Letang update

[Doug Glatt]

The Penguins are set to proceed as if Letang (stroke) will not play again in 2013-14, according to Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Spin: Speaking on WPXI, a local Pittsburgh television station, Rossi said the organization doesn't expect Letang back for the playoffs. The team won't release a specific time frame until Letang finishes his six-week blood thinner period, but fantasy owners should consider alternatives to Letang for the remainder of 2013-14.

[Dobber]

Maybe this will be good for him. Eight months off to heal all the other stuff that's been happening to his body (concussion, knee/groin/lower body). Fleischmann came back fine, so can Letang

[Magicstew]

Hopefully he comes back next year as i have him on a guaranteed contract for next year in one of my pools.

[Eyenerd]

Are they ever going to put him on the IR?? Or should I just drop him in a 1yr league ..

[Atomic Wedgy]

He's a drop in a one year league. Make your move now.

[Eyenerd]

He's a drop in a one year league. Make your move now.

I keep hearing conflicting reports of whether or not he'll be back this year, that's why I havent done anything yet. Is he definite out for the year?

[mbudz4]

Update from today... sounds like "day to day" more than IR.... doesn't make sense b/c its such a major "injury", no?

Kris Letang appears to have a long road ahead of him before he can return to the lineup from a stroke he suffered in January.

Advice: He isn't sure if he'll be back this season and he said for now he is simply "targeting day-by-day." He added: "I have some good days, some bad days [physically]. "I think the most difficult thing is around family, everybody is really careful. I can't even lift their luggage without having them try to help me out." He is still on blood-thinners and it hasn't been determined yet if the hole in his heart was the cause of his stroke. "Otherwise, it's been just mentally a little bit tough."

[Eyenerd]

From The Canadian Press and TSN
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444809

PITTSBURGH -- Recovering from a stroke, Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang said his doctors have reassured him that he'll be play hockey again.

When that could happen is unclear.

The 26-year-old Letang spoke to the media before the Penguins faced Montreal on Thursday night, the first time he has spoken to reporters since having the stroke on a West Coast trip before the Olympic break.

"I'm targeting it day-by-day," Letang said. "I'm trying to improve every day I come here. I try to exercise the best I can. I see doctors pretty much every week, twice a week to get better. So we'll go from there."

Doctors are treating Letang with blood thinners and he has been doing light exercises without weights.

"(Doctors) said being 26 and having a stroke, it's actually a small percentage, but the chance that I get back to normal is really high," Letang said. "We'll take the decision from there, but for now, we're keeping like this. ... I'm going day-by-day to get to 100 per cent," Letang said. "I feel like I'm trying to make steps and getting closer to coming back at one point."

The last month has been particularly difficult for his family.

"When you see your mom crying or your wife, any of my family members, it's always a tough thing to handle," Letang said. "Everbody is really careful, like I can't even lift the luggage without them trying to help me out. Otherwise it's just been mentally tough a little bit."

Letang said his wife found him on the ground the morning before the team flew to Los Angeles and his mother-in-law, who is a nurse and was also on the trip, took care of him.

"I was not able to function," Letang said. "The day before I was totally fine, I was practicing. I woke up and didn't expect that would happen. I went in the car and went to Los Angeles and thought it would clear up but it never did."

Letang, from Montreal, has 54 goals and 173 assists in 419 games in eight seasons with the Penguins.

He signed a $58 million, eight-year contract extension last summer, but has been plagued by injuries this season, missing 19 games with an elbow infection and a lower-body injury before the stroke.

Letang's most recent game was Jan. 27 against Buffalo. After being a Norris Trophy finalist last season, he has 10 goals -- matching a career high -- and 18 assists in 34 games for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins.

"I'm not going to say it's not a really good season for me," Letang said. "Two of (my injuries) were kind of bad luck, but honestly, if I have the chance to come back this year and play, it's going to be great. I want to make sure I forget all about the three-quarters of the season I missed."

[Eyenerd]

Why aren't they putting him on the IR?? Is he truly DTD? Can they please just give a true report that he's out for the season and end this frustration.

[Darren_Kennedy]

Hopefully a full offseason will have him fully healthy and back playing. I would have him in the top 5 for D heading into next year. Just so few guys with his kind of upside. 12 months ago he posted 38 Pts in 35 Games

[blayze]

Hopefully a full offseason will have him fully healthy and back playing. I would have him in the top 5 for D heading into next year. Just so few guys with his kind of upside. 12 months ago he posted 38 Pts in 35 Games

Karlsson, Subban, Keith, Weber, Pietrangelo, Byfuglien... not a chance he's top 5 when there are so many guys who can post similar numbers (maybe slightly lower ceilings) without the injury risk.

[Doug Glatt]

Hmmm, interesting twist...

https://twitter.com/penguins/status/445279040199737344

[Darren_Kennedy]

Hopefully he is ok health-wise and able to come back ready to go.

I still have him inside the top 5 for defenceman. Only a handful of guys with his top end potential when playing (a year removed from 38 Pts in 35 games)

[Eyenerd]

holy crap - is he really going to play? should I be trying to stash him on the IR??

[mounD]

holy crap - is he really going to play? should I be trying to stash him on the IR??

If you have a free IR spot and he's available, what's the downside?