Kris Letang returned to practice just 10 days after suffering a stroke in December, but had to depart again less than a month later to spend time with his family after the death of his father, Claude Fouquet.
While facing those personal tragedies, Letang still anchored the Penguins for 64 games. He trailed only defense partner Brian Dumoulin and captain Sidney Crosby for the team lead in total ice time this season, despite missing 18 contests.
Although he played a crucial role in getting the Penguins within two points of the playoffs, Letang was never “able to get into a groove” in 2022-23, he told reporters after the Penguins’ season-ending 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Thursday.