“Leader in our locker room” – Kris Letang signs a six-year, $36.6 million contract with Pittsburgh Penguins
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Kris Letang
Kristopher Joseph Pierre Irwin Letang aka Kris Letang has agreed to a six-year, $36.6 million contract (an average annual value of $6.1 million) with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. The 35-year-old defenseman had the National Hockey League (NHL) career-high 68 points (10 goals, 58 assists) in 78 games this season, and could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 13.
The Montreal native Letang ranks third among all Penguins skaters in Playoff games (149). Moreover, he’s the first among defensemen with 90 points (23 goals, 67 assists) and the Penguins have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in all 16 of his NHL seasons.
“Kris epitomizes what it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin,” general manager Ron Hextall said, as quoted by NHL.com. “The role he plays on our team is irreplaceable, he is a leader in our locker room, and has made countless contributions to the organization over the last 15-plus years, which includes three Stanley Cup Championships. We are thrilled to make him a Penguin for life.”
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“Penguins took care of me like a son”
Picked by Pittsburgh in the third round (No, 62) of the 2005 NHL Draft, the 35-year-old Letang is first among Penguins defensemen in games (941), goals (144), assists (506), points (650), power-play goals (46), power-play points (247) and game-winning goals (29).
“For me, the Penguins gave me my chance,” Letang said. “They took care of me like a son. … They’ve always treated me like I was one of their own. When you have that feeling, sometimes it’s just natural; you want to finish there. The memories that we’ve built as a team, it’s just incredible that I have the chance to stay with that team.”
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