Letang undergoes heart surgery

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang underwent surgery to close a patent foramen ovale, repairing a small hole in his heart, the team announced Wednesday.

The expected recovery period is four-to-six weeks. The Penguins have one game remaining this season.

Letang has dealt with various health issues throughout his career, including multiple strokes. He played a full 82-game schedule in 2023-24 for the first time since 2010-11 but was limited to 74 contests this campaign.

The soon-to-be 38-year-old notched 30 points while averaging over 23 minutes per game in 2024-25. Letang also posted a career-worst minus-15 as Pittsburgh failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Letang has spent his entire 19-year career with the Penguins. He's under contract for three more years at a $6.1-million cap hit.