![\"Kris](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2023-03-07-222530.png\")
Kris Letang\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKris Letang\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang<\/a>, who turns 39 next month, has packed a lot into his NHL career of 1,223 games. Stanley Cups. Points \u2013 he\u2019s one shy of 800. A pro team sports record with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the longest-tenured trio of teammates.<\/p>\n Letang \u2014 known for his speed and offensive upside, and in recent years for including his adorable son Alex in some public appearances \u2014 has also had his share of issues. He has played in all 82 games in a season just twice because of a harrowing list of medical issues that includes two strokes, neck surgery, concussions, migraines and, a year ago, surgery to correct a hole in his heart.<\/p>\n In recent seasons, he also has faced criticism for what has been perceived as a decline in his game and concern that he still has two more seasons after this one on a contract with a $6.1 million cap hit. He has three goals, 27 points in 62 games this season.<\/p>\n He is coming off a tough game Wednesday during the Penguins\u2019 6-5 overtime loss <\/a>at Carolina because of a couple of glaring turnovers.<\/p>\n After practice Friday, Letang sat with Pittsburgh Hockey Now to discuss all that and more.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Hockey Now: How old are your kids, Alex and Victoria, now?<\/p>\n Letang: 13 and 7.<\/p>\n PHN: So they\u2019re old enough to talk hockey with them. Do you talk hockey with them?<\/p>\n Letang: Not really, no. A little bit with Alex, but not about my hockey.<\/p>\n PHN: With the team, the family includes you and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. You have all missed some time over the years, but does it feel different for you when all three of you are in a game? Is there a comfort level or something?<\/p>\n Letang: Of course there\u2019s a comfort level, whether it\u2019s talking or tendencies, stuff like that. You know what to expect from each other. It\u2019s just comfortable.<\/p>\n PHN: Geno says he wants to play another year, maybe two. Sid has another season on his contract after this one. Would you like to see the three of you stay together for at least another season?<\/p>\n Letang: Yeah, of course.<\/p>\n PHN: You\u2019ve got a couple more seasons after this one. Do you feel comfortable that you will want to finish that contract?<\/p>\n Letang: Well, I\u2019m not in charge of that decision.<\/p>\n PHN: You could decide to retire.<\/p>\n Letang: Oh, no. Not for right now.<\/p>\n PHN: A couple years from now, like with Geno now, will we be asking you about whether you\u2019re going to re-up?<\/p>\n Letang: I don\u2019t know about that. The body feels good. At that point, I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s going to be like. At 38, 39 years old, you\u2019re kind of going day by day. You never know how you\u2019re going to feel after a season.<\/p>\n PHN: After the surgery you had last year, do you still have migraines?<\/p>\n Letang: That was more about blood clots. I still have a migraine problem. But I can actually control most of them. But it\u2019s something that it\u2019s so unknown, you have to track it yourself basically. You actually have to kind of be your own doctor.<\/p>\n PHN: On the ice, how would you evaluate your season?<\/p>\n Letang: Up and down. Rollercoaster a little bit.<\/p>\n PHN: There\u2019s been attention on you, good and bad. When you were playing with Brett Kulak, it seemed like people were saying your game was good. But there\u2019s been some criticism in other games, including the Carolina game. Everybody has a good game and a bad game, or a good stretch and a bad stretch. Is some of that criticism valid?<\/p>\n Letang: I mean, a bad game. I mean, it was not my best game. But I don\u2019t think as a team we played well at all. We were all kind of a victim of (turnovers). I had my fair share of it also. It is what is. If people want to focus on one shift that I made a couple of turnovers, they can do that. It is what it is. You just have to turn the page and focus on the next opponent. I don\u2019t have time to dwell on the previous performance and what people think about it.<\/p>\n PHN: When there is criticism, if you hear it, does it roll off your back or does it bother you?<\/p>\n Letang: The only people that matter are in this dressing room and the people in charge of knowing what they expect of me and what I need to do on the ice. We\u2019ll address it if they don\u2019t like certain things. They\u2019ve done it when I\u2019ve made some mistakes. The people that I care about are in this (locker) room, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Kris Letang<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> Shelly Anderson<\/a> <\/p>\n