Pascal Dupuis Has a Blood Clot in His Lung, Will Miss Six Months

The Pittsburgh Penguins held a press conference today to announce that veteran winger Pascal Dupuis has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung and will miss six months of team action, at the very least.

It’s a tough blow to a player that has overcome his fair share of adversity in the recent years of his career, as Dupuis was playing well in his return after missing much of last season due to a torn ligament in his knee – an injury that required season-ending surgery.

The team indicated that Dupuis’ blood clot was found Monday after the veteran winger reported discomfort in his chest. Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas said that the clot was in Dupuis’ leg, but had “traveled to his lung”.

Dupuis has a history of blood clots, as he was similarly diagnosed with one in early 2014. As he did then, Dupuis will take blood thinners for the next six months to treat the issue.

Said Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford: “Our focus at this point is on Pascal’s health and well-being. He will have all the support he needs from the Penguins organization and our medical staff.”

Through 16 games this season, Dupuis posted 6 goals and 11 points, and had recently been promoted to playing alongside Sidney Crosby on the Penguins’ first line.

The news represents the third significant health issue the Penguins have had to deal with recently, coming on the heels of Olli Maatta‘s bout with a cancerous tumor on his thyroid and Kris Letang suffering a stroke.

Not to mention the similar situation of former Pens goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who was diagnosed with a blood clot in 2013. The issue sidelined Vokoun for the entire 2013-14 season, and the veteran netminder has yet to play since.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been no stranger to injuries ailing key players, but the recent situations have been of an entirely new breed, as the team is now seeing players at all levels (young players like Maatta, players in their prime like Letang, and veteran players like Dupuis) being confronted with very heavy health scares.

Dupuis, one of the team’s most beloved players, had Crosby, Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz on hand at his press conference to show their support.

Said captain and linemate Sidney Crosby: “He’s strong. I’m sure he’ll find a way to get through it. As teammates, we’re here for him.”

Kris Letang echoed the sentiment. “We’re just trying to be here for him and try to support him the best we can” said Letang.

Pittsburgh’s medical staff reiterated that they were lucky to identify Dupuis’ issue when they did, but they did not give any indication as to whether or not Dupuis would be able to play again.

After carving out a role as a hard-working, reliable, and offensively sound winger for Pittsburgh over the past several seasons – playing a key role in the Pens’ penalty kill as well as on the team’s top line – the Penguins and the Pens’ faithful are hoping Dupuis can make a full recovery, and can be back with the team before the season’s end.