Bouwmeester and Blues GM Doug Armstrong said they will evaluate Bouwmeester's future at a later date

ST. LOUIS — Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester addressed the media and fans in person for the first time since his 'cardiac episode' on the bench in Anaheim earlier in February.

Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong announced during the press conference that Bouwmeester would not play for the team the rest of the regular season or playoffs.

"It was a scary thing, but it's been going pretty good lately. And we'll continue to evaluate things as it goes," Bouwmeester said. "I'm at the point now where I feel pretty good."

Bouwmeester thanked the medical staff that assisted him in Anaheim and the hospital, and all of the fans who have shown their support.

Armstrong and Bouwmeester said they would take a longer look at his future in the coming months.

Bouwmeester suffered the cardiac episode during a game in Anaheim back on Feb. 11. He was revived with a difirbrulator and rushed to a hospital in California. Doctors successfully installed an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, which is a device that monitors heart function and can deliver a shock to the heart if an arrhythmia happens to restore a regular heartbeat.

Bouwmeester has played 1,240 games in his 17-year NHL career, totaling 88 goals and 336 assists. From 2004 to 2014, Bouwmeester played in 737 consecutive games, the ninth highest total of all-time. He joined the Blues in the 2012-2013 season after a trade from Calgary.

The 36-year-old Edmonton native has a World Juniors Championship, an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada and a Stanley Cup Championship with the Blues in 2019.