Georges Laraque is home from a Montreal hospital after being treated for COVID-19.
The retired forward, who played 695 NHL games, was released Monday from Charles-Le Moyne Hospital, where was admitted after he tested positive Thursday.
"I have a way to go, but at least I can be doing better at home," Laraque told NHL.com via text Tuesday.
He told CBC that "I have a ton of stuff to follow that I was doing at the hospital that I can do myself at home but, obviously, I have to stay in confinement."
Laraque said he had pneumonia and was struggling to breathe while he was hospitalized. He described having COVID-19 as "the worst thing ever" with fever, chills, a constant headache and weakness.
"I'm taking pills all the time for my fever and injections to help with headache and stuff," the 43-year-old said Saturday. "It's so crazy because I was running six days a week, 10 kilometers a day to get ready for a marathon; I was doing that for months."
He said he likely contracted the virus while volunteering to help deliver groceries to elderly people who are sheltering in place to avoid the virus. He also recently assisted Give Protection in Laval, Quebec, a drive to get more personal protective equipment to front-line medical staff.
Laraque played 12 NHL seasons, the first eight with the Edmonton Oilers. He scored 153 points (53 goals, 100 assists) and had 1,126 penalty minutes with the Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.
He said his spirits were lifted during his hospitalization by more than 500 text messages from fans, current and former NHL players and coaches wishing him a swift recovery.
The group included Penguins center Sidney Crosby, former Oilers forwards Wayne Gretzky, Craig MacTavish and Craig Simpson and defenseman Kevin Lowe, former NHL coach Michel Therrien, and New York Rangers senior adviser Glen Sather.
