The New York Rangers have agreed to a 7-year extension with star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The deal is worth $59.5 million or an $8.5 million AAV or cap hit. The deal will make Lundqvist the NHL’s highest paid goaltender, surpassing Pekka Rinne and Tuukka Rask by $1 million per season.
A news conference has been called for later today to officially announce the deal.
The 31-year-old Lundqvist is 8-11 this season with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He is in the final year of a 6-year contract and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The new deal ensures he will never reach the open market.
The seven-year contract is just one year less than the maximum extension he could have signed with the Rangers, according to the rules of the NHL/NHLPA CBA.
Lundqvist has spent his entire career with the Rangers. Over his career he has put up a 284-182-57 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Lundqvist won the 2012 Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender.
He also has extensive International experience and was Sweden’s goalie when they won the 2006 Olympic Gold Medal. Lundqvist is expected to be between the pipes for Sweden again in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Lundqvist was originally selected by the Rangers in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
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