Have we already seen Henrik Lundqvist’s last game as a New York Ranger?

With the Rangers going to Igor Shesterkin in goal for Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes, have we seen Henrik Lundqvist’s last game as a New York Ranger?

Henrik Lundqvist’s legendary 15-year tenure as the face of the New York Rangers may have already come to an unceremonious end after Game 2 of the Rangers series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Rangers entered their qualifying round series against the Carolina Hurricanes with the expectation that rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin would be the starter after his phenomenal rookie season, but an unknown injury/illness had him “unfit to play” in games one and two of the series. The Rangers instead turned to Lundqvist and his playoff experience to start the first two games of the series, and in what could’ve been his final ride with the Rangers regardless of the results.

The 38-year-old Lundqvist fought valiantly in both games but was unable to record a win in either of them. He posted a .919 save percentage in Game 1 in a 3-2 loss, and a .882 during a 4-1 loss in Game 2, allowing seven goals in those two games. Not great, but could’ve been worse with how much the Hurricanes have dominated the series so far.

With the New York Rangers now down 2-0 in the series against the Hurricanes and looking to avoid a sweep, they have chosen to start the now healthy Shesterkin over Lundqvist for presumably the rest of the series, however long that may last.

Is Lundqvist done as a Ranger after the playoffs?

Regardless of if the Rangers lose in Game 3, extend the series, or come back to win the series, they have a tough decision to make this offseason regarding their goaltenders whenever their season is over. Whether or not Lundqvist has indeed played his final game as a Ranger already depends entirely on what GM Jeff Gorton decides.

The 24-year-old Shesterkin is obviously going nowhere, but the Rangers have to decide whether to bring back Lundqvist for the final year of his contract in order to give him a proper send-off for everything he’s done for them or alternatively re-signing 24-year-old Georgiev who’s statistically been a little better than Lundqvist over the last two seasons.

It doesn’t help Lundqvist that the salary cap is staying flat next season as a result of the season pause due to the Coronavirus pandemic. His hefty $8.5M cap hit and slightly worse numbers than Georgiev may have to overpower any sentimentality the Rangers may feel during their decision. Also with just one year left on his contract, they could trade Georgiev this offseason, have Lundqvist retire next season, and then just be left with Shesterkin as their only NHL level goalie.

Still, after everything Lundqvist has done for the Rangers over the last 15 years, it would be a sour and anticlimactic ending to just see his contract traded, bought out, or terminated with no proper send-off. Surely the Rangers will do right by him regardless of their decision, but it will be a tough pill for Rangers fans to swallow, especially without that evasive Stanley Cup to his name.

No matter how Lundqvist’s career in New York ends, his number will inevitably be raised to rafter at Madison Square Garden with an induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame not far behind. Unfortunately, however, it seems that the ending may already be upon us.