Washington Capitals Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist , to Undergo Open Heart Surgery.<br />Lundqvist revealed the news <br />on Dec. 28 via social media.<br />He said his focus had shifted in the “last 3 weeks”<br />from training to his “health.”.<br />Last 3 weeks my focus has shifted from<br />training camp and the upcoming season<br />to my health and what I can and can’t do. , Henrik Lundqvist, via Instagram.<br />Lundqvist said his surgery would include replacing his aortic valve, aortic root and ascending aorta.<br />He did not say when the procedures would take<br />place, but he is “set on the road to recovery.” .<br />We all have our mountains<br />to climb. Staying positive here and<br />set on the road to recovery, Henrik Lundqvist, via Instagram.<br />The 38-year-old initially announced<br />on Dec. 17 that he would not be able<br />to play during the 2020-21 NHL season. .<br />After signing with the Capitals, Lundqvist underwent<br />a physical which revealed a heart condition that made it<br />“not acceptable” for him to keep playing. .<br />The team’s general manager,<br />Brian MacLellan, said that although<br />he'll be missed, everyone is “grateful”<br />that his condition was discovered<br />and can now be addressed. .<br />I think we're grateful, everybody's<br />grateful that he went down that road, that our<br />medical staffs, that our trainer pushed him<br />down that road and explored it more, Brian MacLellan, via Sportsnet
