As a former Rangers goaltender, then a broadcaster and now a team president, John Davidson has seen more than his fair share of players come through the organization.

Not many have had the same impact that Henrik Lundqvist has had both on and off the ice.

Despite the team buying out the remainder of his contract on Tuesday, Davidson had nothing but praise for the 38-year-old netminder.

“When you think about the Rangers, by extension you think New York City,” Davidson said speaking on MSG Network on Thursday. “What Hank's been able to do in this city and the New York area with everything. Helping people, making life better for a lot of different people. I think that's going to continue.”

In addition to cementing his legacy in net, the goaltender founded the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation which, according to its website, “strives to create positive change in the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education and health services.” In March, he donated $100,000 to Food Bank for New York City in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With Alexandar Giorgiev and Igor Shesterkin emerging as young goalies on the rise, Lundqvist made just 26 starts this season, and was likely to be the odd-man out as the team looks forward to next year.

“The hockey part of it has changed right now, but I think the big picture is what we try to look at,” Davidson said. “I have immense respect for what Hank's been able to do. He's actually been skating up here at the training center with some of or young players and some of our older players who want to get out and work on their conditioning. So Hank can come up to the training center whenever he wants to take shots.”

Now an unrestricted free agent, Lundqvist has a chance to pick his next destination, be it as a starter or a backup, and take one last shot at getting his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup.

But he’ll always have a home in New York.

“This organization and Hank, the marriage is still going on,” Davidson said. “It's an incredible marriage.”

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