Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will undergo surgery for a herniated disc in his neck, the team announced Wednesday. He will miss the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, with an expected recovery time of four to six months.
Letang has not played since Feb. 21 and has missed the past 20 games.
“Kris underwent an MRI in February that revealed a herniated disc in his neck,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “Our neurosurgeons examined him and recommended conservative treatment in an attempt to correct the condition without surgery.
“Kris had been making progress and was hopeful of returning for the playoffs until about a week ago, when the progress plateaued.