NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman Provides Grim Update Regarding Possible Kris Letang Trade
Many reports recently have revealed that the Penguins have placed Kris Letang on the trade block, but Elliotte Friedman has revealed it won't be easy trading him.
As the 2024-25 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins marches on, there are a host of key decisions for General Manager Kyle Dubas to make.
He needs to decide whether to retain a host of veteran players in pursuit of a playoff position or begin laying the foundations for a rebuild, which is starting to appear a likelihood.
That the team recently traded veteran forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals after a humiliating defeat against the Dallas Stars suggests Dubas is preparing the ground for a major shakeup.
If one insider is to be believed, every Penguin other than captain Sidney Crosby could end up on the trade block.
A number of players on the Penguins' roster are likely to attract attention from playoff-bound teams seeking to bolster their lineups.
Trading high-profile defenceman Kris Letang will be a little more complicated, however. Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, not only is Letang very central to the team but his rather large $6.1 million cap hit extends through the 2027-28 season, complicating his trade prospects.
But his history of injuries and ailments make trading for the 37-year-old a gamble. And, it is difficult to know exactly how it all works, but NHL contracts can be uninsurable for pre-existing conditions. That's a worry with him."
- Elliotte Friedman
This long-term commitment means any team acquiring Letang isn't getting a short-term rental, but rather a contract until he is 40 years old.
These facts put Dubas in an uncomfortable position because he has to weigh what is in the best interest of the team moving forward, however given hoor poorly Letang has been this season, it's going to be a hard ask.
Thus far, the Penguins haven't shown any consistent long-term recipe for success, and it seems like the status quo wouldn't keep them from making changes to their core.
If Dubas wants to be bold and tries to change the direction of the Penguins, it will be a massive shift in the organization.
If those moves don't pan out, Dubas himself could very well become the next target of scrutiny. But for now, though, the Penguins' GM finds himself at a fork in the road, and how he manages his way through this season could define the franchise for years to come.
