The Pittsburgh Penguins have released some frightening news, announcing that Kris Letang will be out indefinitely after suffering a stroke on Monday. It is the second time this has happened to the star defenseman, following a similar incident in 2014. Letang has released a statement:
I am fortunate to know my body well enough to recognize when something isn’t right. While it is difficult to navigate this issue publicly, I am hopeful it can raise awareness. It is important for me that my teammates, family and the fans know that I am okay. I am optimistic that I will be back on the ice soon.
When the first stroke occurred, a small hole in the wall of Letang’s heart was found. He missed two months and returned to the ice, playing more than 500 games between then and this latest incident. He is not experiencing any lasting effects but will continue to be monitored.
General manager Ron Hextall also released a statement:
Kris reported symptoms to the training staff on Monday and was immediately taken to the hospital for testing. The test results were shocking to hear, but we are grateful that Kris is doing well. We are thankful to the medical staff and the physicians at UMPC. He is a warrior on the ice, but first and foremost, he is a son, father, husband and friend. His health is our number one priority.
Letang, 35, was averaging nearly 24 minutes a night through 21 games this season, racking up 12 points. He signed a new six-year, $36.6MM contract in the offseason. Hopefully, just as he did in the past, he will be able to return to the ice at some point this season. There is no timetable for that at the moment, however, as the team and player focus on his health. Hextall explained to the media that this stroke was not as severe as the one he suffered in 2014 and that Letang was even able meet with and speak directly to his teammates last night about what had happened.
The priority is Kris the human being, his life and family.
But…man…we are in a bad spot if we lose Kris the player. Hopefully, he can recover and return as he did in 2014.
Virtually no viable way to replace him in the short or even medium term.
Honestly I feel awful for kris and his family and friends. Hockey needs to come 2nd, I believe he needs to seriously consider medically retiring off the top of my head I can’t think of another pro athlete that’s suffered multiple strokes
Not a doctor but…
Is there any difference in his risk playing vs. sitting on his couch?
It’s not a heart issue or blood cots, etc. where playing definitely increases the risk. As best as I understand it, a stroke is basically random.
If it does increase his risk, then yeah, 36 with a family, he has to think about retirement.
Well, stated in the article, he has a small hole in his heart that. most likely attributed to loss of blood to the rest of the body, if that’s the case, then yes, exercise in general would pose a bigger threat as it put more strain on his heart.
He’s evidently had that hole since birth.
Strokes are usually caused by a blood clot that’s travels to the brain or by a bleed in the brain. The bleed is usually caused by persistently elevated blood pressure.
I’ll be praying for Kris and his family. A stroke is really tough to come back from. Hopefully he makes a full recovery.
I wish him a full recovery. Hockey can wait.
Tough news. Must have been a terrifying ordeal for his wife and kids on Monday. Fingers crossed he continues to recover and has no lasting effects.
Gut-punch news. I sure hope Kris can get through this, as two warning shots across the bow should scare anybody. As has been stated before here, Family first, hockey second.
He’s a hockey player…..he’ll be back on the ice in no time!
Get well soon.
Great player, seems like a good guy, this is horrible for him and his family to have to go through again. Get healthy Tanger, let your teammates worry about the hockey for awhile.
In a way I guess the past experience makes this a tad less scary. Can’t imagine having such an issue either way though. From Philly, wishing you well Kris, you’re one of the game’s best.
As tough as they come. Best wishes to Kris. Speedy Recovery.
“Letang, less than 48 hours after learning that he had sustained the second stroke of his 35-year-old life, was already asking Penguins general manager Ron Hextall and coach Mike Sullivan if he could skate on Wednesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.”
They told him no for now, but it sounds like Kris is doing as well as anyone could hope after a stroke.
He’ll be back. they might have to carry him out of the arena one day on a stretcher. But that is how he will play it!
Tedy Bruschi had a stroke from the same problem – a hole in his heart.
He should be ok- supposedly not the same issue as before
I dunno … he ought to think about the rest of his life — and his family — here. He’s nothing left to prove: Cup rings, All-Star Team berths, eight times in the top ten Norris votes, the career leader in every Pens category for defensemen. He’s not a likely HHOF candidate, but other than that?
Sad but an other professionnal athlete with this kind of problems lately, Graphene in blood is not appropriated.