Henrik Lundqvist had just sung Mats Zuccarello’s praises for 15 minutes.



He talked about how Zuccarello’s everything you want in a teammate, saying the way he works, the way he competes, the way he trains, the way he keeps things loose in the room during tough times, “the way he can make big plays at the right time and be the difference in games sends the right signals to young guys about how you need to play the game.”



He talked about how Zuccarello’s everything you want in a human being, saying his heart, his humility, his sense of humor, his genuine desire to give back, especially to his native Norway, “is the perfect influence any team would want inside a locker room.”



“I obviously wish to have him still here in New York, but I definitely think the fans in Minnesota will appreciate the type of player he is and his personality,” Lundqvist, during a recent phone interview with The Athletic, said of his...