Late in the playoffs of those annual deep Rangers runs during most of the past decade was when game stars and great athletes spoke to the media from a podium rather than in front of their respective lockers.
So it would take maybe 10 minutes to hear from the likes of 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 for Henrik Lundqvist to take the podium.
Or as President Kennedy once said of his wife Jacqueline, while The First Lady had an audience waiting for her entry: “Jackie takes a little longer to get ready, but it’s worth it.”
Lundqvist’s hair would of course be perfectly encapsulated. Of course, his clothes would be perfect for the occasion. The national media that collected those sources in New York would be anything but collective. I think one or more of the national columnists did indeed refer to Lundqvist’s life as ‘perfect’.
The national guys probably weren’t that far away. An all-time NHL goalkeeper with a persona to match, Lundqvist was the Rangers’ biggest star since Gretzky played on Broadway. He was more than warm to inquiring minds. He respected everyone with whom he crossed his path.
He was a page of GQ that came to life. But that probably downplayed its profound impact on New York. Not only did he win more games than any goalkeeper in franchise history, but he and his wife, Therese, became part of the fabric of the community. The couple’s charity work on behalf of the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation is famous. They had two young daughters.
Yes, Henrik Lundqvist and his family were beautiful.
But as we were reminded on Thursday, perfect health and picture is not guaranteed. Because we learned from Lundqvist himself through social media that he won’t be able to play this season due to a recently discovered heart condition that requires treatment. He won’t put on the Capitals jersey in search of the Stanley Cup that eluded him for 15 seasons in New York.
We understand that Lundqvist’s condition is not life-threatening. We also understand that this is not related to COVID-19. But he won’t be able to play this year. Chances are, as he turns 39 in March, this is the end of his career.
This is one time when “Once a Ranger, always a Ranger” sounds about as hollow as it gets.
I know how eager Lundqvist looks forward to the season, how energetic he was to join forces with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Carl Hagelin and the crew in DC. The appreciation he had for his tenure in New York was also palpable. This was to be the second chapter of the king. This was going to be perfect.
As if we needed it in 2020, we got another shock and yet another reminder of our mortality, how precious our time is, and our commitment to maximize life while we have the chance. And we receive this reminder not of a death, but of the medical condition of an all-time professional athlete whose career is likely to be over just like that.
Lundqvist’s dedication and focus are legendary. The Swede’s attention will now move from the rink to his health, and to his heart that has always belonged to New York. This may not represent the perfect ending he envisioned and desired by others on his behalf, but this is not a perfect world.