FILE - New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist reacts after a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in New York, in this Sunday, March 1, 2020, file photo. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 5-3. Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist will sit out the upcoming NHL season because of a heart condition, announcing the news a little more than two months after joining the Washington Capitals. Lundqvist posted a written statement and a videotaped one on social media Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, saying it was aSeth Wenig/Associated Press

Capitals' Henrik Lundqvist to Undergo Open-Heart Surgery

Adam WellsDec 28, 2020

Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist will have open-heart surgery after previously announcing he would miss the 2020-21 season.

Lundqvist wrote on Twitter he will be having an aortic root and ascending aortic replacement procedure:

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The Capitals signed Lundqvist to a one-year contract in October. He was expected to be the primary backup goalie behind Ilya Samsonov.

On Dec. 17, Lundqvist posted a statement on Twitter that he would be unable to play in the upcoming season after receiving test results and consulting with doctors about a heart issue:

Lundqvist became a free agent this offseason after the New York Rangers bought out the final year of his contract.

The 38-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Rangers, making the All-Star team five times and winning the 2011-12 Vezina Trophy. He's the franchise's all-time leader in wins (459), shutouts (64) and games played by a goalie (887).