Kris Letang remembers best friend Luc Bourdon, 5 years after his death
“When you crack him and get close to him he’s really friendly,” said Letang. “He’s a jokester and likes to have fun. But when you don’t… I think Downie wasn’t his favorite guy.”
Many scouts had their eyes on Bourdon heading into the 2005 NHL Draft, which in the end benefited Letang.
“I knew he was going to be picked really high. The reason I got drafted that high (62nd overall) is all the scouts were coming to see him in Val D’or and I had some exposure there,” Letang joked.
Even as they took the next step in their hockey careers — with Bourdon drafted to the Canucks (10th overall) and Letang selected by the Penguins — the two stayed in contact, checking up on the each other often.
“We texted every day,” Letang said. “That’s what was fun. He could watch my game and I could watch his game because of the different time zones. We always kept in touch. We knew we were going to train in the summer and skate together.”
Both made their NHL debuts during the 2006-07 season, but only spent a short time up in The Show before going back to junior. The following season, Letang earned a full-spot spot with the Penguins and would eventually play in his first of two straight Cup Finals later that spring.
