Earlier this week, Pittsburgh radio host Mark Madden stirred up talks among