Kris Letang continues to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins defense through personal adversity.

Each of the NHL's 32 teams nominates one of their own for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to a player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The Pittsburgh Penguins nominee this season will undoubtedly be defenseman Kris Letang.

Letang's season began on the heels of a contract extension with the Penguins that ensures he will finish his career in a city he has called home since being drafted in 2005.

After a rocky start to the year, scoring one goal through 21 games, Letang's season turned on its' head after he suffered a stroke on November 28th. Fortunately, it was less severe than his first one in 2014, and he identified what was happening very early on. Letang returned to the ice just ten days later.

As if that wasn't enough adversity, the Penguins star defenseman suffered a lower-body injury in a late December game against the Detroit Red Wings. A few days later, Letang's father, Claude Fouquet, passed away in Montreal. 

To say that Letang has gone through the gauntlet away from the ice this season would be an understatement. However, he has come out on the other side of it to put together a masterful performance in the back half of this season, with his latest contribution being the pivotal overtime goal last night against the New York Rangers.

Letang has scored 15 points (7G / 8A) in 19 games since his return, including three overtime goals for the Penguins.

A 17-year NHL veteran, Kris Letang has exemplified more perseverance and dedication to his teammates, his family, and the sport of hockey than most of us will ever even know. He deserves the respect of the entire hockey world and the 2023 Masterton Trophy.

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