Long QT syndrome
He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, 3rd Round, 58th overall from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. During the 2001-02 NHL season he served as co-captain of the Capitals alongside teammate Brendan Witt. In October 2002 it was announced that he would serve as the 10th full-time captain of the Capitals. He would hold the position until he was traded to Colorado by Washington with Washington's third selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bates Battaglia and the rights to Jonas Johansson on October 22, 2003. On September 29, 2006, Konowalchuk announced his retirement after a regular examination detected Long QT syndrome.