Kris Letang

Junior Career and NHL Draft

Kris Letang's path to the NHL began in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Val-d'Or Foreurs. His performance earned him a spot on both the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) All-Rookie Teams, signalling his potential as a future professional. His development continued rapidly over three seasons with Val-d'Or, culminating in a dominant 2006-07 campaign where he posted 68 points in just 60 games, a feat that secured him QMJHL First Team All-Star honours. His offensive prowess and two-way play also saw him win three major QMJHL awards in 2007: the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the league's best defenceman, the Kevin Lowe Trophy as the best defensive defenceman, and the Paul Dumont Trophy for personality. His standout play in junior caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round, 62nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, a pick that would become one of the franchise's most valuable.

NHL Career with the Pittsburgh Penguins

Letang made his NHL debut in the 2006-07 season, scoring his first goal in his third game against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers in a 6-5 win. After a brief seven-game stint and being scratched twice, he was returned to Val-d'Or for further development, where he led the Foreurs to the QMJHL Finals with 31 post-season points before being swept by Lewiston. Upon his junior team's elimination, he joined the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for one playoff game before becoming a full-time Penguin in the 2007-08 season. He appeared in 63 games that year, recorded 17 points, and was invited to the NHL YoungStars Game, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final where they lost to Detroit in six games. His role expanded significantly in the 2008-09 season following long-term injuries to top defencemen Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, and he responded with a 10-goal, 33-point campaign while being invited to a second YoungStars Game in his hometown of Montreal.

He played a crucial role in the Penguins' playoff run that spring, scoring his first playoff goal in overtime against Washington in the second round on May 6, 2009, a goal that cut the Capitals' series lead to 2-1 and helped Pittsburgh overcome a 2-0 deficit to win in seven games. He contributed 13 points in 23 games as Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup, defeating Detroit in seven games on June 12, 2009, at Joe Louis Arena. The following years saw Letang establish himself as a top-pairing defender, earning his first NHL All-Star selection in 2011 after a career-high 50-point season where he finished as the team's second-highest scorer behind Sidney Crosby. The 2011-12 season was interrupted by a concussion from an illegal check by Max Pacioretty on November 26, 2011, but he still managed 42 points in 51 games and was named an All-Star as an injury replacement for Dustin Byfuglien. The lockout-shortened 2012-13 season was a career highlight, as he recorded 5 goals and 33 assists for 38 points in 35 games, was named a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, and was selected to the NHL Second All-Star Team.

On July 2, 2013, Kris Letang signed an eight-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins valued at $58 million. During the 2013-14 season, he suffered a stroke, which caused him to miss six weeks of play. He was cleared by doctors to return to full practice on March 16, 2014. His determined recovery from the stroke led to him being a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2014-15 season. He finished third in the voting for that award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Stanley Cup Championships and Peak Performance

Letang's career reached its zenith during the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. In the 2015-16 season, he was named an All-Star and was instrumental in the playoff run, averaging 28 minutes and 52 seconds of ice time per game. He scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 against Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks, becoming just the fourth player in NHL history to record a point on all four game-winning goals in a Stanley Cup Final. He finished the 2016 playoffs with 3 goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 23 games and placed fourth in Norris Trophy voting, also being named to the end-of-season second all-star team. Although a herniated disk in his neck required surgery and kept him out of the entire 2017 playoffs, he had played exactly 41 regular season games, meeting the requirement to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for a third time. He returned to full health for the 2017-18 season, recording 9 goals and 42 assists for 51 points in 79 games and earning another All-Star selection, though the Penguins were eliminated in the second round by the eventual champion Washington Capitals in six games after defeating Philadelphia in the first round.

Franchise Records and Later Career

In the latter stages of his career, Kris Letang has rewritten the Pittsburgh Penguins record book for defencemen. On October 6, 2018, in a 5-1 loss to Montreal, he recorded his 441st assist, passing Ron Stackhouse to become the franchise's all-time points leader among blueliners. He further solidified his legacy on February 11, 2019, by scoring his 175th goal to pass Paul Coffey for the most goals by a Penguins defenceman in a 4-1 win over Philadelphia. He reached the 500-point milestone on October 13, 2019, with an assist on a Sam Lafferty goal against the Winnipeg Jets. Letang continued to be recognized for his excellence, being named to the NHL All-Star Game via the 'Last Men In' vote in 2019 and again in 2020, where he served as captain of the Metropolitan Division team.

