Jan Levine: Lundqvist opens up in interview with Swedish newspaper Makes clear his feelings right now on continuing to play

Putting myself in Hank's shoes I would be upset too, the kind of competitor he is like you said but he also seems to grasp the end is here for him. Will forever love #30, he'll get his sweater raised to the Garden rafters one day. But now it's time for him to step aside and away

Just for fun, lets play this out:

League finishes playoffs and Stanley Cup is awarded in the fall. However, because no fans are allowed to attend, revenues are WAY down across entire league. Escrow will be a problem for this year and at least next season too. The cap will NOT rise as initially expected and should actually go slightly DOWN. I will not be surprised to see 2 compliance buyouts for teams to get them under the cap. The Players Association will be against the buyouts, but will finally agree to them as part of the negotiating for the escrow problem.

Many star players will be bought out across the league. For the Rangers, it will be Hank and Staal. However, just as we saw with our own Dan Girardi and Shatty, these players will be able to resign with different teams for super cheap deals. Can you imagine Hank signing with the Devils to replace Cory Schneider and back up Blackwood? Henrik wouldn't have to move or uproot his family. His kids wouldn't have to change schools. Many here will scoff and say I am crazy, but it kind of makes logical sense...

Just for fun, lets play this out:

League finishes playoffs and Stanley Cup is awarded in the fall. However, because no fans are allowed to attend, revenues are WAY down across entire league. Escrow will be a problem for this year and at least next season too. The cap will NOT rise as initially expected and should actually go slightly DOWN. I will not be surprised to see 2 compliance buyouts for teams to get them under the cap. The Players Association will be against the buyouts, but will finally agree to them as part of the negotiating for the escrow problem.

Many star players will be bought out across the league. For the Rangers, it will be Hank and Staal. However, just as we saw with our own Dan Girardi and Shatty, these players will be able to resign with different teams for super cheap deals. Can you imagine Hank signing with the Devils to replace Cory Schneider and back up Blackwood? Henrik wouldn't have to move or uproot his family. His kids wouldn't have to change schools. Many here will scoff and say I am crazy, but it kind of makes logical sense...
- TommyGTrain

Don't see him in NJ, would likely see him out west or even maybe Philly

Just for fun, lets play this out:

League finishes playoffs and Stanley Cup is awarded in the fall. However, because no fans are allowed to attend, revenues are WAY down across entire league. Escrow will be a problem for this year and at least next season too. The cap will NOT rise as initially expected and should actually go slightly DOWN. I will not be surprised to see 2 compliance buyouts for teams to get them under the cap. The Players Association will be against the buyouts, but will finally agree to them as part of the negotiating for the escrow problem.

Many star players will be bought out across the league. For the Rangers, it will be Hank and Staal. However, just as we saw with our own Dan Girardi and Shatty, these players will be able to resign with different teams for super cheap deals. Can you imagine Hank signing with the Devils to replace Cory Schneider and back up Blackwood? Henrik wouldn't have to move or uproot his family. His kids wouldn't have to change schools. Many here will scoff and say I am crazy, but it kind of makes logical sense...
- TommyGTrain

That would be a dream come true if Hank is on another team for next season. Would mean Rangers wouldn't be stuck with his 8.5 million dollar cap hit.

Since the cap isn't going to rise, the Rangers are really going to be in trouble if they aren't allowed an amnesty buyout. They won't be able to resign guys like ADA and Strome with the money they want

Personally, I would rather they just cancelled the rest of this season rather than impact next season. But, I have a question, which I'm sure has been figured out, and I just don't know.

If these playoffs start in July, what happens to the guys that become UFAs July 1st?

Are they just no longer part of your team?

I can't imagine they would risk their futures by playing without a contract

We only have Fast & McKegg, but there are some big name guys on contenders, like Holtby, Pieterangelo, Shattenkirk, just to name a few.

Personally, I would rather they just cancelled the rest of this season rather than impact next season. But, I have a question, which I'm sure has been figured out, and I just don't know.

If these playoffs start in July, what happens to the guys that become UFAs July 1st?

Are they just no longer part of your team?

