As a New Jersey Devil’s fan I have never liked anything or anyone that has to do with the New York Rangers. I have participated in many “Rangers suck!” chants at the Rock, I have booed the Rangers vigorously and cheered on my boys when there is a fight on the ice and I have shared many a Henrik Lundqvist jokes as well.
What time is it? Five past Lundqvist
I went to Henrik Lundqvist’s house for coffee, but he didn’t have any cups
Henrik Lundqvist was the goalie for the Rangers for fifteen years when his contract was bought out by the team in 2019-2020. For fifteen years, with many other Devil’s fans, I would boo, hiss and ridicule Lundqvist any chance I got. Even when he was picked up by the Washington Capitals for the 2020-2021 season, I was still relishing the opportunity to take jabs at him.
Then, a heart condition that Lundqvist kept quiet for fifteen years needed to be fixed. He had a leaky valve which caused his aorta to enlarge and the pressure in his heart was too high. Lundqvist opted for open heart surgery in December to replace his aortic valve and ascending aortic replacement. Thankfully, he had his surgery at the Cleveland Clinic which is one of the best in the United States. I know this because I also have a pretty serious heart condition and the treatment for it was developed at the Cleveland Clinic with cutting edge research and study.
My hardened Ranger’s hating heart (no pun intended) started to soften when I heard Lundqvist needed major heart surgery and his hockey career was sidelined indefinitely. I could empathize with having your life halted due to heart issues. For almost three years my own life was put on hold due to my heart issues. I was actually cheering for the guy when I saw he was back on the ice participating in limited activity three weeks after his surgery. When Lundqvist talked about making a return for this season, I was actually elated. As this has been my year back from heart issues, I felt a kinship with Lundqvist as he made his way back to the ice.
A few days ago, Henrik Lundqvist announced he had to postpone his comeback this season as a recent check-up revealed inflammation around his heart which would require a few more months of rest and recovery. At thirty-nine years old, it seems unlikely he will be back on the ice. There are only four goalies in the NHL who are thirty-eight years old and there is a crop of talented young goalies waiting in the wings.
If Henrik comes back, instead of booing him I will probably cheer him on. Don’t worry; I won’t be buying a Lundqvist jersey anytime soon, but I will quietly be excited to see him on the ice and performing well. My blood will forever be black and red, but my heart will be beating along in support of a fellow heart disorder survivor.
Time Out With Jenn & Lisa 