Instant Reaction: Letang agrees to extension with Pens

The Pittsburgh Penguins and defenseman Kris Letang have agreed to terms on a six-year, $36.6 million contract extension. Ron Hextall on Letang "We are thrilled to make him a Penguin for life." This contract ensures Letang will be play his entire NHL career with the Penguins. A former 3rd round pick in 2005 (62nd overall), Letang has played in over 900 NHL games and has amassed 650 points over his career. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

On the surface, one may look at the total years and roll your eyes. That is understandable as this contract will take him into his 40s. However, that total money is a bargain with an AAV of only $6.1 million per year. The Penguins were willing to give Letang the extra years if he was willing to accept less money per year. He might've been able to get a higher AAV on the open market, however, it seemed to be a priority for both the Pens and Letang to have him play his entire career in Pittsburgh. It is also not easy to find his skillset on the open market. During the 2021-22 season, Letang had 10 goals and 58 assists across 78 games. Yes, there are times when he drives us Yinzers crazy with his play, but there is no denying he is a generational talent and is a piece that wouldn't be easy to replace. Yes, the Pens need to get younger. Yes, the Pens have had four straight first round exits. Both are concerns moving forward. However, signing Letang was a must for the Pens. There is not a viable replacement on the open market. If there was a viable replacement, it would've also costed a lot more per year to acquire. Oh, and I am sure Sidney Crosby wouldn't have been too thrilled to find out Letang signed elsewhere.

This is good news for Sidney Crosby. Scratch that, GREAT news. It should also be great news for Pens fans. Crosby has three years remaining on his current contract. The goal should be to keep Crosby happy and to also have him play his entire career in Pittsburgh. Crosby hasn't committed to playing beyond his current contract, however, Letang signing for this long only increases the chances Sid will want to stick around for a couple more years after his current contract expires.

Now we wait to see what happens with Evgeni Malkin. Will it be a same situation as Letang, where he sacrifices AAV for additional years? It's depressing to think about the trio of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin coming to its final chapter. So many fantastic moments. Three Stanley Cups. Will they be able to muster up one final run at a Cup together before they hang up the skates? Crosby and Letang have been given the opportunity to make another Cup run together, and time will tell if Malkin will be joining on the adventure as well.