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

+$1.753M

vs. $7.853M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

3

2 primary

Points

3

1.50 per game

TOI/GP

19:07

PP 1:52 · PK 0:12

Plus/minus

+2

Hits

2

Blocks 1

PIM

0

Game Score

+1.31

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 3
vs MTL · W 6-5
0230119:301:540:00—7530+1+1.36
Sep 30
@ PHI · W 7-0
0142018:441:490:23—4021+1+1.25
Apr 29
@ PHI · OTL 1-0
0024230:461:370:31—80000+0.21
Apr 27
vs PHI · W 3-2
1013024:400:421:57—8020+1+1.29
Apr 25
@ PHI · W 4-2
1032023:191:331:59—7510+2+1.49

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). 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.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIM
2002-03QAAAAntoine-Girouard4221012—34
2003-04QAAAAntoine-Girouard39124153—94
2003-04 (playoffs)QAAAAntoine-Girouard137916038
2004-05QMJHLVal-d'Or70131932-1679
2004-05WJ18-ACanada6224—20
2005-06QMJHLVal-d'Or60254368+4156
2005-06WJC-ACanada6123—2
2005-06 (playoffs)QMJHLVal-d'Or5156-520
2006-07NHLPittsburgh Penguins7202-34
2006-07WJC-ACanada6066—12
2006-07QMJHLVal-d'Or40143852+1974
2006-07 (playoffs)QMJHLVal-d'Or19121931+1048
2006-07 (playoffs)AHLWilkes-Barre101102
2007-08NHLPittsburgh Penguins6361117-123
2007-08AHLWilkes-Barre1016704
2007-08 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins16022+512
2008-09NHLPittsburgh Penguins74102333-724
2008-09 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins234913+126
2009-10NHLPittsburgh Penguins7332427+151
2009-10 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins13527-56
2010-11NHLPittsburgh Penguins8284250+15101
2010-11 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins7044010
2011-12NHLPittsburgh Penguins51103242+2134
2011-12 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins6145-121
2012-13NHLPittsburgh Penguins3553338+168
2012-13 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins1531316+28
2013-14NHLPittsburgh Penguins37111122-816
2013-14 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins13246+214
2014-15NHLPittsburgh Penguins69114354+1279
2015-16NHLPittsburgh Penguins71165167+966
2015-16 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins2331215+622
2016-17NHLPittsburgh Penguins4152934+232
2017-18NHLPittsburgh Penguins7994251-956
2017-18 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins123811015
2018-19NHLPittsburgh Penguins65164056+1348
2018-19 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins4011-32
2019-20NHLPittsburgh Penguins61152944038
2019-20 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins4000-20
2020-21NHLPittsburgh Penguins5573845+1932
2020-21 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins6156-26
2021-22NHLPittsburgh Penguins78105868+2049
2021-22 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins7134-30
2022-23NHLPittsburgh Penguins64122941-1330
2023-24NHLPittsburgh Penguins82104151+1362
2024-25NHLPittsburgh Penguins7492130-1552
2025-26NHLPittsburgh Penguins7433134-438
2025-26 (playoffs)NHLPittsburgh Penguins6202-220
2026-27NHLPittsburgh Penguins2033+20

Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.

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 +0.58 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.40 per game

2025-26 · 74 GP

Season total +29.8, or +0.40 per game.

Scoring
+21.7
Shooting
+7.8
5-on-5 goals
-0.3
Defense
-1.1
Penalty kill
+0.5
Physical play
+6.6
Puck battles
-3.6
Penalties
-1.7

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

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%

Usage

Last game: vs MTL, Oct 3

Pair 2 with Trevor van Riemsdyk (10:04 together at 5-on-5) · PP2

From the NHL's shift chart.

Age curve

NHL defensemen

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).