Obviously, things are not going well for Pittsburgh. And it'd be wise to think that with a 7-10-3 record, a six-time All-Star would be frustrated.
Kris Letang is that All-Star.
Thanks to his six-year deal with the Penguins that he signed in 2022, Letang has three more years with a $6 million cap hit. This is in the midst of his worst season thus far. Should he wish to move on from the Pittsburgh franchise, it could be difficult to find a taker for the 37-year-old Letang, unless the Penguins do some major salary retention.
Letang himself even said that in the NHL, change can happen very rapidly.
“The decision made a few years ago when I signed the deal is made,” Letang said in September during training camp, referring to his contract. “Every year is going to be different. In the NHL, we always say, ‘A two-week window can change a lot of things for an organization.’"
Letang has six points in 18 games with a -10 plus/minus rating and has dropped below the 24-minute average ice time mark for the first time in 15 years. He also has had plenty of injury troubles over his 19-year career.
But, he is likely a future Hall of Famer. And for good reason. Letang set an NHL career-high of 68 points (10 goals, 58 assists) in 78 games when he was 35-years-old. He entered his 17th NHL season third among defensemen in points (650) since joining the league in 2006-07, is a two-time NHL Second Team All-Star (2013, 2016), and is also three-time Stanley Cup winner (2009, 2016, 2017).
Letang was selected by the Penguins in the third round (No. 62) of the 2005 NHL Draft out of Val-d'Or in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In April of 2023, he became the third Penguins skater to play 1,000 games, joining icons Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
His talent for producing offense isn't even a question — he has set Penguins franchise records for most points and goals by a defenseman. But after playing with the Penguins since 2006 and with missing the playoffs for the first time in his career in 2023, one has to wonder if Letang is thinking about going elsewhere.
The Canadian is certainly dynamic on the ice. As a defenseman, he could work well with players like Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton.
But, Letang has a full no-movement clause through the end of next season. And once that next campaign is over that begs the question — is he a player New Jersey fans would want to see in a Devils jersey?