Today is going to be all about Kris Letang.
Kris Letang is a bonafide number one defenseman who is probably underpaid and is locked up for many years to come.
Letang has all the physical tools to be successful on both the offensive side of the puck (where he gets most of his notoriety) and is just as good in the defensive zone. Kris Letang's low moments from the past few seasons were not related to his ability to defend, they were puck management choices that were poor.
Enter Mike Johnston and his system which brings actual puck support and you have the present day beast mode Kris Letang who can now potentially hit his ceiling as a player.
Kris Letang has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy in the past. I believe this year he can win the award. As always there are some serious contenders out there. I picked a number of defensemen off the top of my head that could be considered in the Norris Trophy voting this year.
This chart uses relative Corsi and relative Quality of Competition. This compares the players based on their usage within their own team. When you get a feel for how each player is being used you can then look at the raw non relative statistics to further paint a picture with clarity.
Letang plays some of the tougher competition for his team and does so while still successfully driving possession.
Specifically on the possession front Kris Letang has a gaudy Score-Adjusted Fenwick of 56.8% which leads the entire Penguins team.
Here is how he stacks up with the other Norris candidates
Pretty solid.
Here is another look at how impressive Kris Letang has been. Sample size for this goes from 2012-13-present.
His positive impact on his teammates is undeniable
Every single player does worse away from Letang. Letang is consistent across the board hovering right around 55%.
One argument people try to use against Letang is that his job is easy because of Crosby and Malkin, but looking at this it appears he is the one making it easier on both of them.
Offensively Kris Letang has 16 points in the month of January. He has an assist on each of the Penguins last seven goals and now has 9 goals and 39 points on the year.
Letang has missed six games so far this season. Adjusting for a 76 game season Letang is on pace for a career high 18 goals (previous high of 11 in 2013-14) and 69 points which would top his previous career best of 50 points back in 2010-11.
If we are being honest a huge component of the Norris Trophy is offense related. Kris Letang is in great shape on that front moving forward. Despite playing in fewer games than most he is sniffing the league leader in points by a defenseman
For years Kris Letang was held down by playing with unskilled partners and a system that left him on an island. He has finally been given the proper tools/opportunity to shine and it looks like the 2014-15 season has a real possibility of him picking up his first ever Norris Trophy.
This is a guy who suffered a stroke one year ago and just recently was the victim of a dirty concussion causing hit, truly amazing stuff that he is able to play at this level
Whether he wins the award or not the Penguins have a gem in Letang.
Thanks for reading!
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