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Penguins to Consider Trade as Kris Letang's Decline Raising Major Alarms in Pittsburgh
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is up there in age, and he has slowed down considerably on the ice, prompting Kyle Dubas to consider a trade.
The 2024-25 Pittsburgh Penguins season is coming to a close, and it has played out more or less as expected, uneven and uneventful.
Even with Sidney Crosby being his superstar self, his greatness couldn't prop up a team that simply doesn't have the firepower to compete in the NHL of today. A playoff spot in the mediocre Eastern Conference was always a dream, and reality has set in.
Despite some bad contracts, the Penguins will have a ton of cap space upcoming
In the future, the Penguins will have more than $20 million of cap room this offseason, even assuming they don't lose any of their more burdensome deals. In 2026, that figure could grow to more than $50 million. But genuine roster issues remain.
One of the larger concerns is defenseman Kris Letang and his health. At 37, on the cusp of 38, he's really tailed off down the stretch, along with his recent health concerns and heart surgery, that's raised alarm bells within the organization.
Per NHL insider Josh Yohe.
"Letang's contract is a real issue, perhaps more than Karlsson's. The 37-year-old - he turns 38 later this month - has played some terrible hockey in recent weeks, maybe the worst of his career.
Many people in the Penguins organization are concerned about his recent performance. He has always endured dips in his otherwise fabulous career, but team sources are concerned because, for the first time, Letang appears to be showing his age."
- Josh Yohe
Many people in the Penguins organization are concerned about his recent performance. He has always endured dips in his otherwise fabulous career, but team sources are concerned because, for the first time, Letang appears to be showing his age."
- Josh Yohe
His three-year contract, which carries a $6.1 million cap hit annually and includes a no-movement clause, now looks like an issue.
Kyle Dubas, the team's president of hockey operations and GM, would like to move Letang, sources say, but it won't be easy. He still has $18.3 million due to him.
«I'm sure he's had some difficult moments and decisions. But he's handled it as good as you possibly can,» Crosby said. «His attitude, his mindset is pretty incredible, pretty strong.»
Letang has experienced slumps before, but not one as bad as this. For the first time, people close to the team believe age is catching up with him, and fast.
There's no doubt he'd command a similar deal in free agency now, despite his recent performance, and alarm is growing about a contract signed by former GM Ron Hextall.
Will Kyle Dubas be able to clean up the situation? We will find out in the coming months.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 16 | 248 ANSWERS Penguins to Consider Trade as Kris Letang's Decline Raising Major Alarms in Pittsburgh Should the Penguins trade Kris Letang? | ||
| Yes | 106 | 42.7 % |
| No | 142 | 57.3 % |
| List of polls | ||