Henrik Lundqvist signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals in October 2020, but never suited up in a game for the franchise. Lundqvist’s season was cut short by a worsening heart condition and open-heart surgery early in 2021, with complications eventually forcing him to retire months later.
Since hanging up his skates, the Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender has served in a business operations role for MSG and as an analyst for TNT during nationally televised games.
Wednesday night, Lundqvist shared the trailer for a documentary that followed his journey during that season and his eventual retirement. The film, entitled “Open Heart,” debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival this past summer and will arrive on Netflix in May.
In the over three-minute preview, the film follows Lundqvist to blood work and other physical testing doctor’s appointments after he signed his one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals. Lundqvist describes the process as routine until one of the physicians hears something irregular about his heartbeat.
“I had to go in for tests and they found a leak in my heart,” Lundqvist says in the trailer. “For a long time, I knew I had a condition, small issue – never thought about it. No symptoms, felt great on the ice. I did notice that fall though, every time I was home walking up the stairs I got really tired. On the ice, I’m used to getting tired so I didn’t think much of it.”
Later, the doctor’s call that would ultimately end Lundqvist’s career is aired.
“The aorta being that size concerns us, particularly in someone who is playing,” the doctor says, explaining his concerns. “I appreciate that you’re a goalie, you have protective padding, but there’s still a potential to take some hits there. Not far behind that in my mind is the narrowing of that aortic valve. With the aorta, the risk is dissection, tearing of the blood vessel. There’s a risk of death with that and it is a significant risk.
“But then the narrowing of the valve the risk is that you’re not getting enough blood supply to the heart muscle when you’re exercising at the very extremes. And that can increase the risk of abnormal rhythms and sudden death.”
Despite being presented with those two scary scenarios, Lundqvist’s first question to the doctor was about the continuation of his career.
“If I was your brother, would you tell me not to play?” Lundqvist asks.
The doctor’s confident answer leaves no wiggle room, crushing Lundqvist. He then asks whether surgery would allow him to continue to his career, but gets told that it’s not a good idea.
“It’s hard, man,” Lundqvist says. “I’ve been so inspired and motivated. This is crushing.”
Despite this call, Lundqvist attempted a comeback with the Capitals post-surgery. After weeks of rehab and getting back on the ice in a Capitals practice jersey just 44 days after the operation, Lundqvist was reportedly just three days away from joining the team’s active roster before those hopes were also shattered.
Lundqvist revealed that doctors had found inflammation around his heart. The pericarditis infection and resulting pain is what ultimately led to the NHL great announcing his retirement in the summer of 2021.
The documentary, directed by the Emmy-nominated Jonathan Hock, follows Lundqvist’s journey and includes interviews with the goaltender’s family and teammates. Carl Hagelin, Lundqvist’s teammate with the Rangers and Capitals, is featured in the trailer.
“The third rail for any superstar athlete is the end, and athletes never want to talk about it,” Hock told USA Today. “They don’t want to talk about it before it happens, and they don’t want to talk about it after that. So, what Henrik has given us with this film – the intimate look into the process of a superstar at the end of his career, and the transition point from athlete to human civilian – is really, really rare. He’s pretty extraordinary and insightful and articulate. That was the joy for me in doing this project.”
