WITH THE EXPLANATION FROM THE PENGUINS. KRIS LETANG HAS BEEN PLAYING HOCKEY AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL WITH A HOLE IN HIS HEART. IT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER HIS FIRST STROKE BACK IN 2014. ON TUESDAY. DOCTORS SUCCESSFULLY CLOSED THAT HOLE UP. HE CAME IN AND MOVING A LITTLE BIT SLOW TODAY, BUT HE WAS IN A GOOD MOOD. AND YOU KNOW THAT THAT I THINK EASES EVERYBODY’S MIND. IN TRUE KRIS LETANG FASHION, HE WAS BACK AT THE PRACTICE FACILITY THE DAY AFTER HAVING SURGERY TO REPAIR A HOLE IN HIS HEART. LETANG MISSED MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER HIS INITIAL STROKE BACK IN 2014, THEN WAS BACK AT PRACTICE JUST TEN DAYS AFTER ANOTHER STROKE IN 2022. HE’LL MISS THE FINAL GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON ON THURSDAY, BUT THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT NOTHING RECENTLY CAUSED HIM TO HAVE THIS SURGERY. ON TUESDAY, MIKE SULLIVAN SAID HE’S BEEN DEALING WITH A FEW OTHER BUMPS AND BRUISES RIGHT NOW, SO IT JUST MADE THE MOST SENSE TO HAVE THE PROCEDURE NOW. GIVEN HIS HISTORY, I THINK YOU JUST JUST WANTED TO BE HEALTHY AND THAT’S THE MAIN THING. SO, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S SOMETHING THAT IS FAIRLY COMMON. YOU KNOW, IT’S SOMETHING THAT I THINK HE’S HAPPY THAT HE THAT HE GOT DONE AND HOPEFULLY HELPS HIM. YEAH, HE’S DOING WELL. HE WAS AT THE RINK TODAY. HE’S DOING WELL. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT WAS THE SURGERY WAS SUCCESSFUL. HE CAN HE’S ON THE MEND AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW IT’S A 4 TO 6 WEEK RECOVERY TIME. AND YOU KNOW I THINK HE’S I THINK HE’S PLEASED THAT THAT H
Penguins say Kris Letang had surgery to close a small hole in his heart
Updated: 5:49 PM EDT Apr 16, 2025
Kris Letang has been playing hockey at an extremely high level with a hole in his heart.The small hole was discovered in 2014 after Letang suffered a stroke. On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman underwent successful surgery to close it.In true Letang fashion, the three-time Stanley Cup winner was back at the team’s practice facility at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Wednesday, one day after surgery.”He came in, moving a little bit slow today, but he was in a good mood and I think that eases everybody’s mind,” Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson said.Letang missed more than two months after his initial stroke in 2014. He had another stroke in 2022 and was at practice 10 days later.”Given his history, I think you just want to be healthy and that’s the main thing,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “So, it seems like it’s something that is fairly common, it’s something that I think he’s happy that he got done and hopefully helps him.”The good news is that nothing happened recently that caused Letang to have the surgery. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Letang has been dealing with a few other bumps and bruises, so it just made the most sense to have the procedure now.”He was at the rink today. He’s doing well. The surgery was successful. He’s on the mend at this point. It’s a four-to-six-week recovery time, and I think he’s pleased that he ultimately made the decision to do it,” Sullivan said.Letang, who turns 38 next week, had nine goals and 21 assists in 74 games this season, while averaging a team-high 23:32 of ice time per game.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
Kris Letang has been playing hockey at an extremely high level with a hole in his heart.
The small hole was discovered in 2014 after Letang suffered a stroke. On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman underwent successful surgery to close it.
In true Letang fashion, the three-time Stanley Cup winner was back at the team’s practice facility at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Wednesday, one day after surgery.
“He came in, moving a little bit slow today, but he was in a good mood and I think that eases everybody’s mind,” Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson said.
Letang missed more than two months after his initial stroke in 2014. He had another stroke in 2022 and was at practice 10 days later.
“Given his history, I think you just want to be healthy and that’s the main thing,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “So, it seems like it’s something that is fairly common, it’s something that I think he’s happy that he got done and hopefully helps him.”
The good news is that nothing happened recently that caused Letang to have the surgery. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Letang has been dealing with a few other bumps and bruises, so it just made the most sense to have the procedure now.
“He was at the rink today. He’s doing well. The surgery was successful. He’s on the mend at this point. It’s a four-to-six-week recovery time, and I think he’s pleased that he ultimately made the decision to do it,” Sullivan said.
Letang, who turns 38 next week, had nine goals and 21 assists in 74 games this season, while averaging a team-high 23:32 of ice time per game.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.