NHL

Henrik Lundqvist issues heartfelt farewell after Rangers buyout

And now for New York’s emotional farewell to Henrik Lundqvist.

The Rangers officially bought out Lundqvist’s contract Wednesday morning, announcing the organization was parting ways with the goaltender who team president John Davidson referred to as “one of the best players in the history of our franchise.”

As the curtains lowered on the veteran’s 15-year tenure on Broadway, the 38-year-old Lundqvist took to social media to reflect on his time with the Rangers and take his final bow.

“THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!” he wrote. “15 years ago, I played my first game for @NYRangers I came here with high hopes and big dreams but in my wildest imagination, I could never have pictured the amazing ride that lay ahead.

“Representing this organization has been the biggest source of pride and joy in my life. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, for the friendships and for all the great memories created wearing the red, white and blue. I will always cherish my time as a Ranger.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”

Henrik Lundqvist Rangers buyout
Henrik Lundqvist’s time with the Rangers is over after the team bought out his contract.AP

The beginning of the end of Lundqvist’s career with the Rangers came with the January call-up of Igor Shesterkin, who is expected to be the No. 1 goalie with Alex Georgiev as backup. Lundqvist started just one of the team’s final 19 regular-season games, but proved himself enough in the pre-bubble training camp to earn the starting nod for Games 1 and 2 of the play-in round against the Hurricanes when Shesterkin was sidelined with a groin injury.

However, Lundqvist was moved to the bench for Game 3 when Shesterkin returned, ending the King’s streak of 129 consecutive postseason starts that dated to 2006.

Buying out the final season of his seven-year, $59.9 million deal that began in 2014-15 opens up $3 million cap space in 2020-21 for the Rangers. After shipping Marc Staal and his $5.7 million cap hit, as well as a second-round draft-pick sweetener, to the Red Wings last weekend in exchange for future considerations, the Rangers have just over $23 million of cap space.

Lundqvist’s buyout will add $1.5 million in dead space for the 2021-22 season.

“This great city has now been my home for a long time,” Lundqvist continued in his five-part “Thank You” message on social media. “So much to love about this place. Sure, it’s not always perfect but pretty close. I know we’re facing some challenges as a city so let’s do what New Yorkers do best, come together and get back to where we want to be!

“… In some ways, I feel like I grew up here and I will forever appreciate you, New York City! I’ll see you around!”

For all the thrills, postseason triumphs and highlight-reel, game-saving stops Lundqvist gave the Rangers, the one thing he couldn’t deliver was a Stanley Cup. But 1994 Rangers Cup champion goaltender Mike Richter said on The Post’s “Up in the Blue Seats” podcast Wednesday that fact shouldn’t count against his case for a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“They have their criteria for the Hall and in a team game winning championships is always paramount, but just look at the body of work the guy did,” Richter said. “I don’t know if it’s fair to hold it against him, he had such a consistent career, a consistently high-level career.”

The respect and admiration for Lundqvist goes well beyond Rangers brass and alum and Madison Square Garden personnel, as several of his teammates, broadcasters and other athletes offered up their interpretation Wednesday of what the Swedish netminder meant to New York.

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo was one of the first players to pay tribute to Lundqvist, writing on Twitter, “Anytime you talk about Rangers you think of Hank.” Adam Fox, who grew up a Rangers fan on Long Island and was 7 years old during Lundqvist’s rookie season, detailed how he grew up watching Lundqvist and Staal and tweeted it was an “honor to get to play with them.”

MSG Network’s John Giannone thanked Lundqvist for being “an elite-class goaltender” and “first-class person.” He also added: “In three decades in my business, I’ve rarely encountered a more cooperative, respectful athlete.”

Even tennis star Roger Federer chimed in, referring to Lundqvist as the “King of NYC.”

“Few players have been as important to the Rangers franchise as Henrik Lundqvist, and we are incredibly grateful for all he has done for our organization,” MSG CEO James Dolan said in a statement. “Over his 15-year tenure, he not only established himself as one of the best goaltenders to ever play the game, he has also been one of hockey’s fiercest competitors and most effective ambassadors. He will always be a part of the Rangers family.”