Capitals emerge as clear frontrunners for Lundqvist, per report from Bob McKenzie

In case you missed it, this past weekend longtime New York Rangers goaltender and pending unrestricted free agent Henrik Lundqvist emphatically declared on Twitter that he won't be riding off into the sunset. No, Lundqvist still has passion and the will to compete.

Check it out:

I still love to compete. I still love the game and I still want to WIN!
— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist30) October 4, 2020

Now, does that sound like a man ready to retire? Not a chance. King Henrik isn't going out like that.

So now the question is... where does he end up?

In the days since his buy out fans have speculated that he could sign with a team desperate for some goaltending. A team like the Edmonton Oilers or Calgary Flames. The Vancouver Canucks are an option if Jacob Markstrom elects to leave as a free agent. But, according to a report from TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie, the Washington Capitals have emerged as the clear frontrunner for Lundqvist's services.

Check it out:

Although bought-out ex-NYR goalie Henrik Lundqvist is currently UFA, he cannot formalize an agreement until Friday. That said, the word on the street is that WSH is the clear frontrunner for the King’s services on what would presumably be a short-term, bargain contract.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 6, 2020

That would make sense both ways. WSH would get capable vet on affordable deal to platoon/push burgeoning No. 1 Ilya Samsonov, who’s only 23. Lundqvist would get good chance to play decent number of games on a team with a chance to contend. And in the Metro Division, no less. ?
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 6, 2020

Interesting.

The Capitals, of course, are expected to bid farewell to longtime netminder Braden Holtby as he'll test the free agent market. Could Lundqvist be the support for youngster Ilya Samsonov that the Capitals have been seeking? One thing's clear, despite a poor playoff showing the Capitals are still a Stanley Cup contender. Sure, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and the core of this team is another year older but... are you really going to count out Ovi and the gang? I'm not. Not a chance.

Did Lundqvist struggle this past season? Absolutely. But there's reason to believe that a change of scenery and the fact that he's playing for a legitimate Stanley Cup contender once again will rejuvenate his career. And there's also the fact that for the first time in his career, the weight won't fall entirely on Lundqvist. Together with Samsonov, the pair could make an excellent 1A/1B tandem.

And Ovechkin may now be 35 years old be he's still a perennial 50 goal scoring threat and I could absolutely see him leading the Capitals on at least one more deep playoff run. As satisfying as it was to watch Ovi FINALLY lift the Cup up above his head in 2018, how cool would it be to see him pass it off to Lundqvist in 2021? Stay tuned, because we just might find out.