Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang's 19-year season ended prematurely as he underwent surgery to close a small hole in his heart, causing him to miss the team's final game against Washington. Letang, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, has a history of missing games due to heart-related issues, including strokes. The team expects a full recovery for Letang in 4-6 weeks, with the Penguins already out of the postseason race. Despite a lower point total this year, Letang remains a key player, averaging the highest ice time on the team at 23:32 per game.