New York Rangers Legend Never Had a Chance to Say Goodbye: Chris Drury Does The Unthinkable
Photo credit: Tag Heuer
For Henrik Lundqvist, his storied career would end after 15 years in the net for the Rangers. He'd attempt to saddle up once more with the Washington Capitals, but his health would limit his ability to follow through, after the bubble, and his retirement, he never truly got to say "goodbye" to his fans and teammates until Chris Drury called.
Henrik Lundqvist's NHL career, a 15-year journey as a Blueshirt, would inevitably end after the bubble. He wouldn't get closure, as he'd step away from the team, and would attempt a comeback with the Washington Capitals, albeit it failed.
«I never really had a chance to say goodbye, to get closure,» Lundqvist said this week on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast.
He announced his retirement from the game of hockey on August 20, 2021, in Sweden. The pain of not being present for the Rangers fans who adored him would linger. That is, until a chance call from Chris Drury happened.
«I see it's (Rangers general manager) Chris Drury,» Lundqvist recalled. «He says, 'Congrats,' and then, 'Your jersey is going up this year.'»
It'd only take a short five months, after his heart was repaired in surgery, for he'd find his way back onto Madison Square Garden ice and say goodbye to the faithful fans.
Lundqvist had been dealing with a leaky heart for years, and while it'd be monitored by his doctors, no one ever thought it'd be something that would end his career.
«The leak was getting worse. The pressure in my heart was going up. My aorta was growing too much,» he explained. «There were a few things going on.»
The Rangers would later buy out his contract, and he'd be determined to play, despite his troubling condition.
And while he was packing, the news would get worse for him.
«All the tests, everything is actually worse than we thought,» doctors told him.
«My pressure used to be 19 or 20. I was at 60,» Lundqvist said. «At 70, your heart stops. My aorta was too big. They needed to replace it. And the valve, it was just hanging on.»
«My pressure used to be 19 or 20. I was at 60,» Lundqvist said. «At 70, your heart stops. My aorta was too big. They needed to replace it. And the valve, it was just hanging on.»
In the long run, he'd never suit up for a game for the Capitals and would have to take his health into consideration.
Fortunately for him, he'd finally get a chance to say goodbye in 2022, in front of his fans in Madison Square Garden.
Now, he continues his relationship with the sport of hockey as an analyst. We're lucky to still have him around.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
AOUT 1 | 69 ANSWERS New York Rangers Legend Never Had a Chance to Say Goodbye: Chris Drury Does The Unthinkable Do you think goalie Henrik Lundqvist, a former New York Ranger, was destined to win a Stanley Cup? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 68.1 % |
| No | 22 | 31.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