His resilience was tested again during the 2022-23 season. In November 2022, he suffered a second stroke but returned to the lineup just twelve days later on December 10, skating 22 minutes and 14 seconds in a 3-1 victory against Buffalo. He then missed time in January 2023 following the death of his father, Claude Fouquet, which caused him to leave the team prior to the 2023 NHL Winter Classic against Boston, with the Penguins travelling to Montreal to join him for the wake. For persevering through these challenges, Letang was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2023. Prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022, he opted to remain with Pittsburgh, signing a six-year, $36.6 million contract extension on July 7, 2022, a deal The Hockey News remarked would likely see him retire as a Penguin. In April 2023, he played his 1,000th NHL game, joining teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in that exclusive club for the Penguins. In April 2025, he underwent surgery to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole in the heart. In October 2025, Letang, Crosby, and Malkin were honoured before a game as the first trio of teammates to play 20 seasons together in major North American sports history.

International Career

Kris Letang has represented Canada with distinction at the international level, primarily during his junior career. He first donned the maple leaf at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships in the Czech Republic, where he scored four points in six games and helped Canada to a silver medal, losing to the United States in the final. He won a gold medal at the 2006 tournament in Vancouver as the host country. The following year, he served as team captain for Canada at the 2007 World Juniors in Sweden, leading by example with six points in six games and being named to the tournament All-Star Team alongside teammates Carey Price and Jonathan Toews as Canada secured another gold medal. These back-to-back junior gold medals established Letang as a winner on the international stage before his NHL career fully blossomed.

Playing Style and On-Ice Impact

Kris Letang is renowned for his dynamic, offensively-gifted style of play from the defence position. He possesses world-class skating ability, exceptional puck-handling skills, and a high hockey IQ, which have made him a constant threat in the offensive zone and a key facilitator on the power play throughout his career. While known for his offence, his two-way capabilities were recognized early, as evidenced by his QMJHL awards for both best defenceman and best defensive defenceman in the same season. In the NHL, his game is built on elite transition play, using his speed to join the rush or to retreat and break up opposing attacks. He has consistently logged heavy minutes in all situations, including the penalty kill, and has been a staple on Pittsburgh's top defensive pairing for over a decade. His ability to control the pace of play and quarterback the offence from the blue line made him an indispensable part of the Penguins' championship core alongside Crosby and Malkin, with his ice time regularly ranking among the highest on the team.

Career Legacy and Penguins Records

Kris Letang's legacy in Pittsburgh is defined by longevity, elite production, and championship success. He has been a central figure in one of the NHL's most successful eras, playing a critical role on teams that have consistently contended for and won the Stanley Cup. His records for a Penguins defenceman are comprehensive and demonstrate his skill and durability over two decades with the same franchise. Beyond statistics, his legacy includes perseverance, with successful returns to play after two strokes and a major neck surgery highlighting his dedication. The Hockey News has noted that his 2022 contract extension ensures he will very likely retire as a Penguin, and he is considered a strong future candidate for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

• Most career games played by a defenceman (1,235)
• Most career goals by a defenceman (178)
• Most career assists by a defenceman (628)
• Most career points by a defenceman (806)
• Most assists in a game (6, tied with 3 others)
• Most career playoff goals by a defenceman (23)
• Most career playoff assists by a defenceman (67)
• Most career playoff points by a defenceman (90)
• Most assists in a playoff game by a defenceman (4, tied with 2 others)
• Most points in a playoff game by a defenceman (4, tied with 2 others)

Kris Letang shares notable NHL records, including most assists in a period, with five, which is tied with Dale Hawerchuk. He also shares the record for most assists in a game by a defenceman, with six, which is tied with six other players. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, 2016, and 2017. His individual award recognition includes being a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2013 and winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2023.

Personal Life

Kris Letang was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. He experienced a significant personal loss on May 29, 2008, when his close friend and former junior teammate Luc Bourdon, a defensive prospect for the Vancouver Canucks, died in a motorcycle accident. Letang was competing in the Stanley Cup Final against Detroit at the time, and the tragedy led him to abandon his own plans to purchase a motorcycle. Letang has been married to Catherine Laflamme since July 18, 2015. The couple wed in Montreal. They have two children: a son born in November 2012 and a daughter born in July 2018, whose pregnancy was announced via Instagram in December 2017. Laflamme was a cast member on the third season of the Canadian reality television series Hockey Wives. Letang's father, Claude Fouquet, passed away in January 2023, an event that caused Letang to leave the Penguins temporarily to be with his family, with the team travelling to Montreal to join him for the wake.

Career Statistics and Season-by-Season Performance

Kris Letang has demonstrated offensive consistency throughout his NHL career. He recorded a career-high 50 points during the 2010-11 season. In the 2017-18 season, he recorded 51 points in 79 games. He finished the 2024-25 season with nine goals and 21 assists in 74 games. His importance to the Penguins is reflected in his consistently high ice time. He has been a key part of the Penguins' lineup in all game situations for many seasons.

