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Letang suffered a stroke last week, will miss at least six weeks

Pittsburgh Penguins v Florida Panthers

SUNRISE, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck during a NHL game against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on November 30, 2013 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kris Letang

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery

The mystery ailment that has affected Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has been solved, and it’s frightening.

The Penguins announced Letang will miss at least the next six weeks after suffering a stroke last week.

Letang will be treated with blood thinners and it’s not believed his condition will be career-threatening. Doctors have also discovered a small hole in the wall of his heart that’s been there since he was born. Normally, the hole seals up as you grow up but it didn’t in Letang’s case and may have led to his stroke.

“Kris had one brief episode of dizziness and nausea last week,” Penguins GM Ray Shero said. “We held him out of the Los Angeles game Thursday night, and when he continued to feel ill, tests conducted in Phoenix on Saturday gave us the first indication of his condition. Further testing then was conducted when he returned to Pittsburgh, and he continued to undergo a battery of tests here this week.”

At the very least they’ve found out what’s kept him out of action lately and can now do what’s needed to address it. The Penguins will have to find a way to replace his production in the meantime and hope for the best for Letang.

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