“In Sweden, we have two kings. There is one who lives here, in the castle. The other, he plays with the New York Rangers. »
Posted at 4:42 p.m.
Martin Biron has no shortage of anecdotes about the new Rangers immortal, whom he assisted for three seasons. There’s 2012, when Rangers started their season with a game in Stockholm, Sweden. Before the meeting, the native of Lac-Saint-Charles and a few teammates decided to take a tour of the city. Their guide, unaware that he had Rangers players in front of him, hinted at the phrase that caps this article.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTIN BIRON
Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron during the 2012 Winter Classic
It was the day after the retirement ceremony for number 30 that Biron took the call from The Press. “It was fantastic,” he tells us of his evening at Madison Square Garden.
“We laughed because we said: ‘It’s almost another marriage,’ he says. People, when they get married, always say they don’t have time to talk to anyone. […] Henrik told us: “It’s been like this for four days! It doesn’t stop!” »
“Henrik is the friendliest and most generous guy,” he adds. He took the time to stop and talk with everyone for at least 5 or 10 minutes. »
PHOTO FRANK GUNN, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Martin Biron, in October 2010, then New York Rangers goaltender
The Rangers organization did not miss a chance with a moving ceremony for one of the best players in its history. Biron, well installed in a box, took advantage of the show.
As soon as they announced Lundqvist to come on the rink, you saw people… They showed a girl on the giant screen, she was crying. It looked like she was in the presence of the Beatles in time! That’s the effect he has on people in New York.
Martin Biron, former teammate of Henrik Lundqvist
back in time
Martin Biron joined the Rangers in the summer of 2010. Aged 33 at the time, he was in his 11and campaign in the National League. His role was clear: to support Lundqvist.
From his first season with the Blues, Biron and his new teammate got along well, even if there was “a little competition at the start,” he admits. It was the following year, in 2011-2012, that their friendship “really went up a notch”.
“The person who sat next to him on the plane, Marc Staal, didn’t start the year because he was injured. There was a seat available. On the first flight, I said, “Henrik, do you want me to sit there?” »
“We started chatting, watching movies, TV shows, talking about life, the League, the players and the teams, what we like and what we don’t like. »
Biron retired in October 2013, after a great career of 16 years, including 3 with the Rangers. He only has good memories of Lundqvist… and his intensity.
“My biggest contribution to Henrik is probably off the ice,” he says. After an hour and a half flight, we got off the plane, and he still had smoke coming out of his ears. [en raison] of the match he had just played. »
“I’m a pretty laid back guy. If we win, OK, if we lose, we have a match tomorrow, whatever. He was completely the opposite. It was kind of my job to get her to not have these swings of emotions. That’s when I said, “We’re going to watch movies, TV, try to unplug a bit.” »
Biron also remembers that morning of the 2012 Winter Classic. He was having lunch at the hotel with his family when Lundqvist’s wife, Therese Andersson, came to see him.
“How is Henrik this morning?” she asked him.
– He is correct. Why ? replied Biron.
“I texted him. I wrote: “Good morning, I hope all is well. Good luck today, we love you very much, we are very proud of you and everything will be fine.” He replied, “Okay.” »
The 44-year-old bursts out laughing when he tells this anecdote. ” [Henrik] was so in his bubble that, even when his wife sent him a text message of encouragement, he stayed in his bubble! »
Intense, they said. And that’s not all. “King Henrik” was also a particularly generous teammate.
“Every time he had a shutout, he would buy four bottles of wine. On the plane, the next trip, he made a lottery and gave away the four bottles. He was picking randomly, but it was a reward for helping him get a shutout. He had 64 in the National League. It cost him a lot of wine, but the guys liked it! »
Ultimately, all Lundqvist failed to get was a Stanley Cup ring. Nevertheless, according to Biron, there is no doubt that his friend will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTIN BIRON
Kevin Weekes, Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron
” [L’ex-joueur] Kevin Weekes said it in his speech : Lundqvist’s next trip to the world of hockey is in Toronto, in the Hall of Fame. He was so dominating. Of course, a Stanley Cup would have been candy for him. It would have been an incredible achievement. But he won the Olympics. »
And the hearts of New York fans. And that, we imagine that it is priceless.