New article about Kris Letang from Penguins and the #LetangForNorris campaign!
Michelle Crechiolo for Pensinsidescoop highlighted all the great points of that prove that Kris is more than deserving of a nomination for Norris Trophy (and to win it !). Kris is an amazing defenseman, a great teammate, and humble player to his fans. I agree with all of Michelle’s points and found her article to show a great perspective on Kris’ talent and how his teammates and coaches view him.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“I think he made such a big improvement over the years,” Gonchar said. “I think people kind of still think about him as an offensive guy, not recognizing that he worked on it hard and he became a better player. I think it’s what was missing about him. I think people are not realizing he made a step and he became better.”
It was important to Letang that he became a guy who could play every kind of minute – particularly the ones against other team’s top lines. To do that, he needed to hone certain details of his game – which is part of the reason he stays on the ice so long after practice (more on that below).
“Good gap, gauging speed, having a good stick, it’s all kinds of things you work on in practice,” he said. “I try to be physical, too.”
Letang then started to laugh.
“I have the chance to work with ‘Geno’ and ‘Sid,’” he pointed out. “They’re coming at me every practice so I can work on different things against those guys. Having to face those guys helps a lot.”
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On the ice, Letang rarely takes a day off and is usually one of the last guys off following morning skate or practice. With the minutes he logs and his status on the team as a veteran and core leader, Letang could probably skip every session and no one would blame him. If anyone deserves rest and recovery, it’s him.
But Letang said that isn’t going to happen. Instead, he’ll continue to stay out there and keep honing the details of his game.
“That’s how I am,” Letang said. “To change that would be putting doubts in my mind and stuff like that. I’d rather keep increasing those things and push myself as hard as I can.”