Honours and Awards

Throughout his career, Kris Letang has received numerous individual and team honours. In major junior, he was named to the QMJHL and CHL All-Rookie Team after his first season. He also received the Emile Bouchard Trophy, the Paul Dumont Trophy, and the Kevin Lowe Trophy for his play in the QMJHL. Internationally, he won back-to-back gold medals with Canada at the World Junior Championships in 2006 and 2007. In the NHL, he is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a seven-time All-Star Game participant.

• Stanley Cup Champion (2009, 2016, 2017)
• NHL Second All-Star Team (2013, 2016)
• James Norris Memorial Trophy Finalist (2013)
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Winner (2023)
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Finalist (2015, 2023)
• NHL All-Star Game (2011, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
• NHL YoungStars Game (2008, 2009)
• IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal (2006, 2007)
• IIHF World Junior Championship All-Star Team (2007)
• IIHF World U18 Championship Silver Medal (2005)
• QMJHL First All-Star Team (2007)
• Emile Bouchard Trophy (QMJHL Best Defenceman) (2007)
• Kevin Lowe Trophy (QMJHL Best Defensive Defenceman) (2007)
• Paul Dumont Trophy (QMJHL Personality of the Year) (2007)
• QMJHL All-Rookie Team (2005)
• CHL All-Rookie Team (2005)

Kris Letang excelled immediately in major junior hockey, earning All-Rookie Team honours. He then dominated at the world junior level, winning gold medals in 2006 and 2007. He translated that success into a decorated NHL career. His NHL career is marked by multiple All-Star Game selections, nominations for trophies like the Norris and Masterton, and winning the Stanley Cup three times.

Questions about Kris Letang

How many Stanley Cups has Kris Letang won?

Kris Letang has won the Stanley Cup three times, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His first championship came in 2009 when the Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. He won his second Cup in 2016, scoring the Cup-clinching goal against Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks in Game 6. His third championship was in 2017. Although a herniated disk in his neck required surgery and prevented him from playing in the playoffs that year, he had played exactly 41 regular season games, meeting the league requirement to have his name engraved on the trophy and receive a day with the Cup.

What health challenges has Kris Letang overcome?

Kris Letang has demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming several significant health issues. He suffered his first stroke during the 2013-14 season, causing him to miss six weeks before being cleared by doctors to return to full practice on March 16, 2014. In November 2022, he suffered a second stroke but returned to the lineup just twelve days later on December 10, skating over 22 minutes in a win against Buffalo. In April 2025, he underwent surgery to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole in the heart that was likely related to his stroke events. Earlier in his career, he also missed 21 games in the 2011-12 season with a concussion and a broken nose from an illegal check, and he missed the entire 2017 playoffs due to surgery for a herniated disk in his neck.

What records does Kris Letang hold with the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Kris Letang holds virtually every major career record for a defenceman in Pittsburgh Penguins franchise history. These include most games played (1,235), goals (178), assists (628), and points (806). He also holds the playoff records for a Penguins blueliner in goals (23), assists (67), and points (90). He shares the team record for most assists in a game (6) and holds the record for most assists in a game by a defenceman (4, tied) and most points in a playoff game by a defenceman (4, tied). He shares NHL records for most assists in a period (5) and most assists in a game by a defenceman (6).

How long has Kris Letang played for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Kris Letang has played his entire NHL career for the Pittsburgh Penguins, debuting in the 2006-07 season. He became a full-time player in 2007-08. As of the 2025-26 season, he has played 20 consecutive seasons with the franchise. In October 2025, he, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin were honoured as the first trio of teammates to play 20 seasons together in the history of major North American sports.

Has Kris Letang won any major NHL individual awards?

Kris Letang won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2023. He was also a finalist for the same award in 2015. He was a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2013. He has been named to the NHL Second All-Star Team twice, in 2013 and 2016. He has been selected to participate in seven NHL All-Star Games.

Did Kris Letang play for Team Canada?

Yes, Kris Letang represented Canada at the junior international level with great success. He won a silver medal at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships in the Czech Republic, recording four points in six games. His most notable achievements came at the World Junior Championships, where he won back-to-back gold medals in 2006 in Vancouver and 2007 in Sweden. In 2007, he served as team captain, scored six points in six games, and was named to the tournament All-Star Team alongside Canadian teammates Carey Price and Jonathan Toews.

Sources and further reading

• Kris Letang (Wikipedia)
• Letang tallies insane goal (nhl.com)
• 2026-27 Pittsburgh Penguins Player Projections: Kris Letang (thehockeynews.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.