October 18, 2012
Rangers in Europe: Lundqvist laying low in Sweden
by Michael Rappaport/Correspondent
Henrik Lundqvist beat out fellow finalists Jonathan Quick and Pekka Rinne to win the Vezina Trophy for the 2011-12 season. (Getty Images)
The three New York Rangers who are playing in European leagues have continued to play well overseas. And now, it appears likely that Henrik Lundqvist may become the fourth Ranger to venture to Europe if the lockout continues to drag on.
Rick Nash | HC Davos
In the Swiss National League, Nash has been scoring at will for HC Davos. Unfortunately, the success of the club hasn’t correlated with the 28-year-old’s offensive exploits.
Playing on a line with Joe Thornton, Nash is in full swing after missing time with a shoulder injury. The left wing scored a goal in each of HC Davos’ two games during the week. He now has 6-1-7 totals in six games and a plus-3 rating.
However, Davos lost both of those games by the final scores of 6-3 and 4-2 to SC Bern and HC Ambri-Piotta, respectively.
With the two losses, HC Davos is in 10th place in the 12-team Swiss league.
Ryan McDonagh | HC Barys Astana
Last week, we confirmed that the Rangers defenseman signed with HC Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The 23-year-old -- who is wearing No. 54 with Barys instead of his customary No. 27 -- has three assists in his first three games with the KHL club and is plus-5. Ironically, McDonagh is averaging less ice time with Barys than he did with the Rangers last year.
With a 9-7-2 record, Barys is in fifth place in the KHL’s Eastern Conference.
Carl Hagelin | Sodertalje SK
Hagelin, the other Ranger who is playing overseas, had a great week with his hometown club, Sodertalje SK, in Allsvenskan (Sweden’s second-tier league). In a 5-1 win for Sodertalje last week, the Swedish speedster scored a goal and added an assist for the club.
The latest on Lundqvist
Last week, we reported that the Rangers’ star netminder had considered travelling to Sweden in the not so distant future. This week, the 2012 Vezina Trophy winner confirmed that he is in Sweden for the time being.
And although he hasn’t signed a contract with his former team, the Frolunda Indians of the Swedish Elite League, "The King" did confirm that if he were to play somewhere during the lockout, it would be for Frolunda. Lundqvist started out with the club as a junior at age 16, and played with the Indians in the SEL from 2000-05.
Mike Rappaport can be reached at feedback@nyhockeyjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeRappaport92.
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