Lundqvist Bets on Founders Over Products in Post-Rangers Deals

How Henrik Lundqvist Built His Second Career | The Deal — Bloomberg Originals

Bloomberg Originals

Retired NHL goaltender Henrik Lundqvist says venture returns hinge on leadership execution rather than product appeal, making the discipline to reject pitches his most vital business filter.

AI-assisted summary of How Henrik Lundqvist Built His Second Career | The Deal — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Henrik Lundqvist evaluates business opportunities by vetting leadership character over product viability, relying on the discipline of saying 'no' to screen inbound deals. (0:00)
  • NHL franchise valuations have surged from $400 million–$500 million five years ago to routinely reaching $2 billion, driven by elite on-ice product and international best-on-best tournaments. (4:04)
  • Following his playing career, Lundqvist partnered with MSG executive chairman Jim Dolan to take on an official brand ambassadorship spanning broadcast analysis, community appearances, and corporate events. (12:01)
  • To oversee his business and wealth management, Lundqvist relies on a complementary dynamic with 17-year business manager Adam Campbell (CMG) and J.P. Morgan, pairing Campbell's data-driven due diligence with his own gut instincts. (14:36)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by Bloomberg Originals on October 22, 2026, this episode of "The Deal" features Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in conversation with hosts Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly. The program explores how the Olympic and World Championship gold medalist transitioned from his iconic on-ice career to building business opportunities and continuing his work with Madison Square Garden and executive chairman Jim Dolan.

## TL;DR In this interview, Henrik Lundqvist shares his journey from arriving in New York as an anonymous 23-year-old rookie to becoming a celebrated franchise icon and active businessman. He outlines his core investment philosophy of prioritizing strong leadership over the product itself, supported by a 17-year partnership with his business manager to balance gut instinct with hard data. Lundqvist also discusses his ongoing post-career relationship with Madison Square Garden as a brand ambassador, his transition to national television analysis on TNT, and his deep commitment to philanthropy through the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation and the Garden of Dreams.

## Atmosphere & style The conversation has a warm, highly respectful, and reflective tone, feeling like an intimate boardroom chat between elite peers who understand the unique pressures of New York sports. The dynamic between Lundqvist and co-host Alex Rodriguez is particularly engaging, filled with mutual admiration and lighthearted banter about the transition to sports business and the humor of armchair critics. It feels deeply personal yet professionally insightful, capturing Lundqvist's transition from the high-stakes, singular focus of a goaltender to the multi-dimensional, collaborative world of business and philanthropy.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) Henrik Lundqvist evaluates business opportunities by vetting leadership character over product viability, relying on the discipline of saying 'no' to screen inbound deals. - [04:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=244s) NHL franchise valuations have surged from $400 million–$500 million five years ago to routinely reaching $2 billion, driven by elite on-ice product and international best-on-best tournaments. - [12:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=721s) Following his playing career, Lundqvist partnered with MSG executive chairman Jim Dolan to take on an official brand ambassadorship spanning broadcast analysis, community appearances, and corporate events. - [14:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=876s) To oversee his business and wealth management, Lundqvist relies on a complementary dynamic with 17-year business manager Adam Campbell (CMG) and J.P. Morgan, pairing Campbell's data-driven due diligence with his own gut instincts.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) Lundqvist approaches investing by betting on leadership and execution rather than product hype, prioritizing the discipline to say 'no'. - [00:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=56s) Drafted in the 7th round in 2000, Lundqvist arrived in New York in 2005 at age 23 and overcame early doubt by holding firm confidence in his preparation. - [02:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=160s) Competing against NHL stars in the Swedish Elite League during the 2004–05 lockout proved to Lundqvist that he could succeed at the highest level in North America. - [04:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=244s) Rapidly escalating NHL franchise valuations to around $2 billion reflect the strength of the on-ice product and high-profile international rivalries. - [07:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=439s) Playing for an Original Six franchise with a century-long legacy instills institutional pride that keeps young athletes humble. - [07:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=475s) Lundqvist established a personal connection with MSG CEO Jim Dolan over shared interests, including music, while developing respect for MSG's operational scale. - [10:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=608s) Top-tier sports ownership removes player excuses by investing heavily in micro-details such as training facilities, game preparation, and five-star travel. - [12:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=721s) Dolan offered Lundqvist an open door to remain part of the MSG family well before his retirement, facilitating his transition into an ambassadorial role. - [13:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=780s) Retirement brings an emotional shift from intense pre-game tunnel vision to genuine gratitude and presence in the arena. - [14:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=876s) Lundqvist manages his post-playing business infrastructure by balancing his own intuitive reads on founders with business manager Adam Campbell's financial data analysis. - [17:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1079s) As a national NHL analyst for TNT, Lundqvist focuses on player psychology and split-second mechanics to deliver balanced, non-partisan commentary. - [19:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1145s) Fan criticism is often detached from on-ice reality, as high seating and slow-motion television replays create a false perception that the game is easy. - [20:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1232s) Lundqvist's rookie-season involvement with the Garden of Dreams Foundation established his belief that elite athletes carry a duty of civic responsibility. - [21:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1263s) Together with his wife Therese, Lundqvist established the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation to support partner organizations in the US and Sweden alongside youth leadership initiatives. - [22:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1371s) Lundqvist remains one of only 11 players in New York Rangers history to have his jersey number retired to the rafters of Madison Square Garden.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) Business Philosophy: Betting on People Over Products

The conversation opens with Henrik Lundqvist outlining his fundamental approach to vetting business deals and investments. Faced with an endless stream of inbound offers, he emphasizes that the power of refusal is far more critical than simply accepting proposals. When evaluating whether to pursue an opportunity, Lundqvist focuses his attention less on the product itself and more on the leadership steering the ship. Having experienced both successful and unsuccessful ventures throughout his career, he has learned that ultimate success always comes down to execution, which is dictated by the character and capability of the leadership team at the top.

As Lundqvist explains his guiding criteria for investments: “I bet on people more than the product because I've had some good deals, some bad deals.”

Hosts Jason Kelly and Alex Rodriguez introduce Lundqvist as a legendary New York Ranger who arrived in Manhattan from Sweden and never looked back. Rodriguez highlights Lundqvist's standing as one of the most respected and revered figures in New York sports history, praising his deep ties to Madison Square Garden, his long-standing relationship with MSG executive chairman and CEO Jim Dolan, and his extensive philanthropic work.

```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Lundqvist Business Decision Framework accDescr: Decision flow showing how opportunities are filtered by leadership quality over product appeal.

subgraph Inbound["Opportunity Intake"] A["Inbound Pitch / Deal"] --> B{"First Filter"} end

subgraph Evaluation["Leadership Assessment"] B -->|"Prioritize 'No'"| C["Pass on Deal"] B -->|"Evaluate Leadership"| D{"Bet on People"} end

subgraph Execution["Outcome"] D -->|"Weak Management"| C D -->|"Strong Management"| E["Commit & Execute"] end ```

[00:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=56s) Arriving in New York as a 23-Year-Old Rookie

Kelly begins the sit-down by reflecting on what it meant for Lundqvist to arrive in New York City as a young athlete with ambitions extending beyond the rink. Lundqvist recounts arriving in 2005 at the age of 23. While he had already established a dominant resume in Sweden—winning championships and earning recognition as the premier goaltender in the country—he arrived in North America essentially anonymous. Drafted in the seventh round by the Rangers five years earlier in 2000, he came to town with an open mind, acute excitement, and a touch of anxiety. He had heard about the mythology surrounding an Original Six franchise and the relentless glare of the New York media market, but admits that nothing fully prepares an athlete until they live it firsthand.

Rodriguez touches on the psychological reality behind athletic success, asking whether Lundqvist suffered from imposter syndrome or intimidation when stepping onto the ice at Madison Square Garden. Lundqvist acknowledges experiencing fleeting moments of doubt, wondering if the opportunity was simply too good to be true. However, having left behind his family, friends, and support network in Sweden, he realized that self-doubt could easily derail his career if allowed to fester. He forced himself to maintain absolute conviction that he belonged on that stage.

His confidence was anchored in his final season in Sweden during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Because the North American season was canceled, premier NHL talent flocked to the Swedish Elite League (Elitserien). Competing directly against elite NHL stars and goaltenders—and ultimately winning the Swedish championship—gave Lundqvist concrete, firsthand proof that he could hold his own at the highest level: - Lundqvist arrived in New York in 2005 at age 23 after being selected in the 7th round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. - Adapting to the North American game required adjusting to a smaller ice sheet, quicker play, and higher player skill levels. - “So if you don't come with that mindset that I'm going to make it, that doubt can definitely be a hurdle,” Lundqvist notes regarding the mental resolve needed to relocate across the Atlantic.

[04:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=244s) The Post-Lockout NHL and the Explosion of Franchise Valuations

The transition to the NHL in 2005 coincided with a delicate recovery period for the sport. Kelly and Rodriguez observe that hockey was re-establishing itself with fans after a full season was lost to the lockout, drawing parallels to Rodriguez's experience as an MLB rookie during the 1994 baseball strike. Lundqvist recalls that the entire league felt a collective pressure to rebuild fan trust and shake off rust, especially since several players had taken an entire calendar year off from competition. In New York, the Rangers rapidly captured momentum, making his rookie year an exhilarating ride.

Turning to the present day, Rodriguez points out the astonishing financial ascent of NHL franchises, which traded hands for $400 million to $500 million just five or six years ago and now routinely command $2 billion valuations. Lundqvist welcomes this hyper-growth as a devoted fan of the sport. He attributes the surging enterprise values to the quality of the on-ice product, international best-on-best showcases (such as the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Winter Olympics), and intense cross-border rivalries like Canada versus the United States that draw massive global viewership. While hockey ranks behind soccer in Sweden and trails other major leagues in the United States, Lundqvist is energized by the sport's global cultural momentum.

Summarizing what drives these multi-billion dollar valuations, Lundqvist states: “So when you look at the value of different organisations, it starts with, in my mind, the product.”

