Waffle Fries
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- Mar 7, 2013
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http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=759393&cmpid=pit-twt-penguinsWhen Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff was a late scratch in Saturday’s 3-1 victory against Arizona, Pittsburgh was forced to play with only five blueliners for an entire game.
So the team did what it has done all season – leaned heavily on Kris Letang.
Letang set a new season high with 31:09 minutes of ice time, chipped in with his career-high 43rd assist and helped the Pens snap a four-game losing streak.
In other words, it was just another game in the 2014-15 season for Letang.
The Pens coaching staff has relied on Letang all season, and with good reason. He’s not only been the team’s best defenseman, he may be the best defenseman in the entire National Hockey League.
Letang, 27, ranks second among all NHL defensemen with 54 points and tops all league blueliners with 43 helpers. He also ranks eighth in the NHL with 25:34 minutes played per game. Letang may find himself in Las Vegas this summer for the league’s annual awards as a Norris Trophy nominee as best NHL Defenseman.
With everything he’s done so far, it’s amazing to think that just over a year ago Letang suffered a stroke and his hockey future was clouded with uncertainty.
“I feel really good about this year, especially after last year with everything that happened,†Letang said. “All the work I put in this summer and the work the doctors did for me, it turned out that way. I was not expecting to have a year like that, but it all came together.â€
Due to Letang’s ability not only to return from the stroke, but to also become one of the most elite players at his position, he was nominated by the Pittsburgh Chapter of Professional Hockey Writers Association as the team’s Masterton Trophy nominee.
He's been a beast for us this year. Crazy to think he had a stroke a year ago.
