What condition does Kris Letang have?

Kris Letang is a Canadian defenseman and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He joined the NHL in the 2006–07 season and became a regular with the Penguins the following year. He played a crucial role in their 2009 Stanley Cup win, ending a 17-year championship drought. Letang went on to win two more Cups with the team in 2016 and 2017, though he missed the 2017 playoffs due to neck surgery.

Letang has earned numerous accolades during his career. He participated in the YoungStars Game in 2008 and 2009 and was selected for the NHL All-Star Game several times from 2011 to 2020. He was named to the NHL Second Team All-Star in 2013 and 2016 and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2023. For the Penguins, he received the Michel Brière Rookie of the Year Award in 2008 and was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.

What condition does Kris Letang have?

According to The Guardian, Kris Letang has a heart condition known as a “patent foramen ovale” (PFO), a small hole in the heart that allowed a blood clot to reach his brain, causing strokes. He suffered his first stroke in 2014 at age 26 and a second one in November 2022. Despite these serious health challenges, Letang quickly recovered and returned to play each time.

The PFO condition can increase the risk of stroke, especially for athletes with high cardiovascular demands. Letang’s ability to come back after these health setbacks as well as personal challenges, has earned him respect in the hockey world and the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance.

Kris Letang suffered his first stroke in 2014 at the age of 26, which was linked to a condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole in the heart that can allow blood clots to bypass the lungs and reach the brain. His symptoms included dizziness and nausea. Following the stroke, doctors advised Letang to take blood thinners, and he was out of the game for about 10 weeks, missing 26 games. Despite the scare, he returned to the ice later that season.

In November 2022, Letang experienced a second stroke, though this time, his symptoms primarily involved vision problems and headaches, making the experience less physically debilitating but still concerning. He returned to the game quickly, resuming play on December 10, only a few weeks after the stroke.

Kris Letang Injuries

According to Pensburgh, Kris Letang has faced multiple injuries throughout his career:

Lower Body Injury (2023):

According to Pensburgh, Letang was placed on long-term injured reserve in January 2023 due to a lower-body injury, which kept him out for several weeks. He later returned to practice but remained on injured reserve initially.

Finger Surgery (2024):

According to Pensburgh, Following the 2023-24 season, Letang underwent surgery on his left finger, with a recovery timeline of approximately eight weeks. This injury occurred despite him playing the entire season, marking his second 82-game campaign in his career. This surgery is less concerning than potential issues with more impactful areas like his knee or back. He ended the season with 51 points.

Other Injuries:

According to the NHL, Letang has also dealt with a broken toe, broken foot, broken hand, an elbow infection, groin and knee injuries, and various unspecified upper- and lower-body injuries.