PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang had successful surgery to repair a hole in his heart, the team’s president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, said in a news release Wednesday morning.
Letang will require a recovery of four to six weeks, according to the release. The Penguins, who did not qualify for the playoffs, wrap their 2024-25 season Thursday night with a game against the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena.
The surgery, performed at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital by Dr. Conrad Smith, closed a small hole, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), in Letang’s heart. The hole was discovered after Letang’s first stroke in January 2014. Letang suffered a second stroke in 2022.
According to UPMC, all humans have this hole before birth, but for most people, the hole closes at birth or shortly after.
When the hole was first discovered, Letang was told by a cardiologist that he could put off the surgery and continue playing. Facing a third consecutive extended offseason after missing the playoffs, Letang opted to have the surgery now so he can still train regularly this summer before NHL teams reconvene in September.
Letang, 37, scored nine goals and 30 points in 74 games this season, his lowest totals for any season in which he appeared in at least 70 games since the 2009-10 season.
He is signed for two more seasons at a salary cap hit of $6.1 million. His contract has a full no-movement clause.
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)