Kris Letang to Rejoin Penguins in ‘Next Day or So’

The Pittsburgh Penguins will get a little help on their beleaguered blue line when top defenseman Kris Letang rejoins the team shortly.

The Penguins have played the last couple of games without Letang, Jeff Petry, and Marcus Pettersson. Only Pettersson will play Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks, but Letang won’t be far behind.

According to coach Mike Sullivan, Letang will rejoin the team “within the next day or so.”

Letang last appeared in uniform during the Penguins’ Dec. 28 OT loss to the Detroit Red Wings. He suffered a lower-body injury which was initially termed day-to-day.

A couple of days later, Letang’s father, Claude Fouquet, passed away suddenly. Letang was not expected to play in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Jan. 2, and he left the team to be with family in Montreal.

The team placed him on the non-roster list.

Kris Letang Family

On Jan. 10, rather than fly home after a game against the Arizona Coyotes in Tempe, AZ, the Penguins flew to Montreal to be with Letang and family for Fouquet’s funeral.

Letang, 35, has endured a turbulent 2022-23 season. He suffered a stroke in November but returned after only two weeks. On the ice, his production is down with only 16 points (2-14-16) in 29 games. Letang is also a minus-12.

The Penguins host the Anaheim Ducks Monday at PPG Paints Arena. They will practice in Pittsburgh on Tuesday before traveling to Ottawa for a game Wednesday.