Pens Letang out for at least six weeks after suffering a stroke
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least six weeks after having a stroke last week, team officials announced today.
The condition is treatable with blood thinners and at this point is not believed to be career threatening.
Further testing also revealed that Letang, 26, has had a very small hole in the wall of his heart since birth, the Penguins said on their website. This small defect in the wall is present in all individuals before birth but seals shut in most people. It is possible that the hole in the heart led to the stroke.
Penguins Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Shero said Letang had a brief episode of dizziness and nausea, and was held out of last Thursday’s game. When he continued to feel ill, tests gave an indication of his condition. Letang continued to undergo tests this week.
Letang will be re-evaluated after six weeks of treatment by UPMC physicians.