NHL insider Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins had discussions about trading veteran defenseman Kris Letang to the Montreal Canadiens. The report suggests that the idea might have been initiated by Letang himself, but ultimately, no deal was made, and Letang remained with the Penguins.
Letang, a central figure in the Penguins’ three Stanley Cup wins, is entering the third year of his $36.6 million contract. His high salary makes him a challenging acquisition for most teams, but the Canadiens could potentially manage it. Despite Letang’s long-standing role with the Penguins, his ties to Montreal have sparked some speculation about ending his career there. This possibility might have gained traction due to the Penguins’ recent struggles, including missing the playoffs last season, which could have led Letang to consider a move to his hometown team.
According to Mark Madden, there were discussions between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens about trading Kris Letang, though how far those talks progressed remains unclear. Ultimately, the deal did not materialize, and Montreal shifted its offseason focus to locking in its young talent, including Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Arber Xhekaj, with multi-year contracts. This shift in priorities may have influenced their decision not to pursue a veteran player like Letang.
Could These Trade Talks for Letang Resurface?
Letang’s reported interest in returning to Montreal, combined with the Penguins’ uncertain status as a playoff contender, makes his future with Pittsburgh a storyline worth watching. As the Penguins gear up for the upcoming season, Letang remains a key part of their defense. However, if the team struggles again during the 2024-25 season, the possibility of trade discussions involving Letang and the Canadiens could reemerge.
The Penguins are scheduled to open their season on October 9th, 2024, against the Canadiens, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to this potential narrative. Although Letang is still with Pittsburgh for now, his past practice sessions with the Canadiens and his strong ties to the Montreal organization suggest that a return to his hometown could still be in the cards if the Penguins’ situation doesn’t improve.
