PuckSleuth
Kris Letang58

Pittsburgh Penguins · Defense · Shoots R

Kris Letang

Age 39 · 6'0" · 199 lb · Born in Montréal, CAN

Cap hit

$6.1M

5.9% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$1.553M

vs. $7.653M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

1

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

1

1 primary

Points

1

1.00 per game

TOI/GP

18:44

PP 1:49 · PK 0:23

xGF%

85.0

5v5, +36.3 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.41

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

+1

Blocks 0 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Sep 30
@ PHI · W 7-0
0142018:441:490:23—4021+1+0.41
Apr 29
@ PHI · OTL 1-0
0024230:461:370:31—80000-0.25
Apr 27
vs PHI · W 3-2
1013024:400:421:57—8020+1+0.81
Apr 25
@ PHI · W 4-2
1032023:191:331:59—7510+2+0.82
Apr 22
@ PHI · L 5-2
0011122:082:321:09—5010-1-0.11

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,285 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%48.6%

45th percentile

Relative xGF%-3.7

24th percentile

HDCF%47.3%

38th percentile

CF%48.8%

45th percentile

Relative CF%-2.7

26th percentile

FF%48.9%

45th percentile

GF%49.1%

49th percentile

CF/6058.5

65th percentile

CA/6061.4

21st percentile

ixG/600.26

67th percentile

Goals above expected-2.7

6th percentile

IPP32.1%

41st percentile

PDO100.3

55th percentile

OZS%62.1%

93rd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleOffensive playmaking defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Letang remains a high-volume playmaker who generates chances through aggressive forechecking and strong puck movement in transition. His defensive coverage has declined significantly, making him vulnerable in his own end despite solid speed for his age.

PlaymakerTransition threatPerimeter shooter
Shooting volume
62
Playmaking
87
Zone entries(est.)
43
Forechecking
79
Physicality
51
Defensive impact
11
Puck management
22
Speed
69

Where he shoots from

Slot 9% · Mid-range 32% · Perimeter 59%(160 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Elite playmaking at 87th percentile creates consistent offensive chances
  • Strong forechecking at 79th percentile helps him initiate play
  • Shoots from distance with 59% of attempts at perimeter

Watch-outs

  • Defensive impact at just 11th percentile leaves him exposed in coverage
  • Puck management at 22nd percentile limits transition efficiency
  • Rush chance generation at 43rd percentile slower than position peak

Similar style: Victor Hedman (TBL), Jake Walman (EDM)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 74 GP · goals above average

Season total -2.6 goals, or -0.04 per game.

Even strength offense
+0.5
Even strength defense
-1.1
Power play
-0.8
Penalty kill
+0.4
Finishing
-2.6
Playmaking
+2.7
Penalties
-1.7

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-PIMPPGPPPSHGGWGSOGS%TOIFO%GS/GP
2006-07Pittsburgh Penguins7202-342200825.011:33——
2007-08Pittsburgh Penguins6361117-1231903688.818:10——
2008-09Pittsburgh Penguins74102333-724411131387.221:09——
2009-10Pittsburgh Penguins7332427+15105001741.721:34——
2010-11Pittsburgh Penguins8284250+15101424022363.424:02100.0—
2011-12Pittsburgh Penguins51103242+2134415131427.024:50——
2012-13Pittsburgh Penguins3553338+16811301955.325:38——
2013-14Pittsburgh Penguins37111122-8166120110810.224:14——
2014-15Pittsburgh Penguins69114354+1279224111975.625:29——
2015-16Pittsburgh Penguins71165167+966527022187.326:57——
2016-17Pittsburgh Penguins4152934+232214021224.125:31——
2017-18Pittsburgh Penguins7994251-956420012224.025:20——
2018-19Pittsburgh Penguins65164056+1348219132067.825:58——
2019-20Pittsburgh Penguins61152944038615021778.525:44——
2020-21Pittsburgh Penguins5573845+1932115021325.324:39——
2021-22Pittsburgh Penguins78105868+2049222032144.725:47——
2022-23Pittsburgh Penguins64122941-1330621131617.524:51—+0.09
2023-24Pittsburgh Penguins82104151+136205021646.124:41—+0.02
2024-25Pittsburgh Penguins7492130-1552412101645.523:32—-0.06
2025-26Pittsburgh Penguins7433134-438110021042.921:41—-0.04
2026-27Pittsburgh Penguins2033+20010070.019:07—+0.41
Career21 seasons1237178631809+838435729663630575.824:02—

Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.

Usage

Last game: @ PHI, Sep 30

Pair 2 with Trevor van Riemsdyk (13:23 together at 5-on-5) · PP2

From the NHL's shift chart.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average +0.05 per game over these 10.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
19.8 mph
58th pct
20+ mph bursts
0
Hardest shot
83.2 mph
73rd pct
Distance
2.6 mi
OZ time
52.2%
97th pct
DZ time
33.0%

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 39, defensemen typically produce —% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

2 seasons left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27PIT$6.1M5.9%
2027-28PIT$6.1M5.4%

UFA after 2027-28. $12.2M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).