NHL Injury News: Penguins' Kris Letang Undergoes Successful Heart Surgery

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that defenseman Kris Letang had successful surgery to close a patent foramen ovale, which is a small hole in the heart. The club also shared that Letang is expected to recover in the next four to six weeks.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang underwent successful surgery to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO, a small hole in the heart).

The expected recovery time is four to six weeks.https://t.co/OBIHf6RlSs
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 16, 2025

With this news, Letang will not be in the lineup for the Penguins' season finale against the Washington Capitals on April 17.

Letang, 37, appeared in 74 games this season with the Penguins, where he had nine goals, 21 assists, 30 points, 100 blocks, 120 hits, and a minus-15 rating. This is after he posted 10 goals, 51 points, and a plus-13 rating in 82 games with the Penguins this past season.

Letang is signed with the Penguins until the end of the 2027-28 season, carrying a $6.1 million contract. He just completed the third season of his six-year, $36.6 million contract with the Metropolitan Division club.

Letang was selected by the Penguins with the 62nd overall pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. In 1,161 career games over 19 seasons with the Penguins, he has 175 goals, 597 assists, 772 points, 1,988 hits, and a plus-85 rating.