[07:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=439s) The Madison Square Garden Machine and Jim Dolan

Reflecting on his integration into the New York Rangers organization, Lundqvist highlights the unique responsibility of representing an Original Six team with more than a century of history. He notes that the Dolan family and the MSG leadership excel at honoring the franchise's heritage. Playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden provided an immediate grounding effect for a young player; no matter how well an individual performs, the weight of the institution reminds them that they are merely one chapter in a century-long legacy: “And that to me as a young player keeps you in check a little bit too.”

When asked about his dynamic with Jim Dolan, Lundqvist recalls that they had minimal contact during his rookie season, but gradually forged a connection over shared interests—chief among them, a deep passion for music. Lundqvist even attended a concert Dolan performed with his band in Stockholm years ago. Over his tenure, Lundqvist developed immense respect for the operational complexity required to run MSG, Radio City Music Hall, the Sphere in Las Vegas, and iconic sports teams simultaneously.

Now retired, Lundqvist reflects on the contrast between the simplicity of his playing days and the multidimensional demands of life after hockey. Running a modern business entails endless decision-making and operational fires, whereas an athlete’s focus is singular. Whenever he laces up his skates today, he finds solace in the purity of the goaltender's job: - The New York Rangers' centennial identity fosters institutional pride that keeps players humble. - Operating the MSG entertainment ecosystem—from team operations and concerts to the Sphere—functions as an intricate daily "machine." - “And now when I'm retired, I come back to how easy life was when I just had to stop a puck,” Lundqvist remarks when comparing professional business complexity to professional sports focus.

[10:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=608s) The Player-Owner Dynamic and Jim Dolan’s Investment

Alex Rodriguez opens by reflecting on his own recent transition into sports ownership, admitting that sitting on the business side has given him a completely fresh appreciation for what owners face. While he sometimes misses the pure simplicity of “hit ball, see ball”—much like a goaltender stopping a puck—Rodriguez emphasizes that running a conglomerate like Madison Square Garden Sports is immensely demanding, and he praises Jim Dolan for being surprisingly underrated when it comes to numbers and business instincts. When Rodriguez asks what lessons Henrik Lundqvist learned from his relationship with Dolan as player, owner, and now colleague, Lundqvist points directly to Dolan’s willingness to spare no expense for the roster. In Lundqvist’s eyes, a truly great owner removes every possible excuse by investing in state-of-the-art training facilities, five-star travel accommodations, and first-rate game preparation.

Beyond the competitive resources, Lundqvist highlights the deep personal loyalty Dolan showed him and his family when his career came to a close. Having his No. 30 jersey raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden was an emotional milestone, made seamless by the organization’s generosity toward his family. As Lundqvist explains: “To me, it's an owner that invests in the team and gives all the players an opportunity to perform at the highest level.”

- Rodriguez observes that running multiple franchises under one corporate roof requires an exceptional feel for numbers that outsiders frequently overlook. - High-level athlete care comes down to the micro-details: the standard of the practice facility, hotel quality, and travel arrangements. - Dolan and the Rangers front office ensured Lundqvist’s family was closely embraced and supported during his retirement ceremonies.

[12:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=721s) Transitioning into the Next Chapter as an MSG Ambassador

Lundqvist explains that roughly halfway through his tenure with the Rangers, he recognized that New York City and Madison Square Garden were places where he wanted to anchor himself permanently, even if his role would eventually evolve. Toward the end of his playing days, he sat down for an open conversation with Jim Dolan, who offered unconditional support. Dolan told him directly that whenever he decided to hang up his skates, the organization wanted him to remain an active part of the MSG family. For an athlete who spent his entire career in a single market, that institutional loyalty was rare validation for the years of sweat equity he had poured into the building.

That understanding paved the way for his post-playing transition—a phrase Lundqvist prefers to call his “next chapter in life” rather than retirement, which he feels sounds far too passive. Over his first year off the ice, his responsibilities crystallized into an official ambassadorship for MSG, spanning television coverage, community appearances, charity galas, and attending Knicks and Rangers games. He jokes with Rodriguez that while Rodriguez was naturally social during his playing days, Lundqvist used to maintain intense tunnel vision on game nights. Away from that suffocating competitive pressure, Lundqvist finds himself far more present, soaking in the building’s atmosphere and experiencing goosebumps born out of pure gratitude rather than pregame nerves.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Lundqvist Post-Career MSG Ambassador Path accDescr: Diagram tracing Lundqvist's progression from franchise goaltender to Madison Square Garden ambassador. subgraph PlayingDays["On-Ice Career"] A["15 seasons with NY Rangers"] --> B["Tunnel vision & total game focus"] end subgraph TransitionPhase["Front Office Alignment"] B --> C["Late-career meeting with Jim Dolan"] C --> D["Open-door offer for post-retirement role"] end subgraph AmbassadorRole["The Next Chapter"] D --> E["MSG Brand Ambassador"] E --> F["Broadcast studio analysis"] E --> G["Charity & corporate events"] E --> H["Knicks & Rangers games presence"] end ```

- Dolan offered Lundqvist an open door before he even stepped away, telling him: “Whenever you're deciding to walk away from the game, just know that we would love for you to be a part of this.” - Lundqvist notes that entering the arena today brings a different emotional register—one of appreciation rather than high-stakes game tension.

[14:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=876s) Assembling the Business Team: Gut Instinct vs. Hard Data

Transitioning from active player to businessman forced Lundqvist to rethink his daily infrastructure. In his early twenties, his financial decisions were simple: whether he could afford another guitar, buy a new car, or rent his first apartment. As his personal life expanded to include marriage, children, schooling, insurance, and complex investments, the administrative load grew considerably. Lundqvist emphasizes that young players rarely have the bandwidth or genuine interest to sit through lengthy finance calls after games. To protect his focus, he formed a tight circle of trust early in his career, partnering with business manager Adam Campbell at CMG—a working relationship that has spanned 17 years.

When fielding investment opportunities across New York City, Lundqvist relies on Campbell’s analytical discipline while following his own intuition regarding leadership. He stresses that in a market saturated with pitches, having the discipline to say “no” is far more valuable than saying “yes.” While Campbell and advisors at J.P. Morgan evaluate the balance sheets and conduct formal due diligence, Lundqvist evaluates the character and drive of the founders running the venture. Summarizing their complementary dynamic, Lundqvist remarks: “I'm more gut, he's more data.”

- Lundqvist has maintained the exact same business management relationship with Adam Campbell at CMG for 17 consecutive years. - His broader advisory framework incorporates institutional wealth management through J.P. Morgan. - Lundqvist’s principal rule in evaluating deals is betting on the people executing the vision rather than just the underlying product.

[17:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1079s) Television Analysis on TNT and the View from Row 40

When Lundqvist moved behind the desk as a national NHL analyst for TNT, his dynamic with hockey fans shifted. Rodriguez compares this to his own transition joining Fox's MLB broadcasts alongside Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Kevin Burkhardt, noting that broadcasting puts an athlete's voice on display rather than their physical talent. Lundqvist acknowledges the challenge of shedding his lifelong identity as a Ranger when covering the league nationally. He consciously watches his tone during Rangers broadcasts to avoid sounding like a partisan cheerleader, aiming instead to earn viewers’ trust through even-handed insight.

Rather than over-relying on exhaustive prep binders, Lundqvist anchors his analysis in first-hand psychological experience. He uses his platform to unpack split-second plays that look like catastrophic blunders on slow-motion television replays, explaining the hidden positioning cues and thought processes of the players on the ice. This sparks banter between Rodriguez and Lundqvist about how perspective warps fan criticism. Lundqvist quips that fans sitting directly on the glass rarely claim to have all the answers because the puck moves too fast, whereas spectators sitting up in row 40—or lounging on home couches with five instant replays and a social media account—believe the game is simple. As Lundqvist puts it: “The higher up you sit in the stands, the better you are.”

- Lundqvist avoids looking like an overt partisan on national TV by framing controversial plays through player psychology rather than team allegiance. - His broadcasting philosophy centers on explaining split-second mistakes that casual television viewers easily misinterpret. - Rodriguez and Lundqvist joke that high-altitude seats, DVR replays, and social media give armchair critics an illusion of omniscience.

[20:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1232s) Philanthropic Foundations: The Garden of Dreams

Jason Kelly brings the discussion to Lundqvist’s extensive philanthropic footprint alongside his wife. Lundqvist traces the roots of his charitable strategy directly back to his rookie year in 2005, when he first arrived in New York and was introduced to Madison Square Garden's flagship charity, the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Working with the foundation opened his eyes early in his twenties to the outsized platform and positive social influence an athlete possesses in Manhattan, laying the groundwork for his family's long-term community work.

- Lundqvist joined the Garden of Dreams Foundation immediately upon arriving in New York as a rookie in 2005. - The MSG-affiliated charity served as his foundational education in using an athletic profile for community impact.

[21:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1263s) Giving Back and Launching the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation

Reflecting on his development both on and off the ice, Henrik Lundqvist describes how playing in New York and being surrounded by the Madison Square Garden organization offered invaluable lessons early in his career. Reaching the pinnacle of professional hockey brought a realization that his role carried duties far beyond athletic performance. As Lundqvist explains: “We talked earlier about when you reach a certain level, it's more than just stopping a puck.” While he possessed a natural drive to help grow the sport of hockey, his philanthropic perspective deepened dramatically through firsthand charity interactions, many of which originated through the MSG-affiliated Garden of Dreams Foundation. Moments spent comforting sick children or helping young people secure educational opportunities revealed the tangible, uplifting power of direct community engagement.

Those experiences prompted Lundqvist and his wife, Therese, to expand their philanthropic footprint and establish an independent charitable vehicle that could impact both their adopted home in the United States and their native Sweden. Together, they founded the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation. Their initial blueprint centered on assembling an experienced governing board composed of longtime personal supporters who possessed robust professional networks. From there, the foundation targeted established partner institutions with which they could collaborate directly, while also designing original initiatives such as their flagship Young Ambassador Program to empower the next generation.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Henrik Lundqvist Foundation Structure accDescr: Diagram illustrating the board, key partner organizations, and internal youth initiative of the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation.

