Hot Trends: Penguins' Kris Letang to miss at least six weeks after having a stroke

Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang will be out at least six weeks after suffering a stroke, the team announced Friday.

Letang missed his third straight game on Thursday - a 2-1 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators - with an undisclosed illness. The team said Letang suffered the stroke last week and called the condition "treatable." His career is not expected to be in jeopardy.

NEWS ALERT: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least six weeks after having a stroke last week pens.pe/1jkmxmE- Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 07, 2014

Kris Letang's condition is treatable with blood thinners and at this point is not believed to be career threatening. pens.pe/1jkmxmE- Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 07, 2014

Testing revealed the 26-year-old Letang has had a small hole in his heart since birth and that the hole may have led to the stroke, the Penguins said in a statement.

"I hope that by making my condition public at this time, I can help other people by encouraging them to seek medical help if they experience some of the symptoms associated with a stroke - regardless of their age or general health," Letang said in the statement. "It obviously was a shock to get the news but I'm optimistic that I can overcome this and get back on the ice."

Letang leads Penguins defencemen with 10 goals.