Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is not likely to play again this season, general manager Jim Rutherford told the Tribune-Review on Friday.
Letang, who has a concussion, would be out even if the Penguins make a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Rutherford said.
“Based on his present condition, it's not likely he'd return this year,” Rutherford told the newspaper.
The Penguins play their regular-season finale Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres needing to win, or a loss by the Boston Bruins, to qualify for the postseason.
Pittsburgh is 1-4-1 since Letang was injured March 28 in a game against the Arizona Coyotes. He was shoved near the end boards and landed on his back, which resulted in his head snapping backward and seemingly hitting the boards.
He had 54 points (11 goals) in 69 games, his most played since 2010-11.
The Penguins, also without injured Christian Ehrhoff (upper body), played with five defensemen in a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday.
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