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By the time these deep annual Rangers’ playoffs ended for most of the past decade, the stars of the game and renowned athletes were speaking to the media from a podium rather than their respective lockers.
So it would take maybe 10 minutes to hear, say, Derick Brassard, Ryan McDonagh or Martin St. Louis after a game or practice. But it would take 15 minutes, maybe 20 minutes, maybe even 25 minutes before Henrik Lundqvist climbed on the podium.
Or as President Kennedy once said of his wife, Jacqueline, as the First Lady awaited her entrance into an audience: “Jackie takes a little longer to prepare, but it’s worth it.
Lundqvist’s hair, of course, well, it would be perfectly styled. Her outfit, of course, well, it would be perfect for the occasion. The national media that gathered in New York these sources would almost take their breath away. I believe that one or more national columnists have indeed called Lundqvist’s life “perfect”.
The national guys were probably not that far away. Lundqvist was an all-time NHL goalie with a personality to match, the Rangers biggest star since Gretzky played on Broadway. He was more than cordial to curious minds. He was respectful of everyone he crossed paths with.
It was a page of GQ coming to life. But that probably trivializes its profound impact on New York City. Not only has he won more games than any goalie in franchise history, he and his wife, Therese, have also become an integral part of the community. The couple’s charitable work on behalf of the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation is renowned, they had two young daughters.
Yes, Henrik Lundqvist and his family were perfect.
But as we were reminded on Thursday, a perfect individual and family are not guaranteed to be in perfect health. Because we’ve learned from Lundqvist himself through social media that he won’t be able to play this season due to a newly discovered heart disease that will require treatment. He won’t put on the Capitals’ Stanley Cup-hunting sweater that has eluded him for 15 seasons in New York.
We understand that Lundqvist’s condition is not life threatening. We also understand that this is unrelated to COVID-19. But he won’t be able to play this year. Chances are, because he turns 39 in March, that will mark the end of his career.
It’s once that, “Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger,” sounds as hollow as it gets.
I know how much Lundqvist looked forward to the season, how motivated he was to partner with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Carl Hagelin and the DC team. The appreciation he had for his tenure in New York was also palpable. This was going to be chapter two of the king. It was going to be perfect.
As if we needed it in 2020, we received another shake and reminder of our mortality, how precious our time is and our obligation to maximize life while we have the opportunity. And we get this reminder not of a death, but of the state of health of an all-time professional athlete whose career is, like that, probably over.
Lundqvist’s commitment and focus are legendary. The attention of the Swede will now turn from the rink to his health, and to his heart which has always belonged to New York. It may not represent the perfect ending he envisioned and others wanted on his behalf, but then, it’s not a perfect world.
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