The 43-year-old former New York Rangers star – nicknamed "The King" in New York – led the Tre Kronor to both Olympic gold and World Cup gold during his career.
Now he's on a quick visit to Stockholm to do interviews about his upcoming assignment as an expert commentator on the Olympic broadcasts in February. Stylishly dressed in a shirt, vest and tie.
SVT and TV4 share the Olympic hockey and he will be an expert on both channels. But his twin brother Joel, also an expert on TV4, will not be in Milan.
No, I don't think so. That's not the plan, he says.
While Henrik Lundqvist was once the number one goalie in the national team, today the fight for who will be the first goalkeeper in Tre Kronor is fierce.
Lundqvist sees the trio Linus Ullmark, Ottawa, Jacob Markström, New Jersey and Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota, as the three obvious ones in the squad.
“It just bangs”
But the season hasn't started off well for any of them. All three boast save percentages below 90, and none of them are in the top 30 in that particular statistic.
"You have to be a little careful when you look at the numbers. All three have played good games, but then they have one or two games where it just blows up. You get seven goals in the back and then it takes seven, eight games to build up those statistics," says Lundqvist and continues:
It's a little different hockey now with a lot of scoring chances and opportunities, then it can run away, it's clear that it has an impact, says Lundqvist, who had over 90 in save percentage during all of his 15 NHL seasons.
When asked who he would choose if the Olympics started tomorrow, he gives a longer explanation about the fact that it is so even and that ultimately it is the daily form that decides.
Ullmark is perhaps the frontrunner right now, so I'll choose him. But it could be completely different in a month. Markström has been injured and you want to see him in the game a little more before you know where he stands. I like Markström when he's at his best, says Lundqvist.
Half life in New York
After the heart problem that ended his career, Henrik Lundqvist has chosen to remain in New York with his family, his wife Therese Andersson and their children Charlise and Juni, 13 and 11 years old respectively. He is an expert commentator on the television channels TNT and MSG Network.
Summers and Christmases are spent in Gothenburg.
Right here and now it feels great. The kids are enjoying school, activities (gymnastics and volleyball) and friends. My wife and I are enjoying ours. The question comes up occasionally, but we have lived in New York for 20 years, almost half our lives, so right now it feels right.
Age: 43.
Family: Wife Therese Andersson, daughters Charlise and Juni.
Works with: Expert commentator on the TV channels TNT and MSG Network, during the Olympics for SVT and TV4, ambassador for Madison Square Garden.
NHL career: 15 seasons with the New York Rangers, 887 regular season games and 130 playoff games.
Main achievements: Olympic gold medal 2006, World Championship gold medal 2017, 2 Swedish Championship gold medals with Frölunda, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame and the Swedish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Goalkeepers who have played 3 games or more:
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Jonathan Quick, NY Rangers, 94.1.
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Logan Thompson, Washington, 93.5.
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Devin Cooley, Calgary, 93.3.
The Swedes:
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Jonas Johansson, Tampa Bay, 91.6.
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Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota, 89.5.
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Anton Forsberg, Los Angeles, 89.4.
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Arvid Soderblom, Chicago, 88.8.
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Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia, 87.6.
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Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey, 87.5.
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Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota, 86.3.
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Linus Ullmark, Ottawa, 86.1.
The statistics apply to matches up to and including November 2.
