Kris Letang wants to play for the Montreal Canadiens someday
Who wouldn't dream of seeing defenseman Kris Letang in the Blue-White-Red uniform one day? He is currently 34 years old, his best days are behind him, certainly, but he still has some juice in the tank.
The 874-game NHL veteran is very lucid about his team's current situation. He is aware that he may not finish his career in a Pittsburgh Penguins uniform. The organization may be tempted to start a rebuild eventually and Kris Letang could be one of the veterans sacrificed to rebuild the team for the future.
He is dedicated to the Penguins, however, he would be very receptive if the Montreal Canadiens wanted to acquire his services.
"I've spent my career with the Penguins, they've given me my chance, helped me through all the trials in my life. I've had the support of our two owners, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. I have a strong relationship with several players, including Sidney [Crosby]. [But if I have to sit back and think that hockey is a business, that anything can happen and that one day the Penguins will decide to rebuild and let go of the old dead wood, for sure the Habs - I'm from Montreal, I was born there - would be an interesting choice," said the man who will be eligible for full autonomy next summer.
"It's hard to imagine yourself in another jersey when you've been wearing the same one for 15 years, but if you told me tomorrow morning that the Penguins didn't want me anymore, then if I had to give you a top three or top four teams [to choose from], for sure the Habs would be one of the teams."
Letang is currently running out the final year of an eight-year contract he signed in 2014, worth $7.250 million annually. He will become an unrestricted free agent if he doesn't sign a new contract by then.
If the Penguins were to be on track to miss the playoffs, I would not be surprised in the least if Letang was dealt at the trade deadline. A veteran of his caliber could be a gem for a team looking for playoff help, as Letang likes to perform in these situations.
"I want the pressure on me, I want to be the person who performs for his team. It brings out the best in me," he said. There are different personality types. Some guys like a market where people don't recognize them at the restaurant and there's no media pressure. There aren't 100 people asking questions after games and analyzing every move players make. Others like the spotlight. [...] Me, I like hockey markets, the pressure."