HLF["Henrik Lundqvist Foundation<br/>(Co-founded with wife Therese)"]

subgraph Partners ["Core Partner Organizations"] NYP["NewYork-Presbyterian<br/>Children's Hospital"] RMH["Ronald McDonald House<br/>(Sweden)"] FBNY["Food Bank For New York City"] end

subgraph InHouse ["Signature Initiatives"] YAP["Young Ambassador Program<br/>(Youth Service & Leadership)"] end

HLF --> Partners HLF --> InHouse ```

- **Foundational Motivation**: Lundqvist felt that elite athletic success carries a civic duty: “With that comes some sort of responsibility.” - **Core Institutional Partners**: - NewYork-Presbyterian Children's Hospital in New York City - Ronald McDonald House in Sweden - Food Bank For New York City - **Young Ambassador Program**: An internal educational initiative designed to inspire and mobilize youth to experience community service firsthand, reinforcing the personal fulfillment that comes from charitable action.

[22:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1371s) Celebrating a New York Legacy

The conversation concludes with the hosts praising Lundqvist's legendary run in New York sports and his graceful transition into post-hockey pursuits. As fellow New York athletic icons reflecting on shared history in the city, the hosts honor Lundqvist's extraordinary standing in Rangers franchise history, highlighting that he is one of only eleven players to have had their jersey number retired to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. Lundqvist humbly acknowledges the tribute as the interview comes to a close, exchanging warm thanks with the hosts for revisiting his journey across sports, business, and community impact.

## Notable quotes > [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) I bet on people more than the product because I've had some good deals, some bad deals. — Henrik Lundqvist

> [17:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1079s) The higher up you sit in the stands, the better you are. — Henrik Lundqvist

## Mentioned Henrik Lundqvist, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Kelly, Jim Dolan, Madison Square Garden, New York Rangers, Hockey Hall of Fame, International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, Swedish Elite League, Radio City Music Hall, Sphere, Adam Campbell, CMG, J.P. Morgan, TNT, Fox, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Kevin Burkhardt, Garden of Dreams Foundation, Therese Lundqvist, Henrik Lundqvist Foundation, NewYork-Presbyterian Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Food Bank For New York City, Young Ambassador Program, New York Knicks

## Video description Henrik Lundqvist isn’t just a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, but he’s one of only 11 New York Rangers to have had his jersey retired.

In this episode of The Deal, the Olympic and World Championship gold medalist tells Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly why he wanted to keep working at Madison Square Garden with Jim Dolan and how he developed business opportunities while still on the ice.

#Hockey #Sports #Business

-------- Like this video? Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/Bloomberg?sub_confirmation=1

Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com for just $1.99 your first month: https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions?in_source=YoutubeOriginals Bloomberg Originals offers bold takes for curious minds on today’s biggest topics. Hosted by experts covering stories you haven’t seen and viewpoints you haven’t heard, you’ll discover cinematic, data-led shows that investigate the intersection of business and culture. Exploring every angle of climate change, technology, finance, sports and beyond, Bloomberg Originals is business as you’ve never seen it.

Subscribe for business news, but not as you've known it: exclusive interviews, fascinating profiles, data-driven analysis, and the latest in tech innovation from around the world.

Visit our partner channel Bloomberg News for global news and insight in an instant.

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E)

中文简报

告别游骑兵队转战投资,伦德奎斯特押注创始人而非产品 已退役的NHL守门员亨里克·伦德奎斯特表示,风投回报取决于领导层的执行力而非产品吸引力,因此懂得果断拒绝投资提议是他最核心的商业筛选标准。 在本次访谈中,亨里克·伦德奎斯特分享了自己从23岁初抵纽约时默默无闻的新秀,蜕变为备受赞誉的球队传奇及活跃商界人士的心路历程。他阐述了看重强大领导力而非产品本身的核心投资哲学,并依靠与商务经理长达17年的合作,在直觉与硬核数据之间取得平衡。此外,伦德奎斯特还探讨了退役后作为品牌大使与麦迪逊广场花园保持的持续合作、转型担任TNT全国电视赛事解说分析员的经历,以及通过亨里克·伦德奎斯特基金会和“梦想花园”基金会投身慈善事业的坚定承诺。 亨里克·伦德奎斯特在评估商业机会时,对领导层品格的考察重于产品可行性,并依靠果断拒绝的自律来筛选主动寻求投资的项目。 (0:00) 在顶尖冰上比赛水准及顶级国际赛事的推动下,NHL球队估值已从五年前的4亿至5亿美元大幅攀升,普遍达到20亿美元。 (4:04) 结束球员生涯后,伦德奎斯特与麦迪逊广场花园执行董事长吉姆·多兰合作出任官方品牌大使,职责涵盖转播分析、社区活动与企业合作。 (12:01) 在统筹商业与财富管理方面,伦德奎斯特依托与合作17年的商务经理亚当·坎贝尔(CMG)及摩根大通的互补机制,将坎贝尔基于数据的尽职调查与自身的直觉判断相结合。 (14:36)

Reading summary

Former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist attributes his successful transition from elite hockey to business, broadcasting, and community leadership to prioritizing trusted management over product pitches, maintaining institutional ties, and cultivating civic responsibility. Vetting Investments Through Leadership and Gut Instinct (0:00) Lundqvist's business philosophy prioritizes evaluating people over underlying products, informed by his experience that commercial outcomes hinge almost entirely on management execution. In a market saturated with investment proposals, he regards the discipline to decline offers as his primary operational safeguard. Rather than analyzing balance sheets alone, he focuses on the character, drive, and capability of executive founders before committing capital. To manage his administrative and investment obligations without compromising his schedule, Lundqvist structured a tight advisory circle early in his professional career. He has partnered with business manager Adam Campbell at CMG for 17 consecutive years, combining Campbell's analytical data vetting and J.P. Morgan's wealth management due diligence with his own personal intuition regarding team leadership. Acclimating to Manhattan and Market Pressures (0:56) Selected in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Lundqvist arrived in New York in 2005 at age 23 after winning a championship in the Swedish Elite League during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Facing North American stars in Sweden gave him the psychological conviction needed to counter self-doubt and adapt to the smaller rink, increased game speed, and intense media scrutiny of the New York market. Arriving just as the NHL resumed operations after a lost season, Lundqvist experienced firsthand the league's collective drive to restore fan trust. In the decades since, franchise valuations have expanded from $400 million to $500 million five or six years ago to modern benchmarks exceeding $2 billion. Lundqvist attributes this growth to high on-ice product standards, international best-on-best tournaments like the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Winter Olympics, and intense cross-border rivalries. Institutional Alignment with Madison Square Garden (7:19) Lundqvist emphasizes that playing within the historic framework of an Original Six franchise like the New York Rangers instills humility, reminding athletes that they represent merely one phase of a century-long legacy. Over his 15-season tenure, he developed a personal and professional relationship with MSG executive chairman and CEO Jim Dolan, bonded partly by a shared passion for music and mutual institutional loyalty. Lundqvist highlights that Dolan supported team performance by investing extensively in top-tier practice facilities, five-star accommodations, and operational resources to eliminate player excuses. Before Lundqvist retired, Dolan offered him an open door to remain within the organization, leading to Lundqvist's post-career role as an official MSG ambassador participating in community events, television coverage, and institutional galas across the Madison Square Garden ecosystem. National Media Analysis and Cross-Border Philanthropy (17:59) Transitioning to national television as an NHL analyst for TNT, Lundqvist consciously avoids partisan coverage of the Rangers, focusing instead on explaining split-second psychological reads and positioning cues that casual viewers and armchair commentators often misinterpret. He notes that critical perspective shifts significantly from the speed at ice level compared to distant arena seating or slow-motion home broadcasts. Off the ice, Lundqvist and his wife Therese expanded their charitable efforts beyond MSG's Garden of Dreams Foundation by establishing the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation. Governed by a board of trusted advisers, the foundation focuses on initiatives across both the United States and Sweden, partnering directly with NewYork-Presbyterian Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House in Sweden, and Food Bank For New York City, while operating its proprietary Young Ambassador Program to train youth in service and leadership. Lundqvist's post-retirement model highlights how elite athletes can leverage long-term brand equity, institutional loyalty, and selective advisory partnerships to build enduring second careers. However, his path relied substantially on remaining in a single media market for 15 years alongside an owner willing to grant continued access, leaving open questions about how easily this transition framework can be adopted by athletes who change franchises frequently.

