The veteran NHL goaltender recently revealed he would miss the 2021 NHL season after discovering a heart condition had worsened, requiring him to sit out the year. On Monday, Lundqvist revealed that he is scheduled for open-heart surgery, which will sideline him, perhaps, for the remainder of his career.
Lundqvist’s message in full:
Recently, Capitals GM Brian MacLellan revealed that the heart condition was something the veteran netminder had been dealing with for a long time.
We all have our mountains to climb. Staying positive here and set on the road to recovery.
“He’s had a heart issue all along that he’s managed and it’s been fine,” he told reporters. “We anticipated it would be the same as what it’s been for most of his career, all of his career."
MacLellan added that a routine physical showed Lundqvist’s heart condition required more testing, leading to the surgery.
After spending his entire NHL career with the Rangers, Lundqvist’s contract was bought out this offseason. He subsequently signed a one-year deal with the Capitals in October. With Lundqvist’s advanced age (38, turning 39 in March), a likely lengthy road to full health, the question of Lundqvist playing another minute in net is very real.
Should Lundqvist decide to hang up the skates, he will leave a legacy behind as one of the NHL’s greatest goaltenders. In addition to numerous Rangers franchise records, he is the only goalie in NHL history to record 30 wins in his first seven seasons, the fastest NHL goalie to 400 victories and is one of just 15 goalies to reach 11, 20-win seasons.
Unfortunately for the 2012 Vezina Trophy winner, the Rangers weren’t able to secure the ever-elusive Stanley Cup, despite making an appearance in the 2014 NHL Playoffs.
Well wishes poured out from the puck world for “The King” after the stunning announcement:
