Henrik Lundqvist

Henrik Lundqvist will need another heart surgery, was three days away from re-joining Capitals

After being bought out by the New York Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist signed with the Capitals ahead of the 2020-21 season, hoping that his career would have a fairy-tale ending like Ray Bourque’s. Instead, a heart condition, that worsened over the offseason, ended Lundqvist’s season before it began.

The goaltender went to extreme measures to try and find a way to come back to the NHL. According to GP’s Johan Rylander and the Rangers’ blog Forever Blueshirts, who presented an English translation, Lundqvist chose to have his faulty aortic valve replaced by one made of cow tissue, instead of a mechanical valve, to avoid going on blood thinners. The decision gave Hank a better chance of returning to the Capitals, but he will have to have another heart surgery in the future.

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The King’s speech translated: Henrik Lundqvist’s tearful goodbye to hockey

Henrik Lundqvist, 39, announced his retirement from hockey on Friday after 15 seasons in the NHL — all with the New York Rangers.

The King held a press conference at Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden, to say goodbye to the sport he so dearly loved. The speech began a few minutes after 3 PM (Swedish time) or 9 AM Eastern Time.

The venue was personally significant. Scandinavium Arena is where Lundqvist watched his first professional hockey game as a kid. The barn is also home to Frölunda HC – the team he dreamed to play for and would later star with as a young adult before moving on to New York Rangers and the NHL in 2005.

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‘We’ll see what happens’: Henrik Lundqvist is strapping his pads on again in latest update

Henrik Lundqvist isn’t calling it a career yet after open-heart surgery sidelined him for the entirety of the 2020-21 season.

Earlier this week, Hank posted another wholesome update on social media that he was back fully training again. Lundqvist posted a photo that shows two pads untied laying on the floor.

“Not sure how many times I’ve been sitting here, tying and untying the pads over the years, 15.000? I’m just guessing.” Lundqvist wrote. “Back at it, we’ll see what happens 🙂”

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Henrik Lundqvist will not be eligible to sign a contract at the start of free agency

Last week, the Washington Capitals lost Vitek Vanecek in the Expansion Draft to the Seattle Kraken, creating an unexpected hole at the goaltending position.

One player that could possibly fill it, like he hoped to do last year, is Henrik Lundavist, who missed all of the 2020-21 campaign due to open-heart surgery.

But according to Bob McKenzie, Lundqvist is not eligible to be signed, at least at the start of free agency, because he hasn’t been cleared by doctors yet.

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Henrik Lundqvist resumes ‘light workouts’ after comeback bid paused due to complications

Henrik Lundqvist took to Instagram on Friday to publish a photo with his daughter. In the caption, the future Hall of Fame goaltender gave a new update on his recovery from open-heart surgery that caused him to miss all of the 2020-21 season with the Washington Capitals.

“Midsummer, birthday parties and lots of time with friends and family. Summer is off to a good start,” Lundqvist said. “Oh and I’m back with light workouts again💪🏻 Yeees!”

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