I can't imagine they would risk their futures by playing without a contract

We only have Fast & McKegg, but there are some big name guys on contenders, like Holtby, Pieterangelo, Shattenkirk, just to name a few.
- ELew11

everything is just pushed back, they are going to announce a new day that UFA signings begin once they figure out exactly when these playoffs are going to start and end

Don't see him in NJ, would likely see him out west or even maybe Philly
- MeltingPlastic

Hank would want his wonderful locks to flow in Southern California

Just for fun, lets play this out:

League finishes playoffs and Stanley Cup is awarded in the fall. However, because no fans are allowed to attend, revenues are WAY down across entire league. Escrow will be a problem for this year and at least next season too. The cap will NOT rise as initially expected and should actually go slightly DOWN. I will not be surprised to see 2 compliance buyouts for teams to get them under the cap. The Players Association will be against the buyouts, but will finally agree to them as part of the negotiating for the escrow problem.

Many star players will be bought out across the league. For the Rangers, it will be Hank and Staal. However, just as we saw with our own Dan Girardi and Shatty, these players will be able to resign with different teams for super cheap deals. Can you imagine Hank signing with the Devils to replace Cory Schneider and back up Blackwood? Henrik wouldn't have to move or uproot his family. His kids wouldn't have to change schools. Many here will scoff and say I am crazy, but it kind of makes logical sense...
- TommyGTrain

I don't think the cap is going to go down, but it's certainly not going up. The compliance buyouts are highly-likely to happen though, at least one of them anyway.

I don't think the cap is going to go down, but it's certainly not going up. The compliance buyouts are highly-likely to happen though, at least one of them anyway.
- eichiefs9

Ladd

Don't see him in NJ, would likely see him out west or even maybe Philly
- MeltingPlastic

Carolina would desperately be reaching out.

Ladd
- jimbo83

Yeah Ladd is #1 buyout boy

Toss up between Komarov and Boychuk if there are two buyouts to be had. Komarov is significantly less useful, but they have the same term and JB's cap hit is double Komarov's...plus he's getting old fast.

Carolina would desperately be reaching out.
- BINGO!

The way Hank has played against you guys, he might be able to snag another $8.5M from them!

The way Hank has played against you guys, he might be able to snag another $8.5M from them!
- Tonybere

He's had their number for as long as he's been in the league.

Him and, of all people, Thomas Greiss for some (frank)ing reason.

The way Hank has played against you guys, he might be able to snag another $8.5M from them!
- Tonybere

Gotta wonder if Toronto would go after him, if he were willing to sign cheap. They probably represent his best chance at a Cup, as far as teams that could potentially have interest in him go.

Gotta wonder if Toronto would go after him, if he were willing to sign cheap. They probably represent his best chance at a Cup, as far as teams that could potentially have interest in him go.
- eichiefs9

Not sure they'll have room even for a league minimum contract unless they cut somebody big.

With a projected $84 million cap (which likely won't be the case anymore) they've got $7 million in space and only 16 NHLers under contract.

They won't be able to cheat the system with LTIR either because Clarkson and Horton will both be off the books.

Not sure they'll have room even for a league minimum contract unless they cut somebody big.

With a projected $84 million cap (which likely won't be the case anymore) they've got $7 million in space and only 16 NHLers under contract.

They won't be able to cheat the system with LTIR either because Clarkson and Horton will both be off the books.
- BINGO!

They're going to have to figure something out, otherwise that window is going to slam shut real quick. They better hope that Mikko Lehtonen guy is a stud because otherwise that defense....ain't got no alibi

They're going to have to figure something out, otherwise that window is going to slam shut real quick. They better hope that Mikko Lehtonen guy is a stud because otherwise that defense....ain't got no alibi
- eichiefs9

Young (28 year old) Justin Holl will save them!

Young (28 year old) Justin Holl will save them!
- BINGO!

Yung Justin is my favorite rapper (because Yung Holl had a really disturbing vibe to it)

Yung Justin is my favorite rapper (because Yung Holl had a really disturbing vibe to it)
- eichiefs9

Gotta wonder if Toronto would go after him, if he were willing to sign cheap. They probably represent his best chance at a Cup, as far as teams that could potentially have interest in him go.
- eichiefs9

That might be Hank's best chance at a Cup, but I'm not sure having him behind a team that can't play defense makes for a good chance for Toronto.
That's so 2017!!

That might be Hank's best chance at a Cup, but I'm not sure having him behind a team that can't play defense makes for a good chance for Toronto.
That's so 2017!!
- Tonybere

Well I'd imagine that it would probably be in a mainly "traditional" backup role. I don't think too many teams are going to want to rely on him as a #1 goalie anymore. Maybe a tandem guy, at best...but even that seems like a long shot for him.

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