The Montreal Canadiens are reaching the end of their rebuild, and one trade proposal would see the team acquire three-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Kris Letang from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive reported that conversations were underway to move Letang to Montreal. Following the revelation, the website PuckPedia has introduced a new tool called PuckGM, which allows users to create their own transactions. One user offered a transaction in which the Canadiens would acquire Letang from the Penguins.
Canadiens get:
- Kris Letang
- Valtteri Puustinen
Penguins get:
- Josh Anderson
- Jordan Harris
- 2025 second-round pick
Letang is the major player in the planned trade. The defenceman is entering the third year of a six-year, $36.6 million contract. Letang would immediately strengthen the Canadiens’ defense while also having the opportunity to play for his hometown team.
The defenseman also brings much-needed experienced leadership and Stanley Cup-winning experience to Montreal’s roster, having won three in his career.
Valterri Puustinen, meanwhile, has played in 53 NHL games, scoring 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points. The 25-year-old is more of an AHL player.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh would have to take on Josh Anderson’s salary in order to make the money work for trading Letang. Anderson has three years left on his seven-year, $38.5 million contract. Anderson scored 9 goals and 11 assists for a total of 20 points in 78 games for Montreal last season.
Jordan Harris and the 2025 second-round selection are the most significant components of the Penguins’ package. Harris, a 24-year-old defenseman with 131 NHL games, could fill Letang’s role on the Penguins defense while also making Pittsburgh’s roster younger, which is a goal.
Insider Links Letang to Canadiens
Letang to Montreal gained traction earlier in August, when Madden reported that Pittsburgh was discussing trade the defenseman to the Canadiens.
“I heard there were negotiations about bringing Letang to Montreal at his request, but nothing came of it. So I’m not sure where this is going,” Madden stated on the Madden Monday podcast on August 5.
Letang scored 10 goals and 41 assists in 82 games last season, totaling 51 points. Despite playing in every game, he had an injury that hampered his performance.
Penguins GM Wants to Get Younger
Pittsburgh failed to make the playoffs last season, and Penguins GM Kyle Dubas says he wants to make the squad younger.
Although Dubas wants Pittsburgh to remain competitive and push for a playoff spot, the general manager says the goal is to strike a balance between being competitive and being youthful.
“You’re trying to thread that needle, and when there are players who have that success in that marketplace anything you do that isn’t seen as doing everything for them, it can be seen as a slight,” Dubas told me.
“I understood that going in, and it’s part of the job. Some of these will require difficult judgments that do not align with what the public, local groups, or even hockey fans believe is the greatest approach to handle all of those who have achieved success with the team. However, you must always keep the Pittsburgh Penguins’ long-term interests in mind.”
Pittsburgh’s 2024-25 NHL season will begin on October 9 at home against the New York Rangers.
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