As the Penguins approach the Olympic break, they’ll have to do it without one of their most trusted veterans on the blue line. Kris Letang, the longtime cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s defense, is expected to miss at least the next four weeks after suffering a foot fracture. The team has placed him on injured reserve, sidelining him for a stretch that-thanks to the Olympic pause-might not be as damaging as it sounds.
Letang, now 38, has shown he’s still got something in the tank this season. After a dip in production last year, he’s bounced back with 25 points through 50 games, already closing in on his 2024-25 total of 30 points in 74 contests. While those numbers might not reach the heights of his prime-when 40-plus point seasons were the norm-they still rank him second among Penguins defensemen, trailing only Erik Karlsson.
But Letang’s value goes far beyond the stat sheet. He’s once again logging heavy minutes, averaging over 22 minutes a night for the 16th straight season.
That kind of consistency in ice time is rare, and it speaks to just how much responsibility he carries-whether it’s anchoring the penalty kill, quarterbacking the power play, or taking on top matchups at even strength. Only Karlsson is asked to do more.
The timing of the injury is especially tough given the Penguins are already shorthanded on the back end. Earlier this week, the team lost Jack St.
Ivany for a couple of months following hand surgery. With Letang now out as well, Pittsburgh is down to just six healthy defensemen.
That likely means a call-up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is on the horizon. In the meantime, Connor Clifton, who had been a healthy scratch recently, will rejoin the lineup.
Letang had just returned to the ice after missing two games last week with an unrelated injury. Head coach Dan Muse confirmed that this foot fracture is a separate issue, which makes the timing all the more frustrating for a team trying to stay afloat in a tightly packed Eastern Conference.
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s the calendar. With the NHL shutting down for the Olympics, Letang is only projected to miss five games over the next month.
That gives him some much-needed recovery time without the team having to play too many games without him. Of course, fractures can be tricky, and if the healing process drags, that timeline could shift.
But for now, the Penguins are hoping this is a short-term setback for one of their most important players.
Letang’s absence will test Pittsburgh’s defensive depth and force others to step up, but it also underscores just how much he still means to this team-both on the ice and in the room. Even at 38, he remains a key piece of the Penguins’ puzzle.