Incredibly, Pittsburgh Penguins star Kris Letang has now returned to full practice with his team-mates just 10 days after having a stroke.
The 35-year-old defenceman is still listed as 'out' indefinitely, but has taken major strides in his recovery since suffering the second stroke of his career. Letang was absent as the Penguins lost to Carolina Hurricanes in overtime on November 29 due to 'illness', but medical teams very quickly realised the extent of his issues.
Letang continues to be monitored "day-to-day" but has since joined team training after initially taking to the ice on his own earlier this week. The Penguins star has been fairly private about his most recent ordeal, but has since opened up on another 'scary' experience.
The 35-year-old veteran was welcomed back by his team-mates as they tapped the ice with their sticks, a moment that felt "pretty good" for Letang. The Penguins star loves his hockey, and remains optimistic for a return, but did open up about how the incident was "scary" for him and his family.
"My kids, they don't care if I'm a hockey player or not," he said. "They care about having a dad. Same with my wife. She could care less about hockey. She knows there's so much more.
"After hockey, there's a long time, and you want to be able to enjoy those moments with your family, with your kids." Some have called for Letang to retire, and as a three-time Stanley Cup champion, it's not like he'd be bowing out of the game without achievement.
But Letang bounced back from a stroke in 2014, and he seems keen to return once more, even though the Penguins won't be taking any risks. Letang was out for two months in 2014 when suffering his first stroke, when tests revealed he was born with a very small hole in the wall of his heart, which typically closes on its own in most cases.
It's an issue that Letang has gone on to raise awareness about, and amazingly he won two more Stanley Cup's with the Penguins after his first stroke. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has called Letang a "fitness freak" in the past, and has since said that nothing will stop him from getting back out on the ice.
"He’s such a fitness freak. That’s just part of his DNA. That’s his comfort zone. But our doctors are monitoring him very closely. Everything that he’s doing at this point, he gets approval from our medical team.
"He is making progress and he’s in great spirits. We’re hopeful he continues to progress here so at some point here, we can re-engage him from a hockey standpoint." And Letang is also optimistic to get back on the ice soon, as he said: "I am fortunate to know my body well enough to recognise when something isn't right.
"While it is difficult to navigate this issue publicly, I am hopeful it can raise awareness. I am optimistic that I will be back on the ice soon."
