The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman has dreamed of wearing the colors of his childhood team since he first laced up skates. His former agent, Kent Hughes, knows him well, and it's likely that the desire to add someone like Kris Letang to the Canadiens organization is mutual.
Beyond his sense of belonging to his childhood team, the veteran understands that his current team is on a downward slope, while in Montreal, there is a window of opportunity aligning with the remaining years of Kris Letang's career. It's difficult to discern Kyle Dubas's plan, but one thing is certain: the arrival of Erik Karlsson has led to a reduced role for Kris Letang on the top power-play unit.
However, as reported by the DLC website, it seems that the former Maple Leafs GM would be willing, if it were up to him, to trade Letang, along with a certain Evgeni Malkin, according to The Athletic journalist Josh Yohe.
Both players are aging, and the Pittsburgh Penguins need to think about the future of the organization. Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin have identical salaries of $6.1 million per season. The Russian has two more seasons under contract, while Kris Letang's contract runs through the end of the 2027-2028 season.
Interesting comments from the journalist, who also added that Sidney Crosby's presence somewhat forces the organization to retain Malkin and Letang. At the same time, this trio has led the Penguins to three Stanley Cup victories in less than a decade.
Kyle Dubas's arrival at the helm of the team hasn't had the desired effect on the ice. The Penguins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, despite the addition of Erik Karlsson.
Fans have little reason to be optimistic and might even be concerned about the future when analyzing the depth of the organization's prospects. It's not very promising, and it could be reminiscent of the early 2000s, when the Penguins drafted Jordan Staal, Marc-André Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby in the top three of their respective years. That certainly helps a rebuild!
Source: DansLesCoulisses
« Je suis prêt à parier que Dubas échangerait Malkin et Letang s'il le pouvait »
POLL | ||
According to you, which Penguins players have more chance to be traded before the trade deadline in March 2025? | ||
Kris Letang | 109 | 62.6 % |
Sidney Crosby | 11 | 6.3 % |
Evgeni Malkin | 20 | 11.5 % |
Erik Karlsson | 34 | 19.5 % |
List of polls |