Hockey Hall of Famer is opening up about his heart condition that forced him into early retirement

At the end of 2020, Henrik Lundqvist still had some gas left in the tank and was ready to put on an unfamiliar hockey sweater to extend his career a little longer.

After spending 15 seasons with the New York Rangers, “King Hank” signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals prior to the 2020-2021 season.

But with just a month until the start of the season, Lundqvist had to undergo open heart surgery in January 2021 for a leaky aortic valve.

Lundqvist returned to training a month later, but the surgery did not cure his heart problems. While preparing to return to the ice with the Caps, Lundqvist had heart attacks. He was ultimately diagnosed with recurrent pericarditis, which caused him “severe pain” that “interfered with my daily life.”

Knowing the risks, he decided to pursue a career.

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Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers goalkeeper (Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports)

“It definitely didn’t end the way I planned. … It's a big day when you make that decision,” Lundqvist said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital about his decision to hang up the pads.

Sure, Lundqvist was certainly at the end of his career, but he didn't quite end it the way he wanted. As he puts it, “The first year of retirement was tough.”

But nearly four years after his surgery, Lundqvist considers the diagnosis a blessing in some ways.

Looking back, Lundqvist knows he should only wear Ranger blue.

“It wasn’t intended for me to continue playing. My last game was as a Ranger, that was the point of it all,” said Lundqvist, who works as an analyst for MSG Network and TNT.

Although it was difficult to end his career somewhat involuntarily, the 42-year-old told Fox News Digital he was “happy” with his decision.

“Instead of wishing for more, I turned around and was extremely grateful for everything I experienced on the ice and how much the game of hockey has given me: memories, friendships and just such a great passion. It really guided me through life.” “I felt a tremendous amount of gratitude for my career and the things I was able to do,” he said.

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist waves to fans after defeating the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2017. The victory was Lundqvist's 400th NHL victory. (Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports)

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Hindsight is also 20/20 considering he still has to deal with scary moments that would be a nightmare on the ice.

The Hockey Hall of Famer said he has “limitations” when it comes to physical activity and has had “four or five flare-ups” since his open-heart surgery, including just this summer. His pericarditis isn't going away anytime soon.

“At that moment I wasn’t sure if it was the right decision. “But looking back, I know it was the right decision, given the number of seizures I had and the impact it had on my life,” Lundqvist said.

More than four years after his last NHL game, Lundqvist takes the opportunity to tell his story. The Rangers legend, whose number 30 hangs in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, has teamed up with Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals to take part in their latest “Life DisRPted” campaign to raise awareness about pericarditis.

“Pericarditis has really affected my life. I had to retire. But since I've retired, it's also had an impact on my life in terms of how active I can be and the setbacks I've had, the flare-ups. So, “Through this campaign, I saw a great opportunity to raise awareness,” Lundqvist said.

Former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist speaks to the crowd during a number retirement ceremony before a game at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

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“I had a lot of great conversations with their team about how to reach people. Many people live with it, but maybe they don't have a good plan. That's our goal with this campaign, to really educate people and make sure they get the kind of support they need from their doctors. There are many people who may not know that they have RP. When I was diagnosed, I wasn't sure what was going on. I was just in a lot of pain, it was affecting my everyday life. So that's the first step in making the diagnosis, but from there you want to have a good plan.

“It just touches me,” he added. “Athlete or not, your life can be turned upside down, no matter who you are. But how do you find happiness and strength in this moment? We all go through things. I think the key is how we react, how we deal with it.” . I don't know if I feel a responsibility, but it's an opportunity to help people.

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