Penguins poised for a decade of dominance
And as far as Letang is concerned, he was well on his way to making a run for the Norris last season before he was injured.
“He’s definitely got all the tools to be one of those guys,” Crosby said of Letang. “You look at a guy like (2011-12 Norris winner Erik) Karlsson and they look pretty similar out there, the way they skate and handle the puck. He’s right there, but we don’t want to put too much pressure on him.”
There is little doubt Letang and his game have matured in the past couple of seasons. Not only has Letang refined his play at both ends of the ice, he has developed into a reliable, minute-munching defenseman who can play in all situations. The reason he could top 25 minutes a game this season for the first time in his career is because the Penguins know they can rely on him to carry a heavy load and play the most difficult minutes, whether defending a lead or playing shorthanded.
“He’s strong and he has to be one of the best skaters in the league,” Shero said. “And he takes his defensive game seriously. He’s a guy, you watch him below the hashmarks, he’s a prick. And that’s good for us.”
