Penguins/NHL
Latest on Kris Letang
As the Penguins enter a crucial trading period this week, one name who hasn’t garnered much action yet in trade talks is defenseman Kris Letang, league sources say.
While the Penguins have not actively pursued trade scenarios for Letang to the extent that they have for Phil Kessel, Rutherford informed rival General Managers in May he was open to listening to inquiries on Letang and any defenseman not named Brian Dumoulin who along with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Matt Murray are off-limits in trade talks this summer.
What the Penguins have learned about Letang’s trade value is this:
Along with clubs having the ‘obvious’ serious concerns about his long-term health/contract (4 years remaining), Letang’s no longer regarded around the league as a game breaking defenseman.
His entrance into the trade market from the extent that Pittsburgh no longer see’s him as an untouchable just hasn’t generated much buzz around the league.
Could that change when the dust settles surrounding Erik Karlsson and John Carlson, the two premier defensemen teams are focused on right now, notably Karlsson in trade talks and whether Carlson gets to the interview period? [/hide]
The preference of Penguins ownership since the season ended [hide], Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are very close to Letang, is to see Letang be given an opportunity to bounce back no matter what kind of trade market develops for Letang.
That will likely happen.
The sense, though, seems to be that the GM is quietly still interested to see if a market emerges in the next week.
The market for Letang might not be hot yet but there is a feeling in Penguin circles something bold could still emerge surrounding Letang that could co-inside with making the Penguins a deeper team for next season.
The Islanders, Red Wings and Devils are said to be three teams that checked in with the Penguins at one point in the past couple weeks to put a feeler out on Letang but nothing has transpired to this point — Yet –. [/hide]
