The trade deadline can be tough emotionally and mentally for a lot of players.
Not just for those who find themselves on the trading block, either. The NHL trade deadline sees longtime teammates and friends shipped off to opposing teams. That was the case with the New York Rangers, who traded veteran forward Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.
The move took an emotional toll on the Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who got choked up Sunday when asked a question about Zuccarello.
Zuccarello and Lundqvist had been teammates for the entirety of Zuccarello’s nine-year career with the Rangers, and the two clearly had formed a tight bond. The Rangers have gone through quite a bit of turnover in the past couple of seasons, and Lundqvist has remained the one constant. And it can’t be easy for the 36-year-old goalie to watch teammates and friends shipped out year-after-year while he is left to go down with the ship that is the Rangers’ playoffs hopes.
The Swede is one of the best to ever suit up between the pipes, with 448 career wins, but he still is chasing that elusive Stanley Cup.
Here’s hoping the Rangers give Handsome Hank something to smile about soon.
