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Pittsburgh Penguins: 3 players who won’t be back next season

By Dustin Gardner

Jan 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) is congratulated by defenseman Kris Letang (58) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) is congratulated by defenseman Kris Letang (58) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) takes the ice against the New York Rangers during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) takes the ice against the New York Rangers during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Pittsburgh Penguins came up just short in game seven against the Rangers and now face a difficult offseason with players leaving. 

This may be the most difficult offseason the Penguins have faced in a decade. The team has several key players with expiring contracts including Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Kasperi Kapanen, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.

It will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh goes about re-signing players because they can’t keep everyone. Here’s who will most likely find a new team.

Penguins who won’t be back: Kris Letang

Kris Letang just finished his 16th season with the Penguins so it would be a difficult goodbye for the organization and the fans. Even so, Letang is a 35-year-old defensemen who will cost the team north of $7 million to retain annually.

Letang had one of his best seasons this year helping Pittsburgh to a third place finish in the Metropolitan Division. He had a career-high 68 points and maintained the highest plus minus of his 16-year tenure. The veteran defenseman will want to finish his career in Pittsburgh but not for a salary that is beneath his talent level.

The main concern for this team will be retaining their high powered offense. Four of the top six forwards will be free agents if the team does not pay them this summer. Letang will be the second priority for the Penguins, but they likely won’t have enough money after paying Malkin and Rakell.

The Penguins will rely on their young defenders to fill the void left by Letang next season. Marcus Pettersson and John Marino are both under the age of 27 and look to be flourishing into productive defenders at the NHL level. Look for one of them to slide into the first defensive pairing right away.

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