Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is back in St. Louis and on the road to recovery.

After collapsing on the bench at a game in Anaheim last month due to cardiac arrest, Bouwmeester had a cardioverter defibrillator implanted into his chest at UCI Medical Center in Orange County, California. The 18-year NHL season veteran has spent the past 8 years with St. Louis. He has been a huge asset in the game and a huge point contributor.

Bouwmeester spoke publicly for the first time since the incident this past Wednesday. During this he stated that he still isn’t sure what his future holds. He is definitely out for the rest of the season, but the thirty-six-year-old is still undecided about the rest of his career. In his speech, Bouwmeester focused on how thankful he was for the people who acted quickly around him.

“It happened in the absolute best place that it could happen because of all the protocols they have in place and how people responded so quickly…No. 1, they saved my life and No. 2, the fact that they could get on it so fast was very helpful,” Bouwmeester said.

Bouwmeester’s absence is obvious, but his teammates are making sure that they finish the season for him. To fill the hole in the roster, the Blues picked up Marco Scandella from the Montreal Canadians. He is a perfect fit for the Blues and has stepped in seamlessly for Bouwmeester.

Bouwmeester plans to continue to get stronger and healthier while figuring out what the future holds for him. Undoubtedly, Blues fans and players alike are rooting for a comeback next season.