Kris Letang Named a Finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has been named a finalist for the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, it was announced today by the NHL.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded each year to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) vote on the winner.

Letang was previously selected as the Penguins' Masterton nominee by the local Pittsburgh media in 2014, '15 and '18, and was named one of the NHL's finalists when he was the runner up to Devan Dubnyk in 2015.

The 2023 NHL Awards will be held on June 26 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and will be televised on TNT, Sportsnet and TVA Sports at 8:00 PM ET.

Letang, the Penguins' all-time leader in every major category among defensemen in the regular season and playoffs, played in his 17th season with the team in 2022-23. On November 28, the 36-year old suffered a stroke, the second of his career after initially suffering from a stroke in January 2014. The defenseman missed just five games before returning to game action on December 10.

Just eight games later, Letang suffered a lower-body injury and while sidelined, he received news that his father, Claude Fouquet, passed away in Montreal. The alternate captain missed the next 11 games due to his injury and his father's passing, and returned to the lineup on January 24. In his return game, Letang recorded four points (2G-2A) for the first time since 2015 (5A on Jan. 27, 2015 vs. WPG), including the overtime winner assisted by long-time teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

In the 29 games Letang played leading up to his return on January 24, the defenseman recorded two goals, 14 assists and 16 points. Following his second injury stint, he recorded 10 goals, 15 assists and 25 points in 35 games.

Letang led all Penguins defensemen in goals (12), assists (29) and points (41), while leading the entire team in time-on-ice per game (24:51). This marked the 10th season in his 17-year career that Letang has led the Penguins in points by a defenseman. This season, Letang became the third active defenseman to record nine career 10-goal seasons, as well as the fourth to tally 10 40-point seasons.

The defenseman skated in his 1,000th career game on April 2, becoming the first defenseman and third player in franchise history to skate in 1,000 career games with the team. Letang's 686 points through his first 1,000 games were the 19th most among all defensemen in NHL history to reach the milestone, while his 595 wins through his first 1,000 games are the most among any active player who played his first 1,000 games with one team.