精炼阅读摘要

纽约游骑兵队传奇门将Henrik Lundqvist在接受彭博专访时分享了他的职业转型逻辑:退役并非被动的终结,而是从单一的赛场专注扩展到多维的商业投资、媒体分析与公益事业,其核心准则是重视管理团队的执行力胜过产品本身。 商业决策逻辑:以人为本与果断拒绝 (0:00) 面对纽约市场上源源不断的商业项目提案,Lundqvist认为具备果断拒绝的定力远比盲目接受更重要。在评估商业机会时,相比产品本身的噱头,他将主要注意力放在领导团队的品格与执行能力上。他坦言自己既经历过成功的交易,也遭遇过失败的投资,而最终结果往往由掌舵团队的执行力决定,因此他奉行“投人胜过投产品”的核心原则。 在个人资产配置与财务后台建设上,Lundqvist从职业生涯早期便建立了严格的信任架构,与CMG的业务经理Adam Campbell保持了长达17年的稳定合作,并引入J.P. Morgan等专业机构开展尽职调查。Campbell负责严密的财务数据把关,Lundqvist则依靠直觉评估创始团队的抱负与品格,形成“理性数据配合直觉判断”的互补决策机制,使他能够在运动员时期以及转型后始终规避不必要的财务消耗。 麦迪逊广场花园体系与所有者支持 (7:19) 2005年以23岁新秀身份跨越大西洋进入NHL时,Lundqvist凭借2004–05赛季瑞典停摆期与多位顶级NHL球星正面交手的夺冠经历,克服了对纽约大市场的自我怀疑。效力游骑兵队15个赛季期间,麦迪逊广场花园(MSG)这家拥有百年底蕴的原初六队(Original Six)文化始终让他保持谦逊,认识到个人成就仅仅是历史长河中的一个章节。 Lundqvist对MSG执行主席兼首席执行官Jim Dolan的管理方式给予高度评价,强调优秀球队老板的核心价值在于通过不惜成本的硬件投入消除一切竞技借口,包括提供顶尖训练设施与顶级差旅保障。Dolan不仅在管理MSG、无线电城音乐厅和拉斯维加斯Sphere等庞大商业资产时展现出被低估的商业直觉,更在Lundqvist退役前主动为其敞开大门,确保其30号球衣退役并平稳过渡为MSG官方品牌大使,参与转播、社区活动和两大球队现场观赛,将赛场影响延续为长久的主场归属。 转播解说的专业视角与行业价值爆发 (17:59) 加入TNT担任NHL全美赛事转播解说员后,Lundqvist经历了解说视角的彻底转变。为了建立广泛受众的信任,他刻意剥离身为游骑兵队终身标志的偏向立场,避免成为单方面的啦啦队员,转而利用自身心理与实战经验,向观众拆解那些在电视慢镜头回放中看似低级的瞬间失误,呈现冰面上电光石火的战术站位与决策压力。 在探讨行业宏观走势时,节目主持人指出NHL球队估值已从五六年前的4亿至5亿美元普遍跃升至20亿美元水平。Lundqvist认为,这一跨越式增长的根基在于高水平的冰上比赛产品,并通过“四国对抗赛”(4 Nations Face-Off)、冬季奥运会等高规格国际赛事以及美加两国的激烈对抗,大幅拉动了全球受众的关注度与商业价值。 公益架构深化:从花园梦想到底层赋能 (21:03) Lundqvist对社会责任的认知始于2005年新秀赛季加入MSG旗下的“花园梦想基金会”(Garden of Dreams Foundation),早年探望患病儿童及扶助青少年的经历使他体会到顶级运动员平台所承载的公共义务。他强调,当竞技生涯达到特定高度后,个人角色就远远超出了“扑出冰球”的单一范畴。 为了构建长期稳定的公益网络,Lundqvist与妻子Therese共同成立了Henrik Lundqvist Foundation。该基金会吸纳了具备深厚行业资源的长期支持者组成理事会,不仅与纽约长老会儿童医院、瑞典麦当劳叔叔之家及纽约市食品银行等成熟机构达成战略合作,还自主创立了“青年大使计划”(Young Ambassador Program),通过实践培养年轻一代参与社区服务的领导力与责任感,形成了跨越美瑞两国的系统化慈善体系。 Lundqvist展示了从顶尖门将向商界与传媒领域转型的清晰路径,将专注力从扑救单一目标拓展至管理复杂的企业、解说与慈善项目。但访谈主要基于其个人声望与优质资源的顺畅转换,对于非核心球星在面对严峻商业竞争与预算约束时能否复刻这种“投人”与“拒绝”策略,仍有待更广泛的现实检验。

Detailed notes — zh

## Background 本期视频由彭博旗下的视频频道 Bloomberg Originals 于 2026 年 10 月 22 日发布在 YouTube 平台。节目属于商业访谈栏目《The Deal》,由 Alex Rodriguez 与 Jason Kelly 共同主持,主要探讨入选冰球名人堂的传奇门将、纽约游骑兵队名宿 Henrik Lundqvist 如何在退役后开启第二事业,并深度揭秘他与麦迪逊广场花园掌舵人 Jim Dolan 的合作以及在冰场之外的商业布局。 ## TL;DR 节目围绕冰球传奇 Henrik Lundqvist 从顶级职业运动员向商业投资人与慈善家的成功转型展开深度对话。Lundqvist 分享了他初到纽约时克服自我怀疑并立足联盟的经历,以及见证 NHL 停摆复苏与特许经营球队估值飙升的商业变迁。他详细剖析了自己“押注操盘手而非单纯押注产品”的投资哲学,讲述了与麦迪逊广场花园集团主席 Jim Dolan 的深厚纽带,以及退役后如何依托长期信任圈建立多元化商业版图。此外,他还畅谈了在 TNT 担任全国解说的实战视角,并阐述了创办 Henrik Lundqvist Foundation 回馈纽约与瑞典两地社区的公益使命。 ## Atmosphere & style 整场对话在轻松惬意又极具惺惺相惜的氛围中展开,Alex Rodriguez 与 Lundqvist 两位曾在纽约聚光灯下登顶的体坛巨星碰撞出强烈的职业共鸣。主持风格深入而有温度,既有对商业管理与资产运作的严谨拆解,也不乏关于球迷视角与赛场瞬息万变的幽默调侃。听感从早期独闯大都市的谦逊紧绷,逐渐过渡到功成名就后的从容豁达,生动传递出顶级运动员在人生下半场运筹帷幄的智慧与坦然。 ## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) 传奇门将 Henrik Lundqvist 强调其商业决策核心在于“押注操盘手而非产品本身”,在机会密集的商业环境中,学会适时说“不”远比全盘接受更为关键。 - [04:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=244s) 谈及体育特许经营权估值从数亿美元飙升至超 20 亿美元的现象,Lundqvist 指出其根本驱动力始终在于竞技层面的“核心产品质量”与顶级赛事带来的全球关注度。 - [12:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=721s) 退役后 Lundqvist 选择留在 MSG 生态圈担任形象大使,并与合作长达 17 年的商业经理及专业顾问团队形成互补决策机制,平衡直觉判断与严谨尽调。 - [21:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1263s) 除担任 TNT 全国赛事解说外,Lundqvist 携妻子创立 Henrik Lundqvist Foundation,联动美瑞两地医疗机构,并通过“青年大使计划”培养下一代的社区回馈意识。 ## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) 投资决策应重在人品与执行力:Lundqvist 认为任何商业项目的成败归根结底取决于高层团队的落地执行,因此他更看重操盘手本身而非单纯的产品概念。 - [00:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=56s) 新秀期的破釜沉舟与信心建立:23 岁远渡重洋登陆纽约时,2004 年 NHL 停摆期间与一线球星的交锋为他克服自我怀疑、适应北美比赛节奏打下了坚实基础。 - [04:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=244s) 体育资产估值暴涨依托于核心竞技品质:无论是冬奥会还是跨国对抗赛,高水平的赛事实质是驱动 NHL 特许经营权价值突破数十亿美元的根本原因。 - [07:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=439s) 百年老牌球队文化赋予的谦逊与自豪:作为 Original Six 之一的游骑兵队拥有深厚底蕴,时刻提醒顶尖球员无论个人成就多大都只是宏大机构的一部分。 - [10:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=608s) 优秀球队老板的核心特质在于不遗余力的支持:Lundqvist 赞誉 Jim Dolan 愿为球员提供顶级软硬件资源与人文关怀,全力保障球队在最高水准竞争。 - [12:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=721s) 从终身效力到无缝转型:退役前夕与管理层的默契沟通,让 Lundqvist 得以在挂靴后顺利转型为 MSG 形象大使,涉足赛事解说与多元公关活动。 - [14:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=876s) 早期搭建专业智囊团护航商业版图:与商业经理 Adam Campbell 及专业机构紧密合作 17 年,让球员能将直觉决断与严谨的数据风控深度结合。 - [17:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1079s) 解说转型强调第一视角沉浸感:在 TNT 担任全国转播解说时,Lundqvist 侧重以职业门将的毫秒级反应与心理压力拆解比赛,而非死板罗列数据。 - [21:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1263s) 超越赛场的社会责任与慈善事业拓展:基于在 Garden of Dreams Foundation 的积累,他与妻子正式成立基金会,深度支持儿童医疗与青年领导力项目。 - [22:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1371s) 队史丰碑与纽约传奇:作为游骑兵队史仅有 11 位退役球衣号码的名宿之一,Lundqvist 完成了从顶级赛场征战到商善并举第二人生的完美跨越。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=0s) 投资理念与节目开场 在节目的开篇序幕中,Henrik Lundqvist 分享了自己在面对纷繁机会时的商业决策底层逻辑。他明确指出,面对市场上的诸多机会,学会适时拒绝远比全盘接受更为关键。当被问及如何在纷乱的项目中做出抉择时,Lundqvist 坦言自己历经诸多成功与失败的商业合作,最终领悟到投资的核心不在于产品本身有多诱人,而在于背后操盘的人。Henrik Lundqvist 明确强调:“I bet on people more than the product because I've had some good deals, some bad deals.” 随后,主持人 Jason Kelly 与 Alex Rodriguez 正式开场,宣布本期《The Deal》的专访嘉宾正是传奇门将、纽约游骑兵队(New York Rangers)队史巨星 Henrik Lundqvist。Alex Rodriguez 盛赞 Lundqvist 不仅是冰球界、更是纽约体育史上最受尊敬与崇敬的顶级运动员之一。