Listen to today's HockeyBuzzcast with myself and Mike Augello:
As reported by Hockeybuzz.com's Jan Levine, the Rangers have extended King Henrik in a monster deal. Definitely read Jan's column: HERE
It is a very important deal in many ways for the Rangers...beyond just signing one of the top three keepers in the world.
Lundqvist was always a great soldier for this team, but the extension was never about the money. The Rangers were going to make him the top paid goalie...that was as obvious as contract negotiations get. But did he want to be their goalie?
Lundqvist loves New York and being a Ranger. That is very evident. However, what he didn't love as much, according to my sources and others as well, was being required to have to win games 1-0 or 2-1 every night. Especially in the playoffs. The Rangers organization cleared that issue up when they traded out the defensive minded Tortorella for the more run-and-gun styling a of Alain Vigneault. Don't think for a second that today's extension wasn't made possible when that switch occurred last June.
Rumor update this afternoon... I will have some more on Colorado and Montreal, as well as some rekindled talks between Edmonton and Philly...just waiting on a few calls here.