Washington Capitals: Henrik Lundqvist confirms what we all knew

Highlights from an international interview with Henrik Lundqvist.

New Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist recently participated in an interview with Johan Rylandder of Goteborgs Posten where he touched on a variety of subjects including why he wanted to join the Capitals.

Lundqvist conducted the interview while driving from his Manhattan home to New Jersey to a training rink where he had been working to get into shape for the season. He has since been skating with the Caps at MedStar Capitals Iceplex as his kids have gotten a kick out of Nicklas Backstrom‘s basement.

Lundqvist described Washington as a much easier city to get around and less bumper to bumper traffic than in New York. He said joining the Caps was a “new chapter in the final stages” of his career and he decided to join the team when he looked at the opportunity, the coach (Peter Laviolette) and the roster composition.

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The Caps signed Lundqvist to a year and $1.5 million which was a bargain for the type of player they’re getting in Lundqvist. Don’t expect him to last with the Caps forever as this deal only lasts one year and he still looks to return to the Rangers in some kind of role with the team. In the meantime though, Hank knows he’s got plenty left in the tank.

Lundqvist also talked about working with and competing with Ilya Samsonov who he called a young and promising goalie. He knows he might be a backup but that doesn’t mean he won’t give Sammy a run for his money. Lundqvist will take any job that comes his way but hopes to compete and play as much as he can.

Lundqvist will focus on what he can control and it’s up to the team and Laviolette to decide what type of role the king will play. This upcoming season looks like it’ll be a compressed schedule so while Lundqvist may get some of the workload, it might not be as heavy as seasons past.

Lundqvist also won’t have to worry about facing Alex Ovechkin now that they’re teammates. Ovechkin has a good track record against the King. Lundqvist talked about how Ovechkin has one of the toughest shots in the league and that he’s not going to stand in net to take shots against him anymore.

Overall though, Lundqvist joined the Caps in his desire to win a Stanley Cup:

"“It’s to win. But it’s at least as much about the trip, that you enjoy on the way there. There is a lot to feel fun about with the trip, with the group, with the matches. Sure, you have an end goal that drives you, but there is much else on the way there that drives you as well. And there Washington felt very attractive. I believe in us. I believe in the team, I believe in the new coach Peter Laviolette. They have won, but are still hungry and want to do it again. They have the routine. It is incredibly difficult to predict before a season. But it feels good.”"

Henrik Lundqvist is excited for the opportunity in front of him and we as Caps fans who used to groan at his saves are excited to cheer him on. He is at MedStar gearing up for the season ahead and every save he’s making is getting us more and more fired up to have him in a Capitals sweater.