The Pittsburgh Penguins recently marched into Seattle to begin their road trip and came out with a victory as they usually struggle against the Kraken, but not this time. But the Penguins practiced recently on Tuesday as they arrived in Calgary ahead of their matchup against the Flames on Wednesday without a key player.
Kris Letang was announced to be missing practice and is now day-to-day with an upper-body injury. This news is unfortunate as the road trip continues into Canada as the Penguijns are already without other top defenseman Erik Karlsson due to injury. And with the Penguins recent injury luck, they absolutely cannot afford to have Letang out now.
Defenseman Kris Letang is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and did not practice today. pic.twitter.com/kq3AkE0IlY
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) January 20, 2026
The Penguins and head coach Dan Muse should hope that it is nothing but a minor injury and that maybe he could be ready to go for Wednesday's game. But if he were to miss a game or two with this injury, it would leave Parker Wotherspoon as the Penguins top defenseman.
Wotherspoon has not been bad defensively for as little money he is making on such a short-term contract, but Karlsson and Letang are the anchors of the defense. They are the veterans that have been playing for way longer and can absolutely carry the blueline with their individual capabilities.
But if Wotherspoon has to be forced into action as the 1A defenseman for the Penguins, he should be able to get it done. But ever since Karlsson has been out with his injury, Letang has looked like he did back in his prime and that is saying something about his recent play.
Letang has been a tough watch on the ice for the Penguins this year as it has looked like from time-to-time that he has lost a step and looks slow. But ever since Letang had to take over top defenseman duties not long ago, he has looked like a completely different player.
Letang has looked super responsible defensively and like he is tracking the puck well and that he can actually backcheck and get back on defense. He is not pinching way too much like he used to in the past and is actually playing smart hockey.
But if the Penguins were to be missing Letang for the Flames matchup and then the Oilers matchup on Thursday, the Penguins could be in for a world of hurt. They need to hope that is not the case and that he is ready to go on Wednesday.