Henrik Lundqvist says he's scheduled for open-heart surgery

Posted December 28, 2020 6:00 am

By STEPHEN WHYNO

Henrik Lundqvist said Monday he's scheduled for open-heart surgery after tests revealed a heart condition that kept him from continuing to play goal in the NHL.

Lundqvist wrote on Twitter that he's set to have an aortic valve, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement. He did not say when.

'œ(The) last three weeks my focus has shifted from training camp and the upcoming season to my health and what I can and can't do,'ť Lundqvist said in announcing the operation. 'œWe all have our mountains to climb. Staying positive here and set on the road to recovery.'ť

A physical after signing with the Washington Capitals led to further tests and his decision not to play this season. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan says Lundqvist has had a heart issue all along that he managed and the team expected it to be the same.

'œOur trainer, Jason Serbus, did an unbelievable job,'ť MacLellan said last week. 'œOur doctors, the cardiologists, the specialists, it kept getting deeper and deeper. As we went that far, Henrik got a lot more knowledge of what his situation is and where it's going and what his risk levels are.'ť

It's unclear what changed for the 38-year-old after playing 15 seasons with the New York Rangers. When he revealed Dec. 17 he wouldn't be playing this season, the Rangers said: 'œWe have no doubt Henrik Lundqvist will face this challenge with the same fierce determination and grace that made him one of the best goaltenders to ever play the game of hockey and an inspiration to all of us.'ť

The Rangers bought out Lundqvist after last season, and he signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract to continue chasing the Stanley Cup with rival Washington. The Swedish native said the Capitals 'œchecked every box,'ť and MacLellan called it a perfect fit before tests showed his risk level was 'œnot acceptable'ť to keep playing.

'œI think we're grateful, everybody's grateful that he went down that road, that our medical staffs, that our trainer pushed him down that road and explored it more,'ť MacLellan said. 'œI think the result is good that he's very aware of where his health is at. Everybody's a little disappointed that we couldn't see what we could've done with him in the lineup.'ť

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FILE - Then-New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist looks on from the bench during an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in New York, in this Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, file photo. Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist will sit out the upcoming NHL season because of a heart condition, announcing the news a little more than two months after joining the Washington Capitals. Lundqvist posted a written statement and a videotaped one on social media Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, saying it was a "pretty tough and emotional day." The 38-year-old from Sweden was bought out by the New York Rangers after 15 seasons and signed a $1.5 million, one-year deal with Washington in October. (AP Photo/Jim McIsaac, File) The Associated Press

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