Henrik Lundqvist knows what New York is like when the city’s teams are thriving and he feels that energy right now.
This past season, the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final while the Knicks made it to the second round.
Both the NHL and NBA playoffs take place at the same time, so the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric for a few weeks.
Lundqvist believes in what the Rangers and Knicks are building.
“Being a Ranger, I would always root for the Rangers,” Lundqvist said. “But at the same time … I spent a lot of time at the Garden last year, both Knicks and Rangers. Just to feel that excitement around the Garden for fans coming in and out every other night, you want both teams to do well. So why not do a double?”
It truly is exciting to see the Rangers and Knicks competing for championships at the same exact time just like they were back in the 90s.
The Rangers have not won a Stanley Cup since 1994 and the Knicks have not secured a championship since 1973, so a title for either of these teams would really uplift the city.
There’s a certain passion that New York sports fans have that others just don’t. Players are idolized and are more than athletes to some people. They are heroes.
“I love this city,” Lundqvist said. “I’ve spent my entire adult life in New York City, I moved there when I was 23. Nineteen years later, I’m still here. I love my relationships at Madison Square Garden working as an ambassador now, working on TV, going to a lot of games, concerts, meeting incredible people. It just feels like home.”