Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist to undergo open heart surgery

The heart condition that will cause Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to miss the 2020-21 NHL season will also force him to undergo open heart surgery, he revealed Monday. 

"Last 3 weeks my focus has shifted from training camp and the upcoming season to my health and what I can and can't do," Lundqvist wrote in a social media message.

The open heart surgery will include aortic valve replacement, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement, Lundqvist said. He did not offer a timetable for when the procedures would take place. 

"We all have our mountains to climb," he added. "Staying positive here and set on the road to recovery." 

Lundqvist, 38, had spent the last 15 seasons with the New York Rangers, who bought out the final year of his contract at the end of last season. A free agent, Lundqvist signed a one-year deal with the division foe Capitals in October before announcing earlier this month he would be unable to play this season, which begins Jan. 13.

Lundqvist, the 2012 Vezina trophy winner, has appeared in more than 1,000 career games, including playoffs. He has a career 2.43 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in the regular season and a 2.30 GAA and .921 mark in the postseason. 

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.