他从瑞典远道而来,扎根纽约后便再未离开,不仅在麦迪逊广场花园(Madison Square Garden,MSG)建立了深厚的战绩与人脉,与 MSG 的掌舵人 Jim Dolan 结下稳固的合作纽带,更在退役前后大力投身商业与慈善事业。 ```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Lundqvist 商业决策逻辑 accDescr: 展示从筛选项目、审视核心团队到执行落地的决策路径。 subgraph S1["机会筛选"] A["商业机会涌现"] --> B["学会说'不' (精简决策)"] end subgraph S2["核心评估"] B --> C["审视操盘手与高管"] C --> D["押注于人而非单纯押注产品"] end subgraph S3["最终成效"] D --> E["执行力落地与最终成败"] end ``` ### [00:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=56s) 登陆纽约与战胜内心的自我怀疑 对谈正式开始,Jason Kelly 询问 Lundqvist 作为一名雄心不仅限于球场的运动员,初到世界之都纽约时意味着什么。Lundqvist 回忆道,自己于 23 岁离开瑞典来到纽约,当时他已在瑞典斩获多座冠军奖杯,并被公认为瑞典国内的最佳门将。然而踏上纽约的土地后,昔日的荣誉全部归零,他必须从头再来。作为五年前在 NHL 选秀中仅以第七轮被选中的球员,当时在北美鲜有人认识他。虽然早对这座大都市以及作为“原初六队”(Original Six)之一的游骑兵队早有耳闻,但在真正踏入球场前,心理准备依然十分抽象,内心既兴奋、紧张又充满渴望。 Alex Rodriguez 从自身作为职业运动员的角度切入,指出外界常误以为天才球员的生活总是轻松顺遂,但他深知从北欧小国空降至全球第一大媒体市场和最著名的麦迪逊广场花园球馆所带来的心理冲击,因此追问 Lundqvist 当初是否体会过“冒充者综合征”(Imposter Syndrome)或被聚光灯所震慑。Lundqvist 坦承确实偶有怀疑的片刻,但更强烈的信念是坚信自己属于这里。他解释说,背井离乡、舍弃家人、朋友与原有的舒适圈来到大洋彼岸,如果内心没有破釜沉舟的决绝,任何动摇都会变成致命的阻碍。幸运的是,2004 年 NHL 遭遇停摆,当时许多顶级 NHL 球员纷纷远赴瑞典精英联赛(Swedish Elite League)打球,Lundqvist 在那一年不仅率队夺冠,还直接与世界顶尖门将和前锋正面交锋,这为他适应北美的紧凑小球场与更快节奏建立了坚实的信心基础。 - Lundqvist 选秀背景:早在登陆纽约的五年前以第七轮顺位被游骑兵选中。 - 赴美前成就:已在瑞典职业联赛确立霸主地位并夺冠,当选瑞典最佳门将。 - 停摆经验:2004 年 NHL 停摆期间在瑞典与 NHL 一线球星同场竞技,提前完成了水平对标与心理建设。 ### [04:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=244s) 联盟停摆后的复苏与冰球商业估值腾飞 Jason Kelly 将话题转向商业维度,指出 Lundqvist 于 2005 年作为新秀进入联盟时,NHL 刚结束长达一年的停摆,整个联赛正面临重新确立品牌定位与赢回球迷信任的艰难局面。Lundqvist 描述了当时更衣室内的氛围:所有人都渴望回归赛场,但每个人都深知挽回受损的球迷信任需要时间。许多休赛一整年的老将在重新找回竞技状态时不得不提醒自己“不要过于苛求自己”,而 Lundqvist 凭借此前在欧洲持续高强度比赛的状态,反而作为年轻力量为纽约游骑兵队迅速重塑了上升势头。Alex Rodriguez 也深有共鸣地补充道,MLB 在 1994 年 8 月 12 日同样爆发过大罢工,身为新人进入动荡时期的联赛,唯一的生存之道就是低头苦干。 随后,Alex Rodriguez 指出近五到六年来体育联盟特许经营权(Franchise)资产价值发生的剧烈膨胀——过去一支球队估值四至五亿美元,如今动辄超过二十亿美元且买家毫不犹豫。谈及这一商业巨变,Lundqvist 表示看到冰球运动在全球范围内扩张令他倍感振奋。他强调球队资产价值的暴涨根本上依托于竞技“产品”的高水准。近年来无论是“四国赛”(4 Nations Face-Off)中美加对决引发的地缘话题讨论,还是冬奥会聚拢的全球收视率,都直接推高了联赛与球队的商业价值。Henrik Lundqvist 总结道:“So when you look at the value of different organisations, it starts with, in my mind, the product.” 尽管在北美市场上冰球尚非第一运动,但大众围绕这项赛事的积极讨论已足以令他欣喜。 ### [07:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=439s) 游骑兵的百年底蕴与 MSG 庞大商业机器的运转 在探讨游骑兵队的文化体验时,Lundqvist 深情回顾了这家百年豪门给球员带来的敬畏感。他高度评价了 Dolan 家族对俱乐部历史传统的珍视。作为“原初六队”之一,游骑兵拥有超过百年的底蕴,新秀踏入麦迪逊广场花园不仅能感受到万众瞩目的光环,更会迅速产生一种自我约束的谦逊心——即便个人表现再抢眼,在这样跨越百年的宏大机构面前也只是一小块拼图。正是这种对历史荣光的尊重,造就了球队极具凝聚力的自豪感。 对话进一步延伸到 Lundqvist 与 MSG 执行主席 Jim Dolan 的私人关系与商业观察。Lundqvist 回忆道,刚入队时与老板接触不多,后来因共同的音乐爱好逐渐熟络,他甚至多年前曾在斯德哥尔摩现场观看过 Dolan 乐队的高水平演出。随着岁月的积累,Lundqvist 越发意识到运营麦迪逊广场花园是一项何等庞杂的超级系统工程,如今更涵盖了拉斯维加斯的 Sphere 沉浸式球体场馆及各类顶级演出与赛事。他感叹运营巨型商业集团每天都要应对无数突发挑战,外人审视时甚至会感到难以负荷。相比于退役后每日需在繁复的机会与日程中做出抉择,他不禁怀念起当年做门将的简单纯粹。正如 Henrik Lundqvist 笑着感慨:“And when I do go back on the ice once in a while, it's like, 'Wow, this is pretty refreshing. All I need to do is stop a puck.'” - 豪门归属感:百年原初六队的历史文化为年轻球员树立了既自豪又谦抑的职业态度。 - 私人纽带:Lundqvist 与 Jim Dolan 凭借对音乐的狂热建立跨越球场的友谊,曾在斯德哥尔摩观看 Dolan 乐队演出。 - 商业体量:MSG 集团业务涵盖纽约尼克斯队(NY Knicks)、纽约游骑兵队、麦迪逊广场花园大型演艺活动以及 Sphere 等前沿娱乐资产。 ### [10:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=608s) 职业运动员眼中的好老板:吉姆·多兰与麦迪逊广场花园 亚历克斯·罗德里格斯(Alex Rodriguez,A-Rod)谈到,自己踏入球队管理与股东层面后,对“球队老板”这一角色的理解完全变了。他深知像打棒球时“见球打球”或冰球中“扑救冰球”那种纯粹专注的感觉是多么值得怀念,而吉姆·多兰(Jim Dolan)不仅待他极好,在数字处理和商业触觉上也经常被外界低估——管理一支球队已非易事,而多兰执掌的是庞大的企业集团。亨里克·伦德奎斯特(Henrik Lundqvist)对此表示高度认同,并分享了从球员、老板到如今成为同僚的过程中对多兰的看法。 在伦德奎斯特看来,评判一个优秀老板的核心标准就是看他是否舍得为球队倾注资源:“对我来说,那就是一个愿意投资球队,并给所有球员提供在最高水平上竞争机会的老板。”从顶尖的训练设施、客场出行方式、入住酒店,到每一场比赛的备战细节,所有琐事共同决定了成败。多兰为纽约尼克斯队(New York Knicks)和纽约游骑兵队(New York Rangers)两支球队倾注了巨额心血,让每一名球员都能处于最佳竞技状态。 不仅如此,伦德奎斯特还谈到了极深的人情味。在职业生涯行将结束、球衣在麦迪逊广场花园(Madison Square Garden,MSG)退役的高光时刻,多兰对他本人及家庭的照料极其慷慨,让他终生难忘。 - 优秀球队老板的衡量核心在于是否投资硬件设施、出行食宿与备战细节,全力支持球员在最高水准竞争。 - 伦德奎斯特在游骑兵队退役时球衣高挂花园球馆,多兰对伦德奎斯特及其家人的照顾细致周到。 --- ### [12:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=721s) 退役后的下一篇章:终身游骑兵与 MSG 形象大使 对于为何始终没有脱离 MSG 这个生态系统,伦德奎斯特坦言,早在游骑兵队效力到职业生涯中段时,他就预感到自己会以不同的形式长久扎根于此。退役前夕,多兰曾在一次深谈中亲口对他说:“无论你何时决定离开赛场,只要记住,我们非常希望你能继续成为这里的一分子。” 这句话给了伦德奎斯特极大的定心丸。整个职业生涯从始至终只效力于游骑兵队一支队伍,在现代职业体育中十分罕见。他建立起深厚的本地人脉,因此在从运动员转型到退役——或者说开启“人生下一篇章”时,他自然希望 MSG 成为蓝图的一部分。退役后第一年,他逐步确定了如今作为 MSG 形象大使的定位,涵盖解说、出席篮球与冰球赛事以及参与慈善活动。 与球员时代时刻面临赛场紧绷压力不同,现在的伦德奎斯特心态更加放松且能活在当下。过去他把全部心思扑在比赛准备上,如今走进花园球馆,他依然会起鸡皮疙瘩,但那是出于对这座场馆的感恩与惊叹,不仅能享受顶尖的表演,也能更从容地与各界人士交流结识。 --- ### [14:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=876s) 打造信赖圈:商业经理、直觉决策与尽职调查 谈及退役后的商业投资和团队搭建,伦德奎斯特回顾了自己商业意识的演变。年轻时作为球员,他完全沉浸在昨夜和明天的比赛发挥上,既没有时间也没有心思去开冗长的财务电话会议,因此尽早组建专业智囊团至关重要。 他与 CMG 的商业经理亚当·坎贝尔(Adam Campbell)已经紧密合作了长达 17 年。23 岁刚租房时,他面临的最大烦恼只是“能不能再买一把吉他”或“要不要买那辆车”;而随着年岁渐长,家庭责任接踵而至,涉及孩子教育、各类保险与多元化投资,生活愈发复杂。正因很早建立了信任圈,坎贝尔与摩根大通(J.P. Morgan)的专业顾问团队才能为他提供坚实的护航。 在项目筛选上,身处机会林立的纽约,伦德奎斯特认为“说‘不’往往比说‘是’更重要”。在商业决策机制中,他和团队形成了互补分工: ```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: 投资决策流程 accDescr: 展示从项目接触、尽调把关到直觉与数据结合的决策链条 subgraph Sourcing["项目发掘与评估"] A["多渠道交流机遇"] --> B["尽职调查机制 (Diligence)"] end subgraph Evaluation["核心决策考量"] B --> C["管理团队执行力 (投人而非单纯看产品)"] end subgraph Decision["互补决策执行"] C --> D["伦德奎斯特: 直觉驱动 (Gut)"] C --> E["亚当·坎贝尔: 数据把关 (Data / 风控)"] D & E --> F["最终商业决策落地"] end ``` 伦德奎斯特特别强调,自己看重团队负责人的执行力更甚于产品本身:“很多时候比起产品,我更倾向于押注在人身上,因为我有过赚的买卖,也有过赔的买卖。