Washington Capitals: Henrik Lundqvist back on the ice a sight to behold

Henrik Lundqvist is back on the ice and it is the best thing we’ve seen all week.

Any kind of good news is more than welcome these days given what is going on in the world right now, and we got that earlier today thanks to a social media post from Henrik Lundqvist, who is already back at work.

The hockey world was dealt a blow on the even of the 2020-21 NHL season after Lundqvist announced that he would be stepping away from the game this year after a heart condition was flagged up during his physical with the Washington Capitals, for whom he signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with during Free Agency.

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It was obviously a crying shame given that almost every hockey fan on the planet wanted to see Lundqvist go and chase a Stanley Cup with the Capitals, but the first concern was with Lundqvist and his health.

Well, after undergoing successful open heart surgery less than two months ago, Lundqvist is now taking huge leaps in his comeback and it is raising hope that we could see the future Hall of Famer back in the National Hockey League in the near future.

Always very active on social media, Lundqvist has been keeping everyone updated on his health and his progress, and it was only last week that the goalie posted a video of him running and looking great and very healthy.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30) (Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports) /

Henrik Lundqvist is back on the ice just six weeks after open-heart surgery

Lundqvist has now ramped up his physical activity and he was back on the ice and back in his office today, taking shots and going through other drills while sporting a sick Washington Capitals setup with his pads.

It really was great to see and the fact that Lundqvist is back on the ice already less than two months after undergoing surgery is really fantastic, and probably tells you all you need to know about Henrik Lundqvist the man and his love for the game of hockey.

Now, it would be unfair to speculate if this video means that the 38-year-old could return to NHL action sooner than expected, but if you watch the two videos carefully then maybe Capitals fans should just get a little bit excited.

After all, Lundqvist’s movement in the first video where he is taking shots is pretty incredible, he seems locked in and his side-to-side movement is also incredibly fluid and sharp for someone who hasn’t played since last year.

His lateral movement in the second video also seems very impressive, and there doesn’t appear to be any limitations in his movement or ability to make a number of short, sharp busts in a very short amount of time which is very, very encouraging.

So, what does this mean? Well, in the grand scheme of things, not a lot. This is just Lundqvist going through his recovery and let’s keep in mind that today was also the first time he was able to drive. It is also important to remember that taking shots and going through drills in a controlled environment is very different to playing in an actual NHL game or even taking part in practice.

Therefore, to expect Lundqvist to return at some point this season based on those two videos would be incredibly unfair, and it is important that the 38-year-old continues to take baby steps and not rush his recovery or do anything to put his health at risk. After all, we’re still in a Pandemic and the NHL will still be waiting for him next season.

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Overall, though, the fact that Henrik Lundqvist is back on the ice and in full gear just six weeks after undergoing open-heart surgery where he had aortic valve replacement, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement is damn impressive, and it is a good sign that he is taking big steps in the right direction and is on track for a return to playing, whenever that may be. But today was a positive sign all round and the bit of great news we needed.

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