Kris Letang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kris Letang
Letang with the Pittsburgh Penguins in November 2017
Born	(1987-04-24) April 24, 1987 (age 38) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft	62nd overall, 2005 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2006–present

Kristopher Joseph Pierre Irwin Letang (born April 24, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a defenceman and is an alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Letang played junior hockey for three seasons. He was picked by the Penguins in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. In his second full NHL season, Letang helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009. He won two more Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He has also played for Canada in international tournaments, winning gold medals at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2006 and 2007.

Playing Career Highlights

Letang started his major junior hockey career with the Val-d'Or Foreurs. In his first season, he scored 32 points and was named to the QMJHL and CHL All-Rookie Teams. The Pittsburgh Penguins then drafted him in 2005. The next season, he had 68 points in 60 games and was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star.

Starting with the Penguins and First Stanley Cup (2006–2011)

Letang joined the Penguins for the 2006–07 NHL season. He scored his first NHL goal in his third game. After playing seven games, he was sent back to Val-d'Or to develop more. He led the Foreurs to the 2007 QMJHL Finals. After the junior season, he played one game for the Penguins' minor league team. He also won three major QMJHL awards that year.

Letang with the Penguins in February 2008

Letang was called up to Pittsburgh early in the 2007–08 NHL season. He played well and was invited to the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game. He finished his rookie season with 17 points. He helped the Penguins reach the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

In the 2008–09 NHL season, Letang took on a bigger role because other top defencemen were injured. He played on the top defensive pair and scored 10 goals and 33 points. He was also invited to his second NHL YoungStars Game in his hometown of Montreal.

Letang scored his first playoff goal in overtime against the Washington Capitals in 2009. This helped the Penguins win that series. They then faced the Red Wings again in the Finals. Letang scored one goal in the series, helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in seven games. He finished the playoffs with four goals and 13 points.

The next season, Letang signed a four-year contract extension. He scored five goals in 13 playoff games. In the 2010–11 NHL season, Letang became a key player after Sergei Gonchar left. He had a great year, scoring 50 points (8 goals, 42 assists). He was voted a starter for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game.

Overcoming Challenges (2011–2015)

Letang was again named to the NHL All-Star roster in 2012. He finished the 2011–12 NHL season with 42 points in 51 games. On July 2, 2013, Letang signed a long eight-year contract with Pittsburgh.

In the 2013–14 NHL season, Letang missed time due to a health issue. He worked hard to recover and return to playing. His determination led to him being a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in the 2014–15 NHL season. This award is given to the player who shows great perseverance and dedication to hockey.

Letang (right foreground) celebrates with Jake Guentzel and Nick Bonino after the Penguins won the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals

Winning Back-to-Back Stanley Cups (2015–2018)

In the 2015–16 NHL season, Letang was chosen for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. The Penguins faced the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Letang scored an empty-net goal in Game 3, helping the Penguins win the game. The Penguins defeated the Rangers, then the Washington Capitals, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. This sent them to the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2009. Letang scored the winning goal in Game 6 against the San Jose Sharks, securing the Stanley Cup for the Penguins. He was also named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

In the 2016–17 NHL season, Letang had a neck injury and missed the playoffs. However, because he played in 41 regular season games, his name was still added to the Stanley Cup. He also got to spend a day with the Cup.

Letang played a full 2017–18 NHL season, scoring 51 points in 79 games. He added 11 points in 12 playoff games. The Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers but lost to the Capitals in the second round.

Recent Seasons (2018–present)

On October 6, 2018, Letang set a new Penguins record for most assists by a defenceman. On February 11, 2019, he passed Paul Coffey for most goals by a Penguins defenceman.

After his eight-year contract ended, Letang signed a new six-year deal with the Penguins in July 2022. This means he will likely finish his career as a Penguin. Early in the 2022–23 NHL season, Letang had another health issue but returned to play after twelve days. He also missed time later in the season due to family reasons.

On April 2, 2023, Letang played his 1,000th NHL game with the Penguins. He became only the third player in team history to reach this milestone. Despite facing personal challenges, Letang was again a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Penguins missed the playoffs that season, which was the first time in Letang's career.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold	2007 Sweden
Gold	2006 Canada
IIHF World U18 Championships
Silver	2005 Czech Republic

Letang first played for Canada at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships. He scored four points and won a silver medal.

In the next two years, Letang played in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He won gold medals in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he was the team captain and was named to the tournament All-Star team.

Personal Life

Letang and his wife, Catherine Laflamme, have a son born in November 2012. They got married in July 2015. Their daughter was born in July 2018. His wife was also on a Canadian reality TV show called Hockey Wives.

Awards and Achievements

Letang after winning his third Stanley Cup as a member of the Penguins in 2017.

NHL Awards

Pittsburgh Penguins Team Awards

Letang receiving the Michel Brière Rookie of the Year Award in April 2008

International Awards

Major Junior Awards