Kris Letang has led Penguins skaters in ice time for the 11th consecutive season, despite playing through significant health issues this season, as confirmed by Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas on Friday. Now, as Pittsburgh’s top defenseman, Letang faces a decision to make this offseason.
Dubas mentioned that Letang is currently seeking a second opinion but the decision is likely to lead towards significant surgery. Coach Mike Sullivan echoed Dubas’ sentiments, speaking about the numerous injuries Letang had been dealing with this season during Thursday’s locker cleanout. Despite facing these challenges, Letang played through it all to help the team reach their goals.
Throughout the tail end of the season, Letang took several maintenance days between games, indicating that he was pushing through pain and injuries. Despite visible struggles to maintain his usual skating speed, Letang did not miss a single game this season, impressively playing in all 82 games for the first time since 2011. This is a significant accomplishment given that he missed a portion of last season due to a stroke.
Even at the age of 37, Letang averaged 24:41 minutes of ice time per game, scoring 10 goals and recording 41 assists this season. He still has four years remaining on the deal he signed with the Penguins in 2022. The resilience and perseverance shown by Letang this season highlight his dedication and commitment to the team, making him a valuable asset to the Penguins both on and off the ice.