Pittsburgh Great Rushed To Hospital In Heartbreaking Development

Deck: Ron Duguay's recent health crisis underscores the serious challenges he's facing in his battle with cancer, even as he remains optimistic with the support of loved ones, including Sarah Palin.

Ron Duguay was rushed to the hospital on Friday after being found unconscious at home following a fall that left him with serious facial injuries and several knocked-out teeth.

His daughter shared the update on social media, posting video from the scene and describing what happened. “He fainted at home, was unconscious, injured a few parts of his face, and knocked out a few teeth in the fall… this time, it wasn’t from hockey,” she wrote on Instagram.

“He was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After extensive testing, doctors found that he was extremely dehydrated and had been struggling to eat because of how sick he had been feeling,” she continued.

“They also discovered varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding, and an ulcer.”

The family said cancer in his liver, along with prior surgery and chemotherapy, created dangerous pressure that backed up into his stomach. Duguay is now receiving blood transfusions while doctors monitor his condition.

His daughter said he remains strong, positive, and full of faith despite the setback, and asked for continued prayers while promising more updates. The family also expressed gratitude for the support they have received.

Duguay’s latest hospital stay comes five months after he first made his stage IV colon cancer diagnosis public earlier this year. A GoFundMe was launched to help with mounting medical bills and travel for treatment.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been by his side throughout much of the treatment process. The two have been linked since 2022, though they have never formally confirmed their relationship status.

Duguay played 12 seasons in the NHL from 1977 to 1989, skating for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Los Angeles Kings. He finished with 216 goals and 320 assists for 536 points. After his playing career, he spent more than a decade as a popular Rangers analyst on MSG Network.

In Other News...

Former Penguins Winger Is Still Out There And Fans Know It

Michael Bunting is still sitting out there late in the NHL offseason, and for a player who has spent the last few years piling up offense in different places, that is enough to keep his name in the conversation. The former Penguins winger has shown he can produce with Pittsburgh, Nashville and Dallas, which makes him the kind of depth scorer teams keep in mind when they are looking for a little extra punch without making a long commitment.

For Pittsburgh fans, the appeal is easy to understand. Bunting already proved he could fit into the mix here and has continued to put up usable numbers since moving on, so his market should not stay quiet forever. The question now is less about whether he can help someone and more about which club decides it needs that kind of short-term scoring boost first. [Read more 🡒]

One Quiet Penguins Decision Could Still Reshape Training Camp

Most of the Penguins offseason heavy lifting is already done, but the roster still has a few loose ends that could matter once training camp opens. Ville Koivunen remains unsigned, and the forward group already has a crowded feel to it, with several players competing for limited spots and roles. Even after the headline moves are in the books, the next bit of business may be less about chasing another name and more about getting the lineup to fit together cleanly.

Cruz Lucius is also nearing his rights deadline, adding another small but meaningful decision point to a summer that has mostly settled down. Beyond the forward picture, the Penguins still have to sort out their goaltending competition, where Artrs ilovs, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist are all in the mix and no one has yet established a clear full-season NHL claim. For a team that believes it has added depth, camp is where the structure gets tested. [Read more 🡒]

Penguins Fans Know Exactly Why This Familiar Gamble Feels Risky

Anthony Mantha gave the Penguins enough last season to make the decision feel complicated. He scored 33 goals and looked like the kind of finishing touch that can change a lineup, but Pittsburgh still opted not to bring him back, weighing the upside against the same old concerns about his health and inconsistency.

For Penguins fans, that is the part of the story that makes the move easy to understand and hard to shake. Mantha has the kind of regular-season production that tempts teams into believing the risk is worth it, yet his injury history and rough postseason track record are exactly the reasons Pittsburgh was hesitant in the first place, leaving the familiar question of whether the payoff will ever match the gamble. [Read more 🡒]