Henrik Lundqvist never imagined his final NHL game would come in the bubble during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. And after 15 years in net for the New York Rangers , there was no true farewell for "The King," the greatest goaltender in franchise history.
"I never really had a chance to say goodbye, to get closure," Lundqvist said this week on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast .
So when Lundqvist officially announced his retirement on Aug. 20, 2021 while back home in Sweden, that feeling lingered. But just as he was finishing up a media session that day, his phone rang.
"I see it's ( Rangers general manager) Chris Drury," Lundqvist recalled. "He says, 'Congrats,' and then, 'Your jersey is going up this year.'"
Five months later, with his heart surgically repaired and his NHL career in the rearview mirror, Lundqvist stood on the Garden ice one last time as he and the Rangers Faithful each were given a proper goodbye.
But the call from Drury only tells part of the story. Before any of that, Lundqvist was still planning to suit up again, hoping for a fresh start with the Washington Capitals until an uncomfortable update from his doctors changed everything.
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Lundqvist had long known about a leaky valve in his heart, but it remained steady for years. It was something he and his doctors monitored, not something he thought would end his playing career. That changed during his first round of medical testing after he signed a one-year contract with the Capitals in October of 2020.
"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."
Still, Lundqvist was determined to continue playing after the Rangers bought out his contract following the "bubble" postseason in the summer of 2020. In his mind, he was already on his way back.
"I really thought it would come down to my convincing my wife, like, 'no, no, I'm going to do this,'" he said. "Yeah, the risk is a little higher now, but I was ready to go."
A month later, back home and getting ready for training camp for the delayed 2020-21 season, Lundqvist packed his bags, only to get a call that changed everything,
"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."
The fight was over before it ever began.
"So yeah, it became an easy decision. I had to do it," he said. "If it had been a gray area, I probably would've pushed through. But when you hear that? You know there's no going back."
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The surgery at Cleveland Clinic in January of 2021 was a success, but the following weeks were anything but easy. At first, even the basics were challenging.
"The first couple weeks after the open-heart [surgery], I was hardly walking," Lundqvist said. "Every week just got better and better."
Still, Lundqvist thought the comeback was on. "In my head, I was coming back," he said.
Seven weeks out, he returned to the ice. It was just a few light skating drills to get a feel for the pace.
"I was in a good pace to start skating — not bad," he said. "I was just on the ice to feel, to get the timing. No high shots, obviously … just on-ice shots for the first couple weeks, then to put pressure on the chest."
Physically and mentally, Lundqvist felt strong. He was progressing on schedule, and even ahead of it in some ways.
"You have to wait for your chest to heal in terms of pressure," he said. "You can't exercise hard after three weeks. You've got to do it week by week, and kind of listen to your body."
But as weeks went on, reality set in, even after Lundqvist confirmed he wouldn't be able to play in 2020-21.
"Honesty, physically, mentally, I felt so good," Lundqvist said. "But I knew I can't .. I can't fight this thing."
After everything he'd been through, and everything he still wanted to accomplish, the decision became clear.
"It was time to hang it up."
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
By the time Lundqvist officially retired, he had already come to peace with the reality the he'd never play again. Emotionally though, something felt unfinished.
The Rangers reached out shortly after his announcement in Sweden to let him know his No. 30 would be retired in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden.
"My last game was in the bubble. No fans. I never really had a chance to say goodbye," Lundqvist said.
And when January 28, 2022 arrived, it was as unforgettable Garden moment.
Fans (who normally show up right before puck drop) poured into the Garden hours early. The concourses overflowed, and some paid more for their ticket than they ever had just to be in the building. It was a once in a generation kind of night — not just for Lundqvist, but for everyone who had ever watched the future Hall of Famer play.
By the time he stepped onto the ice, the roar inside MSG was deafening. Chants of "Henrik! Henrik! Henrik!" shook the building. Between the video tributes and standing ovations, the emotion all built towards the moment when No. 30 was raised to the rafters.
It was a thank you, a celebration and a proper goodbye to the Garden faithful.
"It was an incredible moment for so many reason. I'll never forget it."
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