Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kristopher Letang resumed training with his teammates Thursday, just 10 days after suffering a second stroke.
The 35-year-old Letang remains out indefinitely and the team said his condition will be “reassessed daily”.
Letang said he felt “very good” after being warmly greeted by his teammates when he skated on the Penguins practice ice. The defender found the experience “scary”, especially for his family.
Here’s Kris Letang practicing with the team 10 days after his stroke. Incredible. https://t.co/SuRLadC6lt pic.twitter.com/wNZxtMrwkI
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH)
December 8, 2022
“My two kids don’t care if I’m a hockey player or not,” he said. What matters is that they have a father. It’s the same for my wife. She doesn’t care about hockey. She knows there is more. After hockey, there is still a lot of time to live and you want to be able to appreciate these moments with your family and your children. ”
Letang missed more than two months of activity in 2014 after his first stroke, which was caused by a small hole in the wall of his heart. His condition also led to a second stroke, which Letang suffered on Nov. 28 after battling a series of debilitating headaches.
This time the symptoms resolved much faster, according to team doctor Dr Dharmesh Vyas, who described the stroke as “smaller” than the one Letang suffered in 2014.
Letang started skating on his own just two days after the diagnosis and was cleared to return to training on Thursday, although Letang and Vyas stressed they were in no rush for him to play games.
“We don’t think it’s accelerated in any way,” Vyas said. We’re taking all the right precautions to make sure he’s safe to play and when the time comes, we’ll let him play his sport again. ”
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said it was a “relief” to see Letang return to practice.
“To see him make progress is great to see,” Sullivan said. Our medical team who have been following him very closely feel comfortable with some of the progress he is making and the steps he has taken. Everyone was delighted that he joined the group. ”
Letang signed a six-year contract extension over the summer, which will extend well into his 40s, if that’s his desire as a player for that long. Vyas noted that the stroke data is “evolving,” although it’s unclear whether Letang is now more likely to have more strokes now than he’s had a second.
Six-time All-Star selection, Letang is cautious but optimistic.
“We’ve been there,” Letang said. Me and Dharmesh clearly understand that we are going to take all the time we need and make sure that the research is possible and that there is no danger for me to continue. ”
The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have won their last three games. They can’t wait to see Letang back in their roster, but only when he’s ready.
“He’s been here a long time. His experience, everything he brings on and off the ice, the way he competes is important, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. I think in the dressing room he has confidence and he’s someone whose experience you feel when he’s around.”