归根结底,我认为关键在于执行,而这始于最高层。”面对决策,坎贝尔负责拉紧缰绳提供严谨数据,伦德奎斯特则凭借敏锐直觉拍板。 - 合作时间:与商业经理亚当·坎贝尔合作长达 17 年,并依托摩根大通的专业顾问网络。 - 投资原则:在商业机会密集的纽约,果断拒绝比盲目答应更关键;投资决策高度看重管理者个人品质与团队执行力。 --- ### [17:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1079s) 荧屏转身:TNT 解说台上的专业视角与球迷调侃 除了商业投资,伦德奎斯特在 TNT 担任全国转播冰球赛事解说员,这一新角色让他与球迷的互动方式发生了转变。A-Rod 结合自身在福克斯体育(FOX Sports)转播大联盟赛事的体会,询问他由球员变成公共发声者后的感受。 伦德奎斯特坦承,球迷永远会先入为主地把他看作“游骑兵人”。因此在全国解说平台上点评其他球队和球员时,尤其在游骑兵的比赛日,他必须非常谨慎地拿捏分寸,避免被视作游骑兵的“超级狂热粉”。在解说风格上,他并不热衷于堆砌数据或做死板的赛前功课,而是依托自己十几载镇守球门的实战经验,带领观众走进球员的内心世界: > “如果没打过这项运动,而且比赛节奏又那么快,有时很难完全理解球员在那个瞬间所经历的一切。所以我觉得这正是我发挥自身经验的机会。” 当观众通过慢动作回放觉得场上失误“不可理喻、愚蠢至极”时,伦德奎斯特会以专业视角拆解球员在毫秒之间的预判意图、战术选择与心理压力。这随即引发了现场针对狂热球迷的幽默调侃:看台上的座位坐得越高,往往觉得打球越容易,在 40 排看比赛宛如慢镜头回放,球迷觉得自己无所不知;而坐在球门玻璃边的人反而因速度太快而眼花缭乱。三人打趣道,如果是坐在家里沙发上吹着空调、看着五次回放、外加手握播客和社交媒体账号的球迷,更是觉得自己无所不晓。 在此阶段尾声,话题转向公益慈善。伦德奎斯特透露,自 2005 年初抵纽约起,他便迅速投身麦迪逊广场花园的“梦想花园基金会”(Garden of Dreams Foundation),这也成为他与妻子日后持续开展慈善事业的启蒙起点。 ### [21:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1263s) 慈善使命与创立 Henrik Lundqvist Foundation Henrik Lundqvist 谈到了自己在职业生涯达到一定高度后,对球场之外社会责任的深刻感悟。他指出,随着竞技水平的提升,运动员的职责早已不再仅仅是“在冰面上扑救冰球”。虽然他并不把这视作一种沉重的负担,但他内心始终渴望帮助冰球这项运动发展壮大。在参与慈善活动的过程中,Henrik 深刻体会到了给予所带来的力量。无论是帮助身处逆境的重病儿童,还是为渴望求学的人创造教育机会,与受助者互动并切实产生影响的瞬间都深深打动了他。早期他的很多慈善活动都是通过麦迪逊广场花园旗下的 Garden of Dreams Foundation 展开的。随着经验的积累,Henrik 与妻子 Therese 萌生了建立自己专属慈善机构的想法,希望能把这份影响力从纽约延伸回他的故乡瑞典。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Henrik Lundqvist 基金会运作架构 accDescr: 展示 Henrik Lundqvist Foundation 的核心团队构成与主要合作公益项目及自有计划。 subgraph Core["核心发起与治理"] A["Henrik Lundqvist 与妻子 Therese"] --> B["专业董事会与人脉网络"] end subgraph Partners["重要合作伙伴"] B --> C["纽约长老会儿童医院"] B --> D["瑞典麦当劳叔叔之家"] B --> E["纽约食物银行 (Food Bank of New York)"] end subgraph Programs["自有公益计划"] B --> F["青年大使计划 (Young Ambassador Program)"] end ``` 在成立 Henrik Lundqvist Foundation 时,他们的首要策略是搭建一支强大的团队,邀请多年来一直支持他且拥有深厚人脉网络的成员组建董事会。确立架构后,基金会迅速明确了紧密合作的重点公益组织,包括纽约的纽约长老会儿童医院(NewYork-Presbyterian Children's Hospital)、瑞典的麦当劳叔叔之家慈善基金(Ronald McDonald House)以及纽约食物银行(Food Bank of New York)。此外,基金会还打造了特色项目“青年大使计划”(Young Ambassador Program),通过鼓励和启发年轻人回馈社区,让他们亲身体验助人为乐带来的充实与快乐。谈及参与慈善的心境,Henrik 动情地强调道:“当你付出并帮助他人时,那真是一种美妙的感觉。” - **社会责任的认知**:“我们早前讨论过,当你达到一定水平时,这已经不仅仅是扑救冰球那么简单了。”(Henrik Lundqvist 语) - **核心合作伙伴**:纽约长老会儿童医院、瑞典麦当劳叔叔之家、纽约食物银行。 - **青年大使计划(Young Ambassador Program)**:旨在激励下一代主动参与慈善回馈,培养青年领导力与利他精神。 --- ### [22:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=1371s) 纽约传奇的告别与致敬 访谈临近尾声,主持人回顾了 Henrik Lundqvist 整个波澜壮阔的职业生涯。作为在纽约体育史上留下不可磨灭印记的顶级球星,Henrik 成为纽约游骑兵队(New York Rangers)队史上退役球衣号码的仅有 11 位传奇名宿之一。两位主持人深有共鸣地表示,看到同在纽约这座世界大都会最高水平职业赛场上拼搏、立足并取得卓越成就的运动员,是一件极具感染力的事情。双方在融洽与尊重的氛围中互致谢意,为本次深度对话画上了圆满句号。 ## Notable quotes > [14:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E&t=876s) 很多时候比起产品,我更倾向于押注在人身上,因为我有过赚的买卖,也有过赔的买卖。归根结底,我认为关键在于执行,而这始于最高层。 — 亨里克·伦德奎斯特 ## Mentioned Henrik Lundqvist, Jason Kelly, Alex Rodriguez, Jim Dolan, Adam Campbell, Therese, New York Rangers, New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Sphere, NHL, MLB, TNT, FOX Sports, CMG, J.P. Morgan, Garden of Dreams Foundation, Henrik Lundqvist Foundation, NewYork-Presbyterian Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Food Bank of New York, Swedish Elite League ## Video description Henrik Lundqvist isn’t just a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, but he’s one of only 11 New York Rangers to have had his jersey retired. In this episode of The Deal, the Olympic and World Championship gold medalist tells Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly why he wanted to keep working at Madison Square Garden with Jim Dolan and how he developed business opportunities while still on the ice. #Hockey #Sports #Business -------- Like this video? Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/Bloomberg?sub_confirmation=1 Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com for just $1.99 your first month: https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions?in_source=YoutubeOriginals Bloomberg Originals offers bold takes for curious minds on today’s biggest topics. Hosted by experts covering stories you haven’t seen and viewpoints you haven’t heard, you’ll discover cinematic, data-led shows that investigate the intersection of business and culture. Exploring every angle of climate change, technology, finance, sports and beyond, Bloomberg Originals is business as you’ve never seen it. Subscribe for business news, but not as you've known it: exclusive interviews, fascinating profiles, data-driven analysis, and the latest in tech innovation from around the world. Visit our partner channel Bloomberg News for global news and insight in an instant. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOIbgRQjb3E)

Source quotes

[14:36] 亨里克·伦德奎斯特: 很多时候比起产品,我更倾向于押注在人身上,因为我有过赚的买卖,也有过赔的买卖。归根结底,我认为关键在于执行,而这始于最高层。

Source quotes

[0:00] Henrik Lundqvist: I bet on people more than the product because I've had some good deals, some bad deals. [17:59] Henrik Lundqvist: The higher up you sit in the stands, the better you are.

