NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 22: skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 22, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Ducks 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
#2. Henrik Lundqvist
With one year left on his contract, Henrik Lundqvist’s massive $8.5 million per year deal is about to expire at the same time as Andersen.
Lundqvist will be 39-years-old when he becomes a free agent, which is old for any professional athlete, but there will most likely still be a burning passion to win inside of him.
The New York Rangers already have two goaltenders ahead of Lundqvist in the depth chart, so if it wasn’t for Lundqvist’s contract and dedication to New York, he’d most likely already would have been gone.
Lundqvist has mentioned numerous times that he loves New York and doesn’t want to leave, but he may not have a choice when his contract is over with. With $97 million in career earnings, money won’t be the main factor in his decision to continue playing hockey, it’ll be the chance at a Stanley Cup.
Having never won a Stanley Cup, Lundqvist doesn’t want to be on the list with goaltenders like Curtis Joseph and Roberto Luongo as the best player to never win, so coming to Toronto for a one-year sprint at Stanley Cup could be his best chance at winning.