Penguins Trade Rumors: Kris Letang 'Wouldn't Be Troubled' By A Trade

"Reality has set in for the organization’s front office."

That's the word from Josh Yohe in The Athletic, as Pittsburgh Penguins president & GM Kyle Dubas considers his next moves in shaking up his stagnating team. The Pens garnered just three of a possible six points against three of the league's (other) worst teams this past week in Columbus, San Jose & Detroit. Yohe assures us that there will be more moves to come after last week's trade of Lars Eller.

He then goes on to suggest that longtime blueline workhorse Kris Letang would consider moving on if the option presented itself. Yohe wrote this of the six-time All-Star:

While he signed a six-year deal with the Penguins in 2022 with a desire to finish his career in Pittsburgh, I’ve never sensed from Letang that playing for a different franchise would trouble him the way it would (Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin.
It would be in the Penguins’ best interest to move his contract if possible.

But with three more years after this one, with a $6 million cap hit, and having his worst season thus far, it could be difficult to find a taker for the 37-year-old Letang, unless the Penguins do some serious salary retention... Even then, it's highly quesionable. He has six points in 18 games with a plus/minus rating of -10, and has dropped below the 24 minutes average ice time mark for the first time in 15 years. He also has had plenty of injury troubles over his 19-year career.

As well, Letang has a full no-movement clause through the end of next season.

Certainly, he's a likely future Hall of Famer, as Yohe notes, so is it possible that a desperate team would take a chance that he'd be refreshed and rejuvenated in a more appealing situation?

"Trading Letang would certainly shake up the Penguins’ locker room, their financial situation and so much more. Will it happen this season? Probably not," concludes Yohe, "but I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. If one of the Big Three is to move on, it will almost certainly be Letang."

The Penguins are 7-10-3 and in 7th place in the Metropolitan Division.