Kris Letang still feels right on the Penguins' blue line
In advance of the Penguins’ upcoming training camp, the Tribune-Review will look at the Penguins’ depth. Today, the right-handed defensemen:
A handful of days after his team’s 2020-21 season was ended by the New York Islanders in the playoffs, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang fielded a handful of questions about his and the team’s uncertain future.
“I still strongly believe in this core of players and that we can do great things,” Letang said. “Me, (Malkin) and Sid want to finish as Penguins. We truly believe in ourselves.”
Entering the final year of his contract, Letang offered plenty of reason to validate that belief last season. Appearing in 55 of a possible 56 games, Letang scored 45 points (seven goals, 38 assists), third most among defensemen in the NHL.
Buoyed by the return of assistant coach Todd Reirden (who oversees the defensemen), Letang had one of the best — and, not coincidentally, healthiest — seasons of his career as he turned 34 in April.
It remains to be seen how many more seasons he will have in Pittsburgh as contract talks between Letang’s camp and management have not progressed as quickly as hoped, but there’s little reason to believe the concerned parties won’t reach an agreement.
Until then, Letang, assuming he’s healthy, will remain one of the Penguins’ least replaceable players.
After breaking out as a rookie and claiming a role on the second pairing in 2019-20, John Marino was on the third pairing by the time the 2020-21 campaign ended.
That was partially because of the presence of Cody Ceci, who joined the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent this offseason. Ceci’s departure clears the way for Marino to reclaim his place on the second pairing and take a much-needed step forward as he enters the first year of a new contract with a salary cap hit of $4.4 million.
Marino doesn’t have blazing speed, a blistering slap shot or an abundance of physicality. But he seems capable of doing a little bit of everything well.
Perhaps the biggest question about Marino entering 2021-22 is who his defensive partner will be: Mike Matheson or Marcus Pettersson?
One of the biggest competitions in training camp will be between Mark Friedman and Chad Ruhwedel for a spot on the third pairing. A steady but unspectacular presence on the blue line, Ruhwedel could become a regular in the lineup for the first time in his half-decade with the Penguins.
Friedman flashed some skating, offensive touch and even a bit of toughness in a handful of games with the Penguins last season. A favorite of general manager Ron Hextall from their days with the Philadelphia Flyers, he, at worst, figures to be among the seven defensemen with whom the Penguins will open the campaign.
Left-handed Juuso Riikola occasionally has played the right side but to limited effectiveness.
Should injuries stretch the NHL depth thin on the right side, Taylor Fedun figures to be the first among recalls from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. A steady veteran presence at the AHL level, the 33-year-old Fedun figures to serve primarily as a mentor for prospects with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Prospect Will Reilly, a seventh-round pick in 2017, is a long shot to earn a recall this season.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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