At the age of 38, it became known that Henrik Lundqvist had a serious heart defect.
In a new documentary about SVT, the legendary goalkeeper talks emotionally about the illness that ended his career.
– The heart said no to playing at Washington Capitals, it became a kind of symbolic in it, he said.
In the documentaryHenrik Lundqvist – Epic Hockey ”, SVT employee Marie Lehmann has followed Henrik Lundqvist throughout his career.
For 15 years, he played for the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
It became a dream to stay there throughout his NHL career and finish in the blue jersey with the number 30 at the back.
“They suffered through the fall”
In the fall of 2020, the New York Rangers bought him with one year left on a seven-year contract.
After signing a one-year contract with Washington Capitals, it was revealed that the congenital heart defect had become more serious than feared and that he needed surgery.
– I thought it was very fun to play and practice, so I had the opportunity to coach the Washington Capitals. I was incredibly charged and inspired by it. When I look back, my heart said no, it became a kind of symbolic in everything, how I was doing and suffering during the fall, should I or not. Is it right that I’ve only played for the New York Rangers my entire career. So I made the decision and he still says no. Henrik Lundqvist says it wasn’t meant to be.
“A reminder of life”
A heart defect consists of the valves not closing properly so that blood can flow back to the heart.
Eventually before the operation, 60 percent of the blood returned to the heart, making the heart work harder and putting more pressure on it.
– For me, it’s part of my history, I feel. It is a daily reminder of life. It’s a big deal to say, but it becomes when you look at it. It was close, it was close to the eye somehow. It’s the same with tattoos with kids, it’s part of my journey. Now it would be very strange if it weren’t there, says Henrik Lundqvist.
“Trust me with the family”
Now, when he was 40, he can live as usual with his wife, two daughters and work assignments as they start from the apartment in Manhattan.
I’m a control freak when it comes to hockey, how I train and prepare. In this case, it was just letting go, it was just realizing that I had no control there. Henrik Lundqvist says: I had to rely on everyone around me, the doctors and the family.
During his career, he won Olympic gold, WC gold with Tre Kronor as well as SM gold with Frölunda.
With the New York Rangers, there have been more than 1,017 games, over 50 club records, and the best player on the team nine times, he has been nominated for the Vesina Award as the best goalkeeper in the National Hockey League five times and the award winner once and honored with the number 30 on the famous roof. From Madison Square Garden.
He was drafted in the seventh round with number 205, but already after his third match he was dubbed King Henrik.
“Henrik Lundqvist – a hockey saga” airs on SVT1 on Thursday, November 10.