The Winnipeg Jets announced that centre Mark Letestu is sidelined for six months with a heart disease called myocarditis. The team announced that throughout his recovery, he would only be allowed to due very light activity.
Maurice announces Mark Letestu has a virus called myocarditis that attacks the heart. He’s shut down for six months with only very light activity.
— Mitchell Clinton (@MitchellClinton) October 31, 2019
Mark Letestu Injured
So far this season, Mark Letestu has totalled zero points in seven games to go along with zero penalty minutes. However, his possession numbers were 42.4% percent Corsi For and a relative Corsi of -10.4.
Over his 10-year NHL career, Letestu has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets. He has 93 goals and 117 assists for 210 career points in 567 career games. Letestu went undrafted in the 2006 NHL draft and he went to play at Western Michigan University. He scored 24 goals to go along with 22 assists for a total of 46 points in 37 games. However, his play caught the attention of the Pittsburgh Penguins and they signed him to an entry-level deal.
What This Means for the Future
With Mark Letestu’s condition, David Gustafsson will be taking his spot as the fourth-line centre. Gustafsson will be relied upon to kill penalties and anchor the fourth line alongside Logan Shaw and for the moment, Luca Sbisa.
Additionally, Gustafsson will want to take his opportunity and run with it to show Jets’ management that he is capable of being an everyday NHL player. Even though he is only 19-years-old, he will want to prove that the Jets were right to draft him.
The Jets’ schedule doesn’t get any easier over the next few days. They will be hitting the road for a two-game road trip where they will play the San Jose Sharks and after that, the Vegas Golden Knights. Every point is crucial for the Jets, as they are three points out of a playoff spot.
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