Letang, Nieto, Ludvig undergo surgeries

Kris Letang, Matt Nieto and John Ludvig all underwent successful surgeries in the weeks since the Penguins' season ended.

Letang underwent surgery to repair a fractured finger on his left hand in New York on May 10, and is expected to recover in eight weeks. That's good news, given what Kyle Dubas said in his season-ending availability about Letang's potential for surgery for a variety of injuries. Dubas said last month that "Kris was going to get a second opinion on all that ails him, which is significant. He's played with it the whole year, but it's likely going to head that way (surgery). And then we'll have an update once he makes a decision one way or the other on it."

Letang has been working out in Montreal for the last couple weeks.

Nieto underwent reconstructive MCL surgery on his left knee in Minnesota on May 2. Nieto, who last played on Nov. 30, previously underwent laparoscopic right knee surgery back in January. Dubas had previously said that Nieto had a setback and another injury while recovering from his first surgery. That tracks, this surgery was on the opposite knee Nieto had surgery on earlier in the year. Nieto's expected to be sidelined for six to seven months, which would have him sidelined until sometime around November or December. Nieto, who has a year left on his contract, would presumably start the year on season-opening injured reserve, which would provide full relief on his $900,000 cap hit.

Ludvig underwent surgery to repair the extensor tendon in his left wrist in Lehigh Valley on April 24. He last played on March 30. His expected recovery time is four to six months, which would have him ready anytime from before training camp to a couple weeks into the season depending on how his recovery goes. Ludvig has one year remaining on his contract, and so the Penguins would get cap relief on his $775,000 cap hit for as long as he's on injured reserve if he does open the season on season-opening injured reserve.