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Kris Letang shares intense motivation for another Stanley Cup opportunity
Photo credit: The New York Times
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, who has won three Stanley Cups in his career, shared his hope that he can do so at least one more time before he eventually announces his retirement.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have not made the playoffs since 2022, marking the longest drought in the careers of longtime franchise mainstays Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, all of whom are on the back ends of their careers.
All three players have been key parts of Pittsburgh's three Stanley Cup wins in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
But that isn't stopping Letang from expressing his motivation for the chance for at least one more Stanley Cup before he eventually has to announce his retirement from the NHL.
I think we see the window, like, I'm talking about the length of our career, it's getting on the short end of it. You want another taste of the playoffs. It's the best time of the year to play hockey. Every single guy that's in this room, they're eager to get back to that. You kind of take it for granted most of your career.
At certain points, you start realizing how lucky we are. To have the chance to play that long with everything that happened throughout my career, it takes a big support cast, you know? Like a family that's there for you, a good organization to help you out going through those things. - Kris Letang
At certain points, you start realizing how lucky we are. To have the chance to play that long with everything that happened throughout my career, it takes a big support cast, you know? Like a family that's there for you, a good organization to help you out going through those things. - Kris Letang
So far this year, Letang has 20 points (3G, 17A) in 39 games.
Kris Letang Has Experienced Numerous Health Issues In Recent Years
Letang, who is on the tail end of his career, has managed to come back from numerous health issues that he's experienced in recent years.
Not only did he recently undergo heart surgery, but he's also suffered a pair of strokes.
He also had neck surgery in 2017.
Letang has 792 points (178G, 614A) in 1,200 career NHL games, all in a Penguins sweater.
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