Original transcript

[0:00] - I think it's more important to say no than yes. [0:03] Yeah. Because there's so many opportunities. Yeah. [0:05] But to understand, so how do you make that decision? [0:07] To me, a lot of times I look at the person running it. [0:12] I bet on people more than the product [0:14] because I've had some good deals, some bad deals. [0:16] In the end, I think it's, [0:18] it's the execution and it starts with the top. [0:25] - Welcome back to The Deal. I'm Jason Kelly. [0:27] - And I'm Alex Rodriguez. - Coming up, Henrik Lundquist, [0:30] he is a legendary New York Ranger. [0:32] Alex, he came [0:34] to New York from Sweden and then he never left. [0:37] - And one of the most respected, admired, [0:39] and revered athletes, not only in hockey, [0:41] but in all of sports in the history of New York. [0:43] And he's built a great relationship with MSG, [0:45] with Jim Dolan, the general partner of both the Rangers [0:47] and the Knicks, and he's done a great deal for philanthropy. [0:50] - Yeah, a great conversation. [0:52] We were so excited to have him. Coming up, Henrik Lundqvist. [0:56] Henrik, great to have you with us. [0:58] We're so excited to be with you here in New York City. [1:00] And let's start with New York City [1:02] because sitting between two guys who [1:05] did some pretty good business here over the years. [1:09] And I do wonder, what did coming to New York mean to you [1:14] as an athlete and certainly as an athlete [1:17] who had aspirations even beyond the game? [1:22] - You know what? Moving to New York City, [1:24] I was 23 at the time. [1:25] I established myself in Sweden, you know, won a couple [1:28] of championships and, [1:30] and I was viewed as, [1:31] as the best goalie in Sweden at the time. [1:33] But coming here, it felt like I had [1:35] to start over, start fresh. [1:36] Nobody really knew who I was. [1:38] I was a seventh rounder for the Rangers five years prior. [1:42] I came here with a very open mind [1:45] because I didn't know what to expect, to be honest. [1:48] Obviously I heard a lot about the city. [1:49] I heard a tonne about the New York Rangers organisation [1:53] and being an Original Six [1:55] and what comes with playing for an Original Six, big market. [1:59] But at the same time, until you really lived it, it's hard [2:02] to really put yourself there mentally. [2:04] So I came here excited, nervous, a little anxious, [2:09] but mostly excited about taking it all on. [2:13] And especially that first year, [2:15] it felt like I was living a dream. [2:18] - I want to dig into a little bit of the human side of this [2:21] because I think fans [2:22] and just people in general think that it's just easy. [2:26] You look great, you're a great goalie, things come easy. [2:28] But you come from Sweden, arguably to [2:31] the number one city in the world, [2:33] the number one media market in the world, [2:35] and the most famous building in the [2:37] world in Madison Square Garden. [2:39] My question is, was there a little bit of imposter syndrome? [2:41] Were you a little bit intimidated [2:42] by the big city and bright lights? [2:44] - A little bit, but at the same time, I was so determined. [2:50] I had the feeling I should be here. This is the place. [2:53] And I was so convinced that I'm going to make it. [2:57] Yes, I had days [2:59] or moments where you start questioning, [3:00] can this really happen? [3:02] Is it too good to be true? [3:04] But for the most part, when you leave everything behind, [3:06] you leave your family, friends, [3:08] your safety net, so to speak. [3:10] Yeah, I built a career overseas for a few years, [3:12] turned pro there, but you leave all that behind [3:15] and kind of start over. [3:16] So if you don't come with that mindset that I'm going [3:19] to make it, that doubt can definitely be a hurdle. [3:23] I think for me, my last year in Sweden, [3:25] it was a lockout in the NHL in '04. [3:28] So we had some of the best players come [3:30] to play in the Swedish Elite League my last year, [3:34] and we won the title [3:35] and I had an opportunity to play against some [3:38] of the best goaltenders in the world [3:40] that normally played in the NHL. [3:42] So for me mentally, moving here at 23, knowing [3:45] that I can compete against them - [3:47] - You can hang. [3:48] - I can hang. The question was, [3:50] can I adapt the style a little bit? [3:51] It's a smaller rink here, faster game, [3:53] obviously more skilled players, [3:56] but just knowing that I can compete against the best [3:59] the year prior moving here, [4:01] I think helped me a ton, especially mentally. [4:04] - And so Henrik, you mentioned something that's really [4:07] important for the business of hockey, [4:09] which is there'd been a lockout. [4:10] And so you're coming, yes, to a storied franchise, [4:14] but to a league that is sort of having [4:17] to refind itself a little bit. [4:19] You're playing for a marquee team, obviously. [4:21] What was hockey like back then? [4:23] Because we see hockey now, it's like it's a very healthy, [4:27] very profitable revenue generating sport, [4:31] but it was a different scene then, right? [4:33] - Yeah. Well, number one, [4:34] I think all the players were just [4:36] excited to be back playing. Yeah, [4:37] - Sure. [4:38] - That was one. But there was also a feeling of we need [4:40] to rebuild the trust of the fans [4:43] and it took a year to come back to playing. [4:46] Nobody wants that obviously. [4:47] But looking back now [4:49] and you see where the game is at today, [4:51] it's been a very healthy development for the game. [4:55] But for me coming as a rookie [4:57] after a lockout, I think it was a lot of question marks like [5:01] where are we as a league? [5:02] How skilled will the players be? [5:04] Because some of the players didn't play for a year. [5:07] I was lucky I played in Europe, [5:08] but some guys took a year off and that's hard to do [5:12] and come back at a really high level. [5:13] But I said earlier, coming in with an open mind, [5:17] I feel like a lot of players coming back [5:19] after a year out kind of like, [5:22] "Don't be too hard on yourself. [5:23] You need some time here [5:25] to get going." But I felt like we built a lot [5:27] of momentum here in New York coming out [5:29] of the lockout was a fun year. [5:30] - Yeah. So you're talking about that era, kind of 2005 era? [5:34] - Yeah. - There was a lot of apprehension. [5:36] By the way, we also had a strike in [5:38] '94 in Major League Baseball. [5:40] We walked off the field August 12th of 1994. [5:43] But for me, I felt like as a rookie, I just had [5:46] to keep my head down and just survive. [5:48] I guess my question from that era too, where you are today, [5:51] hyper growth NHL, the hockey, the business of hockey, [5:54] and the appreciation of franchises over the last five years. [5:57] I remember five, six years ago, you were talking about four, [6:00] $500 million for these franchises, [6:01] and now they mention the word two [6:03] billion and they don't even flinch. [6:04] How do you feel about that? Do you miss this [6:06] era? Do you miss that? [6:08] - I just love to see the game growing. - Yeah. [6:12] I'm a hockey fan. I was an athlete, I played hockey, [6:15] but now being retired, I'm a fan of the game. [6:18] I love to see when the game is growing, [6:20] not only here, but worldwide. [6:23] So when you look at the value of different organisations, [6:26] it starts with, in my mind, the product. [6:28] I think the product right now is really strong. [6:31] We've had a couple of great tournaments in the last couple [6:33] years that just enhanced the interest of the game. [6:36] You had the four nations. [6:38] They kind of became a little political [6:39] as well when you had Canada play the US [6:42] and people talking about it. [6:45] And then you had the Olympics that draw a lot of eyeballs. [6:49] Stuff like that matters [6:50] and it helps bring up the value [6:51] of the game and the franchise. [6:53] But in the end, I think the game itself is at such a high [6:56] level right now, and that's the starting point. [6:59] But if you ask me if I like it, yeah, I do like it [7:01] because I want to see, obviously we are not the [7:03] number one sport in the US. [7:05] And in Canada, yes. [7:07] Sweden, it's soccer, football, hockey is number two, [7:11] but I get excited when I hear people talking about [7:16] the game in a very positive way. [7:19] - Tell us about coming into the Rangers franchise, [7:23] because anybody who's been [7:24] to a Ranger game, it's a special place. [7:27] We can talk about the world's most famous [7:29] arena all day long. [7:31] Talk about coming into that [7:32] because it's a family in a way that you're still in. [7:36] - Yeah, I understood quickly that Jim Dolan [7:39] and the way he runs the organisation, I think [7:41] that the biggest thing with an Original Six, [7:44] what makes it special, I think it's the history. [7:47] And I think the Dolan family [7:48] and the whole organisation around the New York Rangers, [7:52] they do such a good job of prioritising the past in a way [7:58] and celebrate the past [7:59] because that's what makes an Original Six so special. [8:02] Over a hundred years, this franchise has been around. [8:05] And so as a young player, when you come here, it's like, [8:08] wow, New York Rangers, it's incredible. [8:10] You play at Madison Square Garden at the [8:12] big lights and media. [8:14] And that to me as a young player [8:16] keeps you in check a little bit too. [8:17] It's like, yeah, you might start to feel [8:20] good about yourself, but you realise at the same time you're [8:23] such a small piece for an organisation [8:26] that's been around for so long. [8:27] And I really feel like the New York Rangers organisation, [8:31] they do such a great job of keeping that pride [8:35] when they look at their history. [8:36] - To go back to Jim Dolan for a second, [8:39] what is your relationship with him at the outset? [8:41] Is he the guy who's coming up and talking to you? [8:44] What's the vibe? [8:46] - I mean, as a rookie, I didn't see him much. [8:50] And then over the years, you start [8:52] to connect over different things. [8:53] I love music. He loves music. [8:55] I watched him perform in Stockholm many years ago. [8:58] He's a great musician, but also - [9:00] - Wait, you went to a concert that he did the Stockholm. [9:02] No way. Come on. [9:05] - His band was really good. [9:06] But I think over time you start to realise [9:09] what a machine it really is [9:11] to operate Madison Square Garden. [9:13] And now the Sphere as well. And there's so much. [9:17] I always tell people it's really a machine [9:19] with all the different events [9:20] and the next Rangers concerts and the Sphere [9:23] - And - Weddings, big weddings apparently happening there. [9:27] - Yeah. It's impressive. [9:29] As an athlete, you're focused on one thing, [9:32] but when you run a huge business like that, there's [9:35] so many different things, so many different challenges [9:39] that pops up every day that you need to solve. [9:41] And when you look from the outside, [9:44] sometimes it's almost overwhelming. [9:46] - Right. - And now when I'm retired, I come back to [9:50] how easy life was when I just had to stop a puck. [9:53] And now there's so many different decisions, opportunities, [9:58] you think about time. [9:59] And when I do go back on the ice once in a while, it's like, [10:02] "Wow, this is pretty refreshing. [10:03] All I need to do is stop a puck." That's [10:05] where my focus needs to be. [10:07] So I miss that sometimes. [10:08] - I agree with that. And I was talking [10:10] with Jason a little bit offline before this. [10:12] And now that I've entered the world of ownership, [10:17] I have a completely different appreciation [10:19] for what ownership is. [10:20] And I remember hit ball see ball, how much I miss [10:24] to your point about stopping a puck. [10:26] But I think Jim Dolan, first of all, he's been great [10:28] with me for years. [10:30] One of the things that I think he's overlooked is [10:32] how great he is with numbers, how he has a great feel [10:35] for all his businesses. [10:37] And it's tough enough to run one team, [10:39] but he runs a conglomerate. [10:41] And I guess my follow-up question on that is what are some [10:44] of the lessons that you've learned [10:45] with this great relationship that you have with Jim, [10:49] player, owner, now kind of colleagues? [10:51] - Well, honestly, when you're as an athlete, [10:54] look at what's a great owner. [10:56] To me, it's an owner that invests in the team [11:00] and gives all the players an opportunity [11:03] to perform at the highest level. [11:04] What does that mean? Well, [11:06] your training facility needs to be top. [11:08] The way you travel, when you stay at hotels, [11:11] the way you prepare for each game, it matters. [11:13] All the little details matter. [11:15] So when I look at Jim Dolan and how he operates [11:18] and how