Penguins’ Kris Letang Wins Masterton Trophy
The best defenseman in Pittsburgh Penguins history has more hardware to add to his shelf.
Kris Letang has become the third player it Pittsburgh Penguins history to be awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy for his level of perseverance and dedication to hockey.
To say the 2022-23 season was difficult on Letang would be putting it lightly, but even through numerous setbacks, he remained one of the Penguins best defensemen.
This was the second time in Letang’s career he was named a finalist for the Masterton and first victory.
In late November, the Penguins announced that Letang has suffered the second stroke of his playing career and that he would be out indefinitely.
Letang only missed five games and returned to the ice on December 10; eight games later he suffered a lower-body injury that would keep him on the shelf for the next 11 games.
While out with the injury, and just before the Penguins were set to take part in the 2023 Winter Classic, Letang’s father passed away.
In his first game back, Letang recorded a pair of goals and assists for his first four-point game since 2015.
Toward the end of the season, Letang laced up for his 1,000th game in the NHL.
Despite all of the obstacles, Letang played in 64 games and posted 41 points (12G-29A).
Letang joins Lowell MacDonals and Mario Lemieux as the only other two Penguins to win the Masterton Trophy.
Arizona Coyotes’ Clayton Keller and Chicago Blackhawks Alex Stalock were the other two finalists for the 2023 award.
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