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).

Before joining the NHL, Kris played junior hockey for the Val-d'Or Foreurs for three seasons. The Penguins chose him in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He won his first Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. He then won two more Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Kris has also won gold medals for Canada at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2006 and 2007.

Playing Career Highlights

Kris Letang started his hockey journey in junior hockey 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 the third round in 2005. The next season, he had 68 points in 60 games. This earned him a spot on the QMJHL First Team All-Star list.

Joining the Pittsburgh Penguins

Early Years and First Stanley Cup

Kris Letang made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 2006–07 season. He scored his first NHL goal in his third game against the New York Rangers. After playing seven games, he was sent back to Val-d'Or to gain more experience. He led his junior team to the 2007 QMJHL Finals. After the junior season, he played one game for the Penguins' minor league team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He also won three major awards in the QMJHL that year. These awards showed he was a great defenceman who could play well on both offense and defense.

Letang with the Penguins in February 2008

Letang returned to the Penguins in the 2007–08 season. He quickly became an important player. He was invited to the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game, which features top young players. He finished his rookie season with 17 points in 63 games. He helped the Penguins reach the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

In the 2008–09 season, two of the Penguins' main defencemen were injured. This meant Letang had to take on a bigger role. He played on the top defensive pair and had a great season with 10 goals and 33 points. He was also invited to his second NHL YoungStars Game in his hometown of Montreal.

Letang scored his first NHL playoff goal in 2009 against the Washington Capitals. This goal helped the Penguins win that game and eventually the series. The Penguins then reached the Stanley Cup Finals again, facing the Red Wings. Letang scored one goal in the Finals. The Penguins won the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2009, in a thrilling seven-game series. Letang finished the playoffs with four goals and 13 points in 23 games.

The next season, Letang signed a four-year contract extension. In the 2010–11 season, he took on an even bigger role after another top defenceman left. He had a career-high 50 points and was chosen to start in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game. He was the Penguins' second-highest scorer that season.

Dealing with Injuries and Health Challenges

Letang competing in the fastest skater event for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game

In 2012, Letang was again named to the NHL All-Star roster. He finished the 2011–12 season with 42 points in 51 games.

In 2013, Letang signed a long eight-year contract with the Penguins. In the 2013–14 season, he played 34 games before it was announced he had suffered a stroke. He missed six weeks but was cleared to return to practice in March 2014.

Letang's determination to return after his stroke made him a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in the 2014–15 season. This award is given to the player who shows great perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Winning Back-to-Back Stanley Cups

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

In the 2015–16 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. They went on to defeat the Rangers, then the Washington Capitals, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. This led them to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2009. Letang scored the goal that won the Stanley Cup in Game 6 against the San Jose Sharks. He was one of only four players in NHL history to get a point on all four game-winning goals in the Stanley Cup Finals. He was also named to the NHL's second all-star team.

In the 2016–17 season, Letang needed neck surgery and could not play in 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 had a healthy 2017–18 season, scoring 51 points in 79 games. He also had 11 points in 12 playoff games. The Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers but then lost to the Capitals, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Recent Seasons and Milestones

On October 6, 2018, Kris Letang set a new Penguins franchise record. He recorded his 441st assist, which is the most points by a defenceman in team history. On February 11, 2019, he passed Paul Coffey for the most goals by a Penguins defenceman.

In July 2022, Letang signed a new six-year contract with the Penguins. This means he will likely finish his career playing for Pittsburgh. In November 2022, Letang suffered another stroke. It was not considered career-ending, and he returned to play just twelve days later. In January 2023, he missed more time after his father passed away. The Penguins team even traveled to Montreal to support him.

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, joining Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Despite his health and personal challenges, Letang was named a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for a second time. 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

Kris Letang first played for Canada in 2005 at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships in the Czech Republic. He scored four points and helped Canada win 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 scored six points in six games. He was also named to the tournament All-Star team.

Personal Life

Kris Letang was good friends with Luc Bourdon, another hockey player. Luc sadly passed away in a motorcycle accident in 2008. Letang and Bourdon had been teammates in junior hockey and on the Canadian junior team. After his friend's death, Letang decided not to buy a motorcycle himself.

Kris Letang and his wife, Catherine Laflamme, have two children. Their son was born in November 2012, and their daughter was born in July 2018. They got married in Montreal in July 2015. Catherine 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