much he invests in the players and both the Knicks [11:21] and the Rangers, it gives every player an opportunity [11:25] to be at their best. [11:27] To me, that's all you can ask for as an athlete. [11:31] And then on top of that, for me personally, [11:35] I will never forget how well he treated me [11:38] and my family towards the end, [11:39] my retirement when my jersey was retired at the Garden. [11:43] And he was just so generous in terms of how he looked [11:48] after my family. [11:50] And I will always be grateful for that. [11:54] It was a huge moment for me, [11:55] but the way the organisation, especially Jim, [11:58] handled it was amazing. [12:01] - So I will say, we were talking about just talking about [12:03] MSG and just there is something different [12:06] about the building. [12:09] You have clearly maintained your relationship with [12:13] the ecosystem. [12:15] Why did you decide to do that? [12:17] - I knew probably halfway through my career [12:22] with the Rangers, this is a place where [12:24] I can see my style stay for a very long time [12:27] - In - Different forms. [12:28] I knew I wanted to be part [12:31] of the Rangers throughout my career. [12:32] I had a great meeting with Jim Dolan when I retired [12:37] or towards the end actually. [12:39] And he said, "Whenever you're deciding to [12:43] walk away from the game, just know that we would love [12:47] for you to be a part of this." And it was a great meeting. [12:51] It was a great feeling. [12:52] I invested everything I have for so many years [12:57] to the New York Rangers, and to feel [12:59] that support from them meant everything. [13:02] - That's not a given. [13:03] No. We know he doesn't say that to everyone. [13:06] - I was fortunate. I played in one place [13:09] throughout my entire career. [13:11] I'm extremely grateful for that [13:13] and built so many great relationships within MSG, [13:17] but also in New York City. [13:18] So I knew that when it was time [13:20] for my transition from athlete to retired, it sounds [13:24] very passive, but let's say next chapter in life, [13:28] I knew MSG, I wanted that to be part of it. [13:31] - And - Then over time, over that first year, it kind [13:34] of developed into the role I have today [13:37] as an ambassador for MSG. [13:39] You talking about working TV [13:41] or being at different events, basketball, [13:43] hockey, charity events. [13:45] And the best part is, Alex, [13:48] maybe you were more social than me when you [13:50] played, but throughout my career [13:51] - He was. [13:52] I think he was. I think that's true. [13:55] - I did love meeting a ton of people throughout my career [13:58] because you were always surrounded by so many people. [14:01] I loved focusing on the game. [14:03] Yeah, I like to do a lot of different things. [14:05] But now being away from the sport [14:08] and the pressure you felt playing the sport, I feel like I'm [14:11] way more present and I enjoy [14:13] meeting more people now than when I played. [14:16] So I just love coming to the Garden. [14:19] I still get goosebumps at times for different reasons. [14:22] I think it's more of gratitude and wow, what a cool place. [14:26] It was different when you walked in as a player, [14:28] but now I just go there and enjoy it [14:30] and again, meet amazing people and enjoy amazing shows. [14:36] - So Henrik, I do want to talk a little bit about how [14:40] you put your team as it were together for this next chapter, [14:44] for whether it's investing [14:46] or doing business deals, et cetera. [14:48] You obviously have your MSG relationship, [14:50] but how do you approach the rest [14:53] of your business life as it were? [14:56] - Yeah, I think it's changed over the years. [15:00] As a young player, I was strictly [15:02] focused on playing the game. [15:03] - And I think it was so important as a young player [15:07] to quickly build your team, [15:11] because I think a lot of times as an athlete, [15:13] you don't really have the time [15:15] or the interest, to be honest, to have financial calls. [15:19] - Right. - I wanted to think about the game. [15:22] I wanted to think about my performance [15:24] last night or tomorrow. [15:26] So quickly, I built a circle [15:30] of trust and a team that... [15:33] Adam Campbell is my business manager at CMG. [15:36] We've been working together for 17 years now. [15:38] - Wow. - So that consistency has been everything [15:42] because my life has changed so much. [15:44] At 23, what was my biggest question? [15:48] Can I buy another guitar? Can I maybe, should I get that car? [15:53] I rented my first place. [15:55] Fast-forward, now we're talking kids, schools, [15:59] insurances, investments. [16:01] Life is just way more complicated, but it happened over time [16:04] and you got to know certain things [16:07] that were important over time. [16:08] But in the end, it came down to the team [16:10] and building that early to have that trust. [16:15] - And so working with Adam, how do you sort [16:19] of source things? [16:21] How does it come to you? What's the process? [16:23] - I feel like it's different, not every time. [16:28] It's a conversation you're having [16:30] and one thing leads to another, [16:32] but then the process kind of stays the same. [16:35] The diligence [16:37] and going through an opportunity, [16:40] I think that stays the same. [16:42] But the way it comes to me is different every time, [16:45] especially being in New York City. [16:47] I think it's more important to say no than yes, [16:49] because there's so many opportunities. [16:51] But to understand, so how do you make that decision? [16:54] To me, a lot of times I look at the person running it. [16:59] I mean, a lot of times I bet on people more than the product [17:02] because I've had some good deals, some bad deals. [17:07] In the end, I think it's the [17:09] execution and it starts with the top. [17:11] - Right. - And when it comes to cadence, [17:12] your business manager, Adam Campbell, right, you've been [17:15] with him a long time, as you mentioned. [17:17] How often do you speak to him? [17:19] And then once you have a decision, [17:21] is it more data you use or more gut? [17:24] - I'm more gut, he's more data. [17:26] - Good team. [17:28] - Good team. [17:29] Yeah. He's the one that kind of holds me back. [17:33] But then I have people at JP Morgan [17:37] and it doesn't come down to one person. [17:42] We talked about team. Obviously, it's hard [17:44] to have one person that's going to know it all, [17:46] especially when life gets more complicated [17:47] and you look at business or all the things [17:50] that life includes right now. [17:53] But to have someone that knows how to get the answers [17:55] for you and get in touch with the right people [17:57] to get the answers, I think that's critical. [17:59] - You talked about some of your work. [18:01] Some of that work is you work at TNT covering hockey, [18:04] and I really love your work. [18:05] You always look great and sound very, very smart as always. [18:09] My relationship changed with the fans from being a Yankee [18:12] to being a broadcaster for Fox and with Jeter and Papi [18:17] and Kevin Burkhardt every October. [18:19] How would you describe your relationship with your fans [18:21] who love you, and I know you love them, [18:22] but as a broadcaster, have you seen a shift [18:24] because now your voice is out there more than your play? [18:28] - Yeah, that's a good question. I think obviously people [18:30] will always look at me as a Rangers guy. [18:33] Yeah. And now when you work national TV [18:36] and you have opinions on other teams, other players, [18:41] hopefully they can see through my Ranger colors. [18:46] Of course, if it's a Rangers night, [18:48] the Rangers are playing on TNT. [18:50] I have to be smart about how I say things, not [18:53] to come across as a super fan of the Rangers. [18:56] Hopefully they trust what I'm saying. [19:00] I'm not a guy that prepares a ton going into every game [19:04] because I rely a lot on my experience. [19:08] And that's what I want to bring to the viewers now, like [19:11] what I went through mentally, [19:14] what I was thinking in certain situations, [19:16] or give the viewer an opportunity to try to understand why [19:19] that mistake just happened. [19:21] When you just look at it and you watch a replay, it's like, [19:23] "That's a silly mistake." And that's [19:26] where I see an opportunity to come in. [19:28] It's like, "You know what? In that situation, [19:30] it looks like a terrible mistake, but..." [19:33] And then try to give my own - [19:34] - Here's what he was trying to [19:35] do, or what you're thinking. Yeah, [19:36] - Because if you haven't played the game [19:38] and it happens so quickly, I think it can be hard sometimes [19:41] to fully understand what you go through [19:44] as a player in that moment. [19:45] And so that's where I see an opportunity [19:48] to bring my experience in. [19:50] - Are you saying that fans sometimes are impatient [19:53] and don't understand? [19:55] What? No, that definitely doesn't sound like New York fans. [19:59] They're not opinionated. [20:01] - You know the joke. The higher up you sit in the [20:03] stands, the better you are. [20:05] Because it looks easier and easier. [20:07] The people that sit around the glass, it's so fast. [20:10] Usually they don't have all the answers. [20:12] But if you sit in row 40, boy, do you have all the answers [20:15] to the game because you see everything develop in [20:18] kind of slow mo time. [20:19] - And especially if you're sitting on your couch at home, [20:22] wow, you really, really - [20:23] - With five replays. [20:24] - Right. Exactly. Exactly. [20:26] And especially if you have a podcast or a Twitter account - [20:30] - Which is everyone. [20:31] - Which is everyone. [20:32] Well, as we wrap up, one [20:33] of the interesting things is we've come [20:35] to learn about you a little bit, you [20:37] and your wife have been very charitable. [20:39] Bring us into that decision making. How do you focus that? [20:44] How did you come up with your strategy there? [20:47] - Moving to New York back in '05, I quickly became part [20:50] of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, [20:51] which is the Madison Square Garden Foundation. [20:56] And it was a great opportunity for a young player [20:58] to understand the impact you can have on people. [21:01] - Big part of the machine there. [21:03] - Big part of the machine. [21:05] They do an incredible job, [21:06] but it was great for me as a young player to learn from it [21:09] and to understand. [21:11] We talked earlier about when you reach a certain level, [21:16] it's more than just stopping a puck. [21:18] With that comes some sort of responsibility. [21:21] I always felt, not responsible, [21:23] but I wanted to help grow the game. [21:25] So that was one thing. But when it came to charity, [21:29] when you have those moments [21:31] where you feel like you had a huge impact on something, [21:33] helping them in a tough situation, if it's a sick child [21:37] or give someone an opportunity to study [21:40] or whatever it might be, [21:42] after a while when you have those interactions, a lot [21:45] of it came through Garden of Dreams Foundation. [21:48] And then at one point, me [21:49] and my wife Therese, we said we should start our own [21:52] foundation as well because we do want [21:55] to reach people back home in Sweden. [21:57] We started Henrik Lundqvist Foundation. [21:59] So I guess the game plan when we started was [22:02] to put a great team together, a board of people that [22:06] they've been around, supported me for years, [22:11] but also they have a great network. [22:13] I think that was step one. [22:14] And then also realised who are the organisations we really [22:17] want to work close with. [22:20] Presbyterian Children's Hospital in New York, [22:22] a Ronald McDonald House in Sweden, Food Bank of New York. [22:26] And then we also created our own [22:28] program called Young Ambassador Program, which is [22:33] very exciting because we give kids an opportunity [22:36] to give back or we encourage them, inspire them to give back [22:40] and have that feeling that I had. [22:42] Wow, it's a great feeling when you [22:44] give back and help someone. [22:45] So that's been a fun project to keep growing that program [22:49] and then we'll see where it goes. [22:51] - Yeah. Well, [22:53] we've had such a good time sort of watching your career. [22:55] I mean, obviously being in New York and, [22:57] and seeing you on the ice by your trade, you were, you know, [23:02] one of I think only 11 jerseys that had been retired by the [23:06] - Ah, something like that. Yeah. [23:07] - Something like that. And so obviously at, [23:10] at the highest level, a couple guys who just, you know, [23:13] made their livings playing in New York. [23:15] So great to, great [23:16] to have this conversation with you. Thanks for stopping by. [23:18] - Thanks for having me. - Thank you.