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GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Just two days after surprisingly watching from the bench for a second straight game, No. 1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist agreed to a long-term contract extension with the New York Rangers on Wednesday. Lundqvist, in the final season of a six-year, $41.25 million deal, agreed to a seven-year contract worth $59.5 million. His salary-cap charge will rise from $6.875 million to $8.5 million and make him the NHLs highest-paid goalie. Lundqvist will earn $11 million next season, $10 million in 2015-16, $9.5 million the following season, $9 million in 2017-18, $7.5 million in 2018-19, $7 million in 2019-20, and $5.5 in the final year. The deal should keep him starring on Broadway for the rest of his career. "About eight months ago I sat down for the first time with my family and my agent and kind of discussed my future," Lundqvist said Wednesday after practice. "There were two things that became really clear to me: No. 1 was I really wanted to win the (Stanley) Cup here in New York. Its my biggest goal and my biggest dream and what really pushes me right now to work harder. Secondly, I want to be a Ranger for life. "To picture myself anywhere else, it was just wrong and it was never an option." New York general manager Glen Sather and team owner James Dolan agreed. That helped negotiations go smoothly until they were completed Tuesday. "There were lots of pieces," Sather said. "This was a very friendly, peaceful, low-key, unemotional decision to be made by everyone. It was fun. I enjoyed it." With the salary cap projected to rise, one hurdle was cleared. "A lot of that is speculation, so far. You still have to be careful," Sather said. "It is terrific that Henrik decided to stay here. If he had gone someplace else, I am sure he wouldve earned more money, but it always isnt money thats a factor. You have to have a competitive team. "This organization is all about team, and Henrik is all about team. There was no Im going to leave if you dont give me what I want." Now Sather can turn his focus to a slew of other potential free agents, such as captain Ryan Callahan. Sather said behind-the-scenes talks are already underway. "Henrik was the one that had to be signed first, and thats the way we tried to do it," he said. Callahan said he hasnt tied his contract situation with Lundqvists, but he made it clear that he also wants to stay. "This is where I want to be," he said. "I am not going to air it out in the media about my contract and what is going on. I will just go about my business on the ice, and that stuff takes care of itself." It has been an unusual few days for the 31-year-old Lundqvist. The Swedish native is off to a slow start this season, especially by his standards, going 8-11 with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 20 games. With the sudden emergence of backup Cam Talbot, the slightest hint of a goalie controversy arose when Talbot was given the start by coach Alain Vigneault on Monday at home against Winnipeg two days after he started against Vancouver, led by former Rangers coach John Tortorella. "Its been a different week," Lundqvist said, "but you learn from all these different experiences. This was an opportunity for me to go really hard in practice and focus on my game. Now we managed to get this done, and I hope from here I can just raise my game and play at the level I need to play to help this team win." Talbot had won six straight starts before Monday, including a pair of shutouts, and hadnt allowed more than two goals in any outing. Those runs ended in New Yorks 5-2 loss to the Jets. Talbot still sports a stellar 1.79 GAA in nine appearances. "It wasnt weird at all," Callahan said. "We just continued to go about our business and prepared for our next game." Not that there was any doubt on the identity of the Rangers No. 1 netminder. Now there is no question who it is and who it will be for years. That future begins Thursday at Buffalo when Vigneault will start Lundqvist against the Sabres. "What do they say? Happy wife, happy life. Happy goalie, happy team," Vigneault said with a laugh. "As you can tell, I think this was a relief for Hank to finally know for sure that he is going to be a New York Ranger for the rest of his career. "I think this is very positive for our whole team." Lundqvists deal will take him through the 2020-21 season and keep him away from free agency until he is nearly 40. "He is everything that you would want on and off the ice," Dolan said. "As a team owner, he is the model of what you want in a player and a leader." Lundqvist has been a Vezina Trophy finalist as the NHLs top goalie in five of his eight seasons, winning it in 2012. He is 284-182-57 in the NHL, all with the Rangers, with a 2.26 GAA, .920 save percentage and 47 shutouts. "Henrik has been at the top or near the top of the league in goaltending excellence," former Rangers coach Tom Renney told The Associated Press in an email. "Through the typical and non-typical dynamics of the league, players in and out, coaching changes, living and playing in Manhattan, he has been as reliable as they come. "He is driven and passionate about winning, and takes his responsibility as the starting goalie for the Rangers very seriously. Good contract for a great goalie." Lundqvist, a seventh-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2000, made his NHL debut in 2005 when Renney coached New York. "He is paying for dinner, thats for sure," Callahan said of Lundqvist. "I am happy for him. He is the backbone of this team, and weve seen for all the years Ive been here how good he is." 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He began 2011 in the majors and made 20 starts with the Blue Jays, going 5-8 with a 5.40 earned run average before he was waived on Aug.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Ever so steadily, Jarome Iginla is getting up to speed with the Colorado Avalanche.Not easy, either, given all their speed.At 37, Iginla is simply trying to keep up with these kids flying up and down the ice. He picked this place in free agency because they have all the ingredients: A goal-scoring phenom in rookie of the year Nathan MacKinnon, a top-notch goaltender in Semyon Varlamov and an unorthodox coach in Patrick Roy who has a knack for pushing all the right buttons.Given his age, Iginla doesnt have much time left to hoist a Stanley Cup.Given their youth, the Avs sure could use another leader like him.Theres going to be some fun nights because of the things they can do a€” the skill level to go with the speed, said Iginla, who scored 30 goals for Boston last season. Very impressed with the tempo and the creativity.Iginla has been enthralled by the Avs for quite some time, too, watching from afar last season as the Avalanche tied a franchise record with 52 wins in Roys first season behind the bench. It was difficult not to pay attention with Colorado catching the hockey world by surprise and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.What happened next, though, has haunted Roy all off-season a€” an overtime goal by the Minnesota Wild in Game 7 to end their season.We still think about that goal, Roy said.Thats why Roy and his former teammate turned executive Joe Sakic infused some grizzled veterans into their youthful squad, just to give them more leadership when times turned tough. They traded for Daniel Briere and Brad Stuart. And then, when Paul Stastny bolted for St. Louis, they brought in Iginla.The more leaders you have in the dressing room the better off youre going to be, Sakic said.Now comes the real challenge a€” winning when all eyes are upon them.Sure, theres a little more pressure, Briere said. But Id rather be a team that everybody is expecting to win, because that means you should be winning if you do your job right. I like the makeup of this team. What they did last year was tremendous.So far, Collorado has looked rather sluggish in the preseason, but Roy hardly gives it a second thought.dddddddddddd. Hes tinkering with different line combinations, trying to decide the best pairings between Matt Duchene, Ryan OReilly, captain Gabe Landeskog, Alex Tanguay, Iginla and MacKinnon.Here are some things to watch as the Avalanche prepare to open at Minnesota on Oct. 9:EVEN FASTER: Believe it or not, the already lightning quick MacKinnon may have found another gear this off-season working out with Duchene and Penguins standout Sidney Crosby. MacKinnon is coming off a season in which he scored 24 goals on his way to rookie of the year honours. I do have more jump in my step, MacKinnon said.FEELING HIP: Tanguay dealt with nagging knee and hip injuries all last season before finally electing to have hip surgery in February after playing in just 16 games. Healthy again, hes using this preseason to gain trust in that hip. He could again be paired with Iginla. The two were once teammates in Calgary.ANY ROLE WILL DO: When he arrived in Denver, Briere wasnt informed of his role by Roy but given some advice. Told me to come in and have fun, to relax, said Briere. He played a limited role most of last year for Montreal, which advanced to the Eastern Conference Final. Personally, a frustrating season as far as responsibilities went on the ice, Briere said. So that was (Roys) words of advice, just to come in here and have fun and good things will happen.VARLY, VARLY: Colorado will keep leaning heavily on Varlamov, who broke Roys team record for most wins (41) in a single season. He showed the world last year that he was a No. 1 goalie and Im sure Varlys going to continue to do that, Roy said. Varlamovs backup will be Reto Berra after Jean-Sebastien Giguere retired.LATE KNACK: Roy was revered last season for taking chances, like pulling the goaltender with plenty of time left in the third period, just to give his team more of a chance to score the equalizer. Hes one of the best in-game tactical coaches that Ive had, defenceman Erik Johnson said. 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