Speculation: Letang Doesn't Close Door to Trade, 'It's a Business'

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

He's not very good.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Mark Recchi for the Bruins was flanking Marchand/Bergeron on the 2nd line at age 42.

Oh yeah, good call. So 14 years ago.

 

[domiwroze]

letting to MTL would be cool, it would probably be pretty cheap too.

No thanks, we will take Crosby tho.

 

[SomeDude]

The “reporter” quoted here already adjusted his story and title and deleted the tweet quoted in OP.

When I read it originally I took it as Letang saying it’s a business and whatever happens, happens referring to the possibility of losing teammates at the deadline.

For reference, this is the moron who tried to say Hornqvist was mad with the Penguins because someone sent a photo of him drying his equipment in his driveway during the offseason.

He makes Eklund look like Bob McKenzie.

I wish he was right as it would be huge to get out of Letang’s deal, but he’s wrong. Always wrong. Always making a story about nothing to get clicks for his tabloid level garbage blog.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Was a genius move to sign him to a $36M contract until he's almost 42.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I'm super skeptical anyone would want to touch Letang's deal. Letang still has 3 years left on his deal after this year and he has taken a significant step back from where he was in the past. I think he's probably more of a 3/4 that's just playing way too much on a very bad team at this point, but that with 3 years at $6.1 million is a lot for any team to swallow.

Ultimately I think the Penguins trade Karlsson and keep Letang, mostly because that's what the market will force them to do. They can find a suitor for Karlsson and likely get a 1st for him, just like Seth Jones did yesterday. But Letang's probably immovable due to his contract, unless he has a big bounce back season next year.

This year is a significant drop for sure. The one thing positive is he is a RD. Lots of teams need RD

Realistically he is a Penguin for life. I'm fine with it.

 

[SEALBound]

I may be in the minority but I think if Letang wanted out, there would be a fairly decent deal in place for a team and Penguins if the Penguins retained $1.5-2.0mil. Considering future costs and the cap going up, that's not much for the Penguins to retain. That said, Letang at $4mil or $4.5mil is still a good value 2RD and 2PPQB. I think there'd be teams interested in that. I don't think you're getting a 2RD at Letang's level for that in FA.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Letang's part of the core and still playing #1D minutes. The first time Dubas should even look to deal him is after next season.

With 2 years left on his deal, a wealth of experience, and a skyrocketing cap, he'll be worth more in the summer of 2026 if the Pens decide to move him. Any team that acquires him won't feel compelled to play him all game long and he could settle into 2nd pair TOI, which should get more out of him. The dude is the 5th oldest d in the league and playing a couple minutes more per game than anyone within 2 years of him. Well-conditioned or not, that's goofy.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Only way Letang gets moved is with retention. Which I doubt the Pens are completely against, but that does mean they can't retain on anyone else this season. So if there were any ideas of trading Karlsson, that goes out the window.

 

[benfranklin]

Who is the last player in their late 30's to play a top 6 F / top 4 D role on a cup winning team?

I can't think of one from the last decade.

No one in the last decade. Youd be going back to Chara/Lidstrom type guys before then.

 

[voyageur]

No one in the last decade. Youd be going back to Chara/Lidstrom type guys before then.

Jay Bowmeester immediately comes to mind.

 

[BLONG7]

Would Montreal bring him home to end his career if the Pens ate around half the salary? He looks cooked to me but if you gave him the opportunity to play defense with Lane Hutson would he be any good? With the veteran smarts.

No way Habs take this guy..............no way.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Dubas always want's to do a deals. It's a business.

 

[canuckslover10]

No thanks.

Why not it's not like the Canadiens are up against the cap and you guys can use veteran leadership on the backend once Savard and possibly Matheson leaves.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Would Montreal bring him home to end his career if the Pens ate around half the salary? He looks cooked to me but if you gave him the opportunity to play defense with Lane Hutson would he be any good? With the veteran smarts.

Why would Montreal bring him home? They aren't looking for geezers.

Why not it's not like the Canadiens are up against the cap and you guys can use veteran leadership on the backend once Savard and possibly Matheson leaves.

Why not? Because he's 100 years old and doesn't fit the Habs rebuild. If Letang wants a spot on the Habs, it will be as defense coach or water boy. Or both.

 

[canuckslover10]

Why would Montreal bring him home? They aren't looking for geezers.


Why not? Because he's 100 years old and doesn't fit the Habs rebuild. If Letang wants a spot on the Habs, it will be as defense coach or water boy. Or both.

I mean he is still capable of top 4 minutes idk why you are acting like he should be in the AHL.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

People think the Habs are obligated to trade for old past-their-prime has-beens just because they are french Canadian.

How about the Nucks trade for Gallagher because he is BC Born?

I mean he is still capable of top 4 minutes idk why you are acting like he should be in the AHL.

Sounds like an ideal player for the Nucks!

 

[canuckslover10]

People think the Habs are obligated to trade for old past-their-prime has-beens just because they are french Canadian.

How about the Nucks trade for Gallagher because he is BC Born?


Sounds like an ideal player for the Nucks!

Okay our needs are at forward and our d core isn't young.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Okay our needs are at forward and our d core isn't young.

Gallagher is a forward. Letang is so old, the rest of your D would appear young in comparison.

 

[canuckslover10]

Gallagher is a forward. Letang is so old, the rest of your D would appear young in comparison.

We have limited cap space and letang is an actual top 4 dman unlike Gallagher who is a 3rd liner at best.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

We have limited cap space and letang is an actual top 4 dman unlike Gallagher who is a 3rd liner at best.

Pens can retain 50% for the Nucks to take on a guy who is no longer a top-4 dman. Perfect!

Habs would have less than zero interest.

 

[BLNY]

Why not it's not like the Canadiens are up against the cap and you guys can use veteran leadership on the backend once Savard and possibly Matheson leaves.

Because he'll be 38 in less than 2 months. Because he's a shell of the player he was. Because he has three more years. He can lead from behind the bench or in player development if he wants. By all means though, feel free to make an offer. Maybe he can fix the Canucks.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Because he'll be 38 in less than 2 months. Because he's a shell of the player he was. Because he has three more years. He can lead from behind the bench or in player development if he wants. By all means though, feel free to make an offer. Maybe he can fix the Canucks.

He's apparently a good teammate in the locker room. Nucks need that badly. He should be trade target #1 for the Nucks to fix that dysfunctional dressing room.

 

[WildWolfdog]

Letang doesn't close the door but his contract does.

 

[canuckslover10]

Because he'll be 38 in less than 2 months. Because he's a shell of the player he was. Because he has three more years. He can lead from behind the bench or in player development if he wants. By all means though, feel free to make an offer. Maybe he can fix the Canucks.

You know the Pens could just retain and also he is still a capable top 4 guy.