Henrik Lundqvist, stars of the Rangers, prepares for heart surgery of an open nature
Henrik Lundqvist, the legendary goaltender of the New York Rangers, announced on December 17, 2020, that he would not participate in the 2021 NHL season due to a heart condition. After a series of medical procedures, Lundqvist underwent open-heart surgery in early 2021 to repair a leaky heart valve and replace an enlarged aorta.
The surgery was necessary due to Lundqvist's aorta becoming too large, posing serious health risks, and the valve leakage worsening. His recovery initially seemed promising; Lundqvist was skating again about seven weeks after surgery in April 2021, hoping to return for the playoffs with the Washington Capitals. However, he developed recurring pericarditis, inflammation around the heart, which kept coming back and ultimately prevented him from resuming professional play.
Lundqvist's heart condition forced him to retire earlier than he had planned despite feeling physically and mentally ready. In his statement, he expressed a positive attitude and determination to recover from the surgery. The specific procedures involved in Lundqvist's open-heart surgery (aortic valve replacement, aortic root replacement, and ascending aortic replacement) were mentioned in a previous statement.
Despite the retirement, Lundqvist's accomplishments with the New York Rangers remain unparalleled. He ranks first in wins, saves, save percentage, and shutouts in the history of the franchise. It remains unclear when Lundqvist will return to the NHL after his recovery from the surgery.
Sources:
- ESPN
- NHL.com
- The Athletic
- Sportsnet
- Cleveland Clinic
Henrik Lundqvist, despite undergoing open-heart surgery to address a leaky heart valve and an enlarged aorta, initially planned to return for the playoffs with the Washington Capitals after recovering from his surgery. However, recurring pericarditis, inflammation around the heart, kept him from resuming professional play in the NHL.
His unparalleled accomplishments with the New York Rangers, including leading in wins, saves, save percentage, and shutouts in the history of the franchise, remain a testament to Lundqvist's skill and tenacity in sports, specifically hockey in the NHL.
