In recent days, it has come to light that Kristopher Letang has requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Montreal Canadiens—a move that Charles-Alexis Brisebois has addressed in an article essentially summarizing it as “hands-off.”
This stance makes sense, but let’s rewind a bit to better understand the decision that ultimately prevented Letang, a hometown star who grew up dreaming of playing for the Canadiens, from potentially joining Montreal.
In March 2022, Letang’s name was increasingly linked to the Canadiens. The speculation reached a peak with a memorable statement from Renaud Lavoie, a podcast co-host with Letang, who expressed his eagerness to see Letang in the Canadiens’ blue, white, and red. A month later, a journalist in Pittsburgh noted that it wouldn’t be surprising if the Québécois defenseman entertained an offer from Montreal. In fact, one insider claimed there was mutual interest in March. All signs pointed to a possible reunion between Letang and his former agent, Kent Hughes, now the Canadiens’ General Manager. However, on July 7, 2022, Letang put an end to these rumors by announcing a new six-year, $36.6 million contract with the Penguins—ironically, at a press conference held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the very place where his dream of playing for the Canadiens likely faded.
The situation became more complicated when the possibility of acquiring Letang hinged on trading away Jeff Petry. Just nine days after Letang re-signed with Pittsburgh, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes traded Petry to the Penguins in exchange for another Québécois defenseman, Michael Matheson. Since joining Montreal, Matheson has excelled, making the idea of bringing Letang on board no longer viable, even before considering the financial implications. Matheson, earning $4.875 million for the next two seasons, has proven his worth on the Canadiens’ top pairing, providing the team with both performance and future flexibility as they assess the development of their young defensemen.
This scenario underscores how advantageous it is for the Canadiens to stick with their current plan. As their young defensemen develop, a 30-year-old, French-speaking blueliner like Matheson, who can contribute significantly without being a long-term salary burden, fits perfectly into the team’s transition. Adding Letang, while initially seen as a way to pass the torch to the next generation, would now run counter to the strategic vision of Hughes and Jeff Gorton.
Initially, Letang was envisioned as the veteran who could guide the Canadiens’ young defensemen. While the idea was enticing, in reality, it didn’t come to fruition, and we may never know the exact reasons or who decided to back away from the talks.
During his Bell Centre press conference, Letang expressed his deep connection to the Penguins, the team that gave him his start. After 16 seasons and three Stanley Cup victories, his loyalty is understandable. He also mentioned that he took a less lucrative deal to help the Penguins sign other players and stay competitive, a reference to Evgeni Malkin, who was also negotiating a contract with Pittsburgh and was reportedly close to exploring free agency. Malkin, feeling undervalued by the Penguins’ initial offer, had texted Letang and Sidney Crosby, expressing his doubts about the team’s desire to keep him. Eventually, Letang and Crosby convinced Malkin to stay, but the Penguins’ core now appears to be on the brink of decline.
Despite adding another star, Erik Karlsson, the Penguins missed the playoffs by one point in 2023 and by three points in 2024, marking a disappointing end for a once-dominant core. If Letang did indeed choose to stay in Pittsburgh over a similar offer from Montreal, one might wonder if he now regrets that decision. Does he imagine a scenario where he could have joined the Canadiens, helped develop their emerging young talent, and perhaps opened a new championship window at age 39 in Montreal?
It seems likely that the Canadiens have no regrets about how things turned out.
