Henrik Lundqvist never expected his final NHL appearance to take place in a fan-less bubble during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After 15 seasons as the face of the New York Rangers’ net, there was no real sendoff for “The King,” widely regarded as the greatest goaltender in team history.
“I never got the chance for closure or to say goodbye,” Lundqvist shared this week on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.
That sense of unfinished business stayed with him when he officially announced his retirement on August 20, 2021, while back in Sweden. But just as he wrapped up a media interview that day, his phone rang.
“It was (Rangers GM) Chris Drury,” Lundqvist recalled. “He congratulated me and then said, ‘We’re retiring your jersey this year.’”
Five months later, with his heart surgically repaired and his playing days behind him, Lundqvist stood on Madison Square Garden ice for one final moment with Rangers fans — a proper farewell at last.
Still, that emotional moment only came after a dramatic turn. Before retirement, Lundqvist had plans to continue his career with the Washington Capitals. But those hopes were dashed when a troubling update from his doctors forced him to step away from the game for
good.
Henrik Lundqvist had been aware of a leaky heart valve for years, but it had remained stable and manageable — more of a monitored condition than a career-threatening issue. That outlook changed dramatically during his first round of medical evaluations after signing a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals in October 2020.
“The leak had worsened, my heart pressure was rising, and my aorta had enlarged too much,” he explained. “There were several concerning developments.”
Even after the Rangers bought out his contract following the 2020 playoff bubble, Lundqvist was determined to continue playing. In his mind, a comeback was already in motion.
“I really thought the hardest part would be convincing my wife — like, ‘I’ve got this, I’m still going to play,’” he said. “Sure, the risk was higher, but I was mentally all-in.”
But just a month later, as he packed his bags to head back for the delayed start of the 2020–21 season, he received a call that halted everything.
“Doctors said all the test results came back worse than expected,” Lundqvist recalled.
“My heart pressure, which used to be 19 or 20, had skyrocketed to 60. At 70, your heart stops. My aorta had expanded too much and needed to be replaced, and the valve was barely functioning.”
That was the end of the road.
“At that point, the decision was clear. I had no choice,” he said. “If there had been any gray area, I probably would’ve tried to push through. But with numbers like that? There was no coming back
Day 3. Surgery went really well. About 5 hours to get it all taken care of. Really appreciate the great staff here at the Clevland Clinic. Last few days has been pretty crazy but feel like I’m in really good hands. Every day is a step in the right direction 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/wjMTosFWQy
— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist) January 8, 2021
Henrik Lundqvist underwent successful open-heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in January 2021, but the road to recovery was far from smooth. Even the most basic tasks were difficult at first.
“The first couple of weeks post-surgery, I could barely walk,” Lundqvist said. “But each week got a little better.”
Despite the tough early stages, he still believed a return to hockey was possible. “In my mind, I was coming back,” he said.
Just seven weeks after the operation, Lundqvist was back on the ice, easing into light skating drills to reacclimate himself to the speed of play.
“I was moving at a decent pace — not bad,” he said. “It was just about getting the feel back. No high shots yet … just skating, light shots, and gradually applying pressure to the chest.”
Both physically and mentally, he felt solid. His recovery was on track — even ahead of schedule in some areas.
“You’ve got to give your chest time to heal from the pressure,” Lundqvist explained. “You can’t push yourself too hard after just a few weeks. It’s a week-by-week process, and you really have to listen to your body.”
As the weeks passed, reality began to sink in for Henrik Lundqvist, even after he officially ruled out a return for the 2020–21 season.
“Honestly, I felt great — both physically and mentally,” Lundqvist said. “But deep down, I knew I couldn’t … I just couldn’t fight this.”
Despite all he had endured and the goals he still hoped to chase, the conclusion became undeniable.
“It was time to step away,” he said.
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