The Pittsburgh Penguins still have one game left in the 2024-25 season, but they will do so without star defenseman Kris Letang.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion underwent successful surgery to close a small hole in his heart, the club announced Wednesday. The recovery time is four to six weeks.
The surgery, called a patent foramen ovale, was performed at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital by Dr. Conrad Smith, per The Athletic’s Rob Rossi. The hole was discovered in Letang’s heart following a stroke the 19-year veteran suffered in January 2014. Letang had a second stroke eight years later in November 2022.
Letang opted to have the surgery after the Penguins were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season so that he could implement his regular training regimen this summer before training camp in September, according to Rossi.
The Montreal native has spent his entire career playing in Pittsburgh. He has tallied 175 goals and 597 assists across 1,161 games and registered nine goals and 21 assists in 74 games for the Penguins this season. He is signed through the 2027-28 season, with a salary cap hit of $6.1 million and a full no-movement clause, according to Spotrac.com.
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The Penguins will battle the Washington Capitals to wrap up their 2024-25 campaign Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
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