Rift Between Kris Letang and Ex-Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan Leaks to the Public

Debuting back in 2006/07 for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kris Letang has been a fixture of this franchise for almost two decades now, and in that time, he's helped Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the team to three Stanley Cup victories.

However, his time with the organization may be running out as they potentially pivot towards a re-tool for the future, and that becomes even more likely after recent reports reveal a rift between he and the coaching staff.

According to a report from Josh Yohe of The Athletic, many people within the organization last season became increasingly frustrated with Letang, with many noting that his physical decline and mental errors held the team back as the 2024/25 campaign rolled on.

While he still totalled 30 points on the season, Letang was a single season worst of his career with a -15 mark, making the second time in the past three years that he's sported a differential of -13 or worse.

Now that veteran Mike Sullivan has departed, new Head Coach Dan Muse will look to repair the situation with Letang, as he is a franchise icon in Pittsburgh, but if that can't be done, whispers of a potential trade could grow even louder in Pittsburgh around Letang.

Ultimately, this is the decline that many expected for a veteran that was once seen as a top tier defenseman in the NHL, and while he can still contribute to winning, with this team struggling in recent years, it's unclear where the organization go from here.