University of Michigan, becoming the first Swede ever to play for the Wolverines. The Rangers signed him after his college career ended in 2011, and he joined the Connecticut Whale in time for the AHL playoffs.

He had an assist in his NHL debut on Nov. 25, 2011, then scored his first goal the next day against Sergei Bobrovsky of the Philadelphia Flyers. Hagelin won the Fastest Skater competition at the NHL All-Star Weekend and finished his first NHL season with 14 goals and 38 points as well as a plus-21 rating.

Speed was Hagelin’s stock in trade. He was an effective third-liner and penalty-killer who averaged almost 15 goals during his four seasons on Broadway despite almost no power-play time. Hagelin helped the Rangers get to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, chipping in seven goals and 12 points in 25 postseason games.

Though Hagelin matched his career high with 17 goals in 2014-15, he also became a free agent that summer. Management decided to trade him rather than lose him for nothing, so he was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks on June 27, 2015.

The Ducks traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins three months later, just in time to help them win the Stanley Cup in the spring of 2016 as part of the “HBK Line” with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel. The Penguins repeated in 2017, when Hagelin scoring the clinching empty-net goal in Game 6 of the Final. The Penguins traded him to the Los Angeles Kings in November 2018, and the Kings wheeled him to the Washington Capitals two weeks later. He played with Washington through the 2021-22 season, missed 2022-23 after an eye injury and hip surgery, and officially retired in August 2023.

Lundqvist never had the chance to celebrate winning a Stanley Cup championship over 15 seasons with the Rangers, though the Hockey Hall of Famer did help Sweden win the gold medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics. The closest he got to winning it all in the NHL was in 2014, when the Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final in five games, three of which were decided in overtime.

But the personal bonds Lundqvist forged with teammates during his Rangers tenure came to mind and made “The King” somewhat wistful as he watched the Panthers celebrate their latest championship together.

“I haven’t played in five years,” Lundqvist said. “Every year that goes by, you get more separation from the game, but when I listen to them talk about their group, the locker room, it makes me miss the game so much.”

Like most athletes, it was never just about the competition, holding the spotlight, or even winning championships for Lundqvist. What he misses most now is the brotherhood formed inside the locker room.

“There’s no better feeling than to be on a team where you feel like you’re playing for each other,” he added. “It’s not enough to just have great players, you need that feeling you’re playing for each other. I just get goosebumps when I hear them talk.”

Related: Rangers not built like champion Panthers, but do have emerging identity line led by Matt Rempe

Rangers legend ‘might want to go skate tomorrow’ after watching emotional Stanley Cup celebration

As if on cue, the Panthers displayed their tight bond when it was time to pass the Stanley Cup after it was presented to captain Aleksander Barkov by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Instead of Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett or any one of a number of Panthers stars that could’ve been deservedly first in line, Barkov handed it to veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt, a first-time Cup winner.

From there, Schmidt handed it to top-four defenseman Seth Jones, another first-timer acquired ahead of the trade deadline. He, in turn, handed it to veteran forward Tomas Nosek. You guessed it, another first-time NHL champion.

In all, 10 first-timers skated with the Stanley Cup, including five who weren’t even in the lineup for the decisive Game 6, before third-string goalie Evan Cormier placed it in the hands of Sergei Bobrovsky.

“The first guys who touched the Stanley Cup were the guys that hadn’t won it before,” coach Paul Maurice explained postgame. “Some of those players never played in a [postseason] game, but they’re all part of it. That’s the Barkov effect in our room. He loves everybody. Everybody’s a part of it.”

Lundqvist broke it down even further for the TNT audience as the Cup made its rounds on the ice at Amerant Bank Arena.

“That’s why we start playing the game as kids, too,” Lundqvist said. “Yeah, we love the competition. But we love doing it together in a great group. I just absolutely love it. I might want to go skate tomorrow.”