Henrik Lundqvist gets choked up talking about the Mats Zuccarello trade.
We're with ya Hank. #NYR pic.twitter.com/HyyfIS1NWS
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 24, 2019
It hasn’t even been 24 hours since the New York Rangers traded Mats Zuccarello and everyone, including Henrik Lundqvist, is taking it hard.
Mats Zuccarello was so much more than a top-six forward for the New York Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist showed just that.
Following the Blueshirts’ 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals, Lundqvist tried talking about Zuccarello.
But Lundqvist could not get the words out, and instead got choked up just thinking about his former teammate not being around the Rangers locker room anymore. He gave it the best he could but the emotions were just too much and his interview was over right away.
Lundqvist has seen plenty of players come and go through his 14-year career with the Blueshirts. But none of them has publically brought out emotions quite like this one.
Earlier this week, he would talk to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks and explain how much of a friend Zuccarello is to him.
“But that’s him … always wanting to stir things up, always having a fun and unique way with people. He’s one of a kind and he’s become a close friend.”
It’s times like these where you get to see how sports is so much more than a game we spectators watch for amusement, or a video game we play in our leisure. These are actual human beings, the best athletes the world has to offer and situations like this are extremely hard.
Zuccarello is already off to a hot start with the Dallas Stars, scoring a goal and picking up an assist in his first game against Chicago. He and the Rangers will get the chance to reunite when the Blueshirts take on Dallas on March 5.
