Lundqvist nearly joined Capitals before career-ending inflammation

Henrik Lundqvist was about 72 hours away from heading to the United States to meet up with the Washington Capitals in April when he learned he had heart inflammation that ultimately forced him to conclude his career.

"It was three days before I was going back to Washington that I found out that I had pericarditis," Lundqvist told Swedish publication Goteborgs-Posten, as translated by NHL.com, according to the league website's Tom Gulitti. "I was very close to coming back. It was very tough to go through that again, but this was a completely different thing because it had nothing to do with the operation."

Lundqvist, who retired at 39 last week, never played for the Capitals after signing with them as a free agent in October. In December, the longtime New York Rangers star netminder said he wouldn't play all season due to a heart condition, and he underwent open-heart surgery shortly thereafter.

He appeared to make progress following the procedure and began to skate in the spring. However, on April 11, Lundqvist halted his comeback bid and revealed he had inflammation around his heart that would keep him out for a few more months.

The Capitals inked Lundqvist to a one-year, $1.5-million deal before doctors identified his condition. The Rangers bought out his contract in late September.

Lundqvist spent his entire 15-year on-ice career with New York. He was one of the best NHL goalies ever, ranking among the league's all-time leaders in wins, games played, saves, and shutouts.