As we sit here now the Penguins still have Kris Letang tied up for another year next year at $3.5 million. He will be due to get a VERY large raise in 2014-15 and as a UFA could command 6-7 per...easy.

Last year Letang finished 17th among defensemen in scoring currently this year he sits at third with 15 points in 17 games. Oh, by the way, the 42 points Letang had last year were in 51 games. Pro-rated out had Letang played 82 games he would have notched nearly 70 points...the leading point getter among d-men last year, Erik Karlsson, notched 78 points in 81 games.

And it's more than points. Have you seen Letang lately? The guy has been taking over games offensively in ways that we haven't seen from many defenseman in the NHL for quite some time. He's also not shy about throwing his body around.

Defensively, Letang is getting much stronger as well. I still wouldn't call him a stalwart in his own end, but his +21 last year, in only 51 games led the Penguins. And per game he led all Penguins in ice time with nearly 25 minutes per game...almost 4 minutes more than Malkin and 7 minutes more than Crosby. This year he again leads the team in ice time...now close to 26 minutes per game. On average that's four minutes more than Crosby, and six more than Malkin.

Yet, with his contract eligible for renewal after this season, I keep hearing rumblings of other teams "preparing" to put forth huge contracts for Letang... In fact I have even have had it said to me a big part of the Canadiens hesitance to go long term and all-in with Subban was because Montreal really wants to be involved in going hard for Letang next summer when he is a UFA or "should Pittsburgh determine they can't re-sign Letang."

And that is not the only rumor like that out there. Understand, I am not saying Letang is out in Pittsburgh. Not at all. As shocking as Jordan Staal being moved out was, a Letang trade would be all the more unexpected..almost surreal.

I am simply saying the Letang situation has some serious potential for drama and Pittsburgh has their work cut out for them getting him signed.

In the end I know the Penguins realize his importance and I am 95% certain they find a way to lock him up for good...that's my opinion, as well as being completely logical.

But I also can promise you this...Hockeybuzz will not have a monopoly on Letang rumor stories. You will read many, many more before this is all said and done.,


Stay tuned..

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