Former New York Ranger great Henrik Lundqvist to sit out 2020-21 season

December 14, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30) defends the goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Henrik Lundqvist, who played for the New York Rangers for 15 years before joining the Washington Capitals, has announced that he will sit out the upcoming season due to a heart condition.

He posted the news on social media Thursday.

“It breaks my heart (literally) to share this news: I will not be joining the Capitals this upcoming season,” he said. “After many weeks of tests and conversations with specialists around the country, it’s been determined that a heart condition will prevent me from taking the ice. Together, we have decided that the risk of playing before remedying my condition is too high. So I will spend the coming months figuring out the best course of action.”

He went on to say that he was “inspired by the opportunity to play in DC and committed to my game, spending every day at the rink to prepare for the upcoming season.”

This offseason, Lundqvist agreed to a one-year deal with the Capitals worth $1.5 million after his 15-year run with the Rangers. He became an unrestricted free agent in a crowded field of goaltenders.

Before winning the Vezina Trophy in 2012, he was nominated in each of his first three seasons and is the only goaltender in NHL history to record 11 30-win seasons in his first 12 seasons. He holds the record for most wins by a European-born goaltender in the NHL.