The Curious Case of Kris Letang

[nossagog]

So my player to criticize so far this season is Kris Letang.  Honestly, I understand that he is coming off of a knee injury early, but so far this season its his head that I'm more worried about.  It a defensive zone setup, he's "okay", but all anyone has to do is put pressure on him with the forecheck, and he's lost.   Last night blunder leading to the Leaf's fourth goal is a perfect example.  All he has to do is make a 10 foot pass to the supporting forward and the puck is out of the zone.   Instead, he tries to skate around the forecheck, loses the puck, and its in the net.  Some had complained on the play that the Pens forwards were also to blame, no way.  He had three choices with a single forechecker. Play it to the forward, reverse the puck to the other side, or try to skate it past the forecheck.  Only one had danger of creating a direct scoring chance, and he chose it.  He also let Fleury out to dry on the third goal that Fleury coughed up.  But that's partially Letangs fault, he watched it happen from 10 feet away.

 

His play on the PP has been so bad that he lost his spot on the number one unit to Paul Martin until he got hurt.  Letang wasn't happy, but neither was the coaching staff with his play.   With Depres being called back up because of Martin's injury, I'd rather see him or Matta on the PP instead of Letang.

 

I'm so frustrated with Letang, and pleased with Matta, let's talk trade value. Honestly, long term, would it be worth while for the Pens to get rid of Letang now, and use his money elsewhere?  Next year the Pens will still have under contract on defense:

Martin, Scuderi, Matta, Bortozzo

Make a qualifying offer to Despres, have to with his talent.

Give Nisky a modest raise, give Engelland a modest raise.

All can be done under the current salary cap, with still players like Samuelson. Doumilin and Pollet in the minors for callup.

 

Letang is getting $7.25M/year.   Just think what that could bring in a true scoring winger for Crosby.  I'd be okay with leaving Kunitz on the top line, but a true scoring winger. Heck, could you draw someone like Thomas Vanek for about $7M to play with Crosby and the Pens?  Think of this as a top six:

Vanek-Crosby-Kunitz

Neal-Malkin-Bennet

Dupuis-Sutter-Megna

 

On Defense:

Martin-Nisky

Matta-Scuderi

Despres-Bort/Engelland

(heck they can probably even bring back Orpik for slightly less money at this point)

 

Really, this is doable. With what I've seen from Despres and Matta, we will still be in good hands offensively on the back end. Matta is only going to get better.

We'd be back to three lines that had the capability to score goals again.

 

For our Philly Friends, ignoring the hatred for anything Penguins, what would you be willing to give up for Kris Letang?

[brelic]

For our Philly Friends, ignoring the hatred for anything Penguins, what would you be willing to give up for Kris Letang?

Streit and Simmonds or Hartnell.

I'm pretty sure Shero would never accept that, but looking at it strictly from a Flyers GM point of view, that would make sense. Letang makes Streit expendable, and is a bonafide Timonen replacement. Streit helps the Pens offset the loss of Letang, and Simmonds / Hartnell gives you a solid 3rd line (on your team) winger with sandpaper.

Flyers are not trading their 1st rounder for this year (draft is in Philly), and I figure the loss of Simmonds / Hartnell gets temporarily replaced by a guy like Raffl or McGinn this season, and Laughton next season.

Let's do it!

[nossagog]

Streit and Simmonds or Hartnell.

I'm pretty sure Shero would never accept that, but looking at it strictly from a Flyers GM point of view, that would make sense. Letang makes Streit expendable, and is a bonafide Timonen replacement. Streit helps the Pens offset the loss of Letang, and Simmonds / Hartnell gives you a solid 3rd line (on your team) winger with sandpaper.

Flyers are not trading their 1st rounder for this year (draft is in Philly), and I figure the loss of Simmonds / Hartnell gets temporarily replaced by a guy like Raffl or McGinn this season, and Laughton next season.

Let's do it!

 

I see your standpoint, but from a Pens standpoint, in the end I want to have a scoring winger.   Streit would not do, being over 35 and still at $5M,  he'd eat the  $$$'s for that scoring winger, plus I've already enough defense.    Simmonds or Hartnell don't quite fit the bill as we have the same type players in Kunitz and Dupuis, mid level wings in the $3M - $4M range.    Maybe if Lacavlier were involved I'd start to thing about it, but I don't think he'd be up to playing on a wing so that would probably be a no go(although I'd like our PP better).  Probably from Philly, I'd look prospects/picks, or maybe someone like Couturier as a part of a deal.

[flyercanuck]

@nossagog

 

Polaris and I have butted heads over Letang for a couple years. I think he's fairly average in his own end (I'm being generous) Polaris thinks he's pretty good,,,until playoffs, then after the Pens get knocked out he agrees with me. Until the next regular season. The guy is obviously very talented. But I prefer my defencemen to be able to play D (Never wanted Streit). And Pittsburgh would want the farm for him. And I can't see that new contract working out unless Hartnell and Streit went the other way.

[nossagog]

His talent has never been the issue, it the decision making.  He's becoming a turnover machine in the neutral zone, which is the worst when you depend on him to enter the zone.

[jammer2]

@nossagog  I believe the Pens would ask for Vorachek in return for Letang. Don't think Philly would do it, but that is the range of player they would be asking for. Hartnell would not cut the mustard. Maybe an Edmonton trade with Eberle involved would do the trick. With the wicked depth the Pens have on defense, I really think your barking up the right tree, turning Letang into a star forward makes perfect sense. The Pens will claim this year is a blip on an otherwise all star career. The problems this year will hurt his trade value a bit, but looking at his whole career, he's worth quite a lot. If anyone can get this done, it's Shero.

[flyercanuck]

@nossagog

 

Hows Maatta been defensively? I know he can play with the puck well but he had some problems last year without it. Smart player though.

 

 

And you bastards still have Harrington in your stable as well.

[B21]

In an interview on local talk radio last week, he admitted his knee is still bothering him...not as an excuse but maybe a reason.  It's not something rest will heal; he just needs to play through it.   I'm not worried about our winger playing D....yet.

[Polaris922]

@nossagog

@B21

@Flyercanuck

 

 

 

I'll more than grant you Letang hasn't been himself this season.  Since his return, he's rarely shown the skating finesse he usually displays, and I think it's forcing him to pass the puck more than usual.  He's making bad passes, particularly right inside the offensive zone right at the blue line.  Tonight he did exactly that three times, one resulting in a goal for the Isles.  

 

The team wins more with him in the lineup than any other player.  I know it doesn't sound right, but it's fact.  Maybe once his knee settles in he'll be back to himself.  I'll readily agree with you and flyercanuck that right now his defense is sorely lacking.  His offense is starting to catch on, but wow... is he struggling.  

Edited December 4, 2013 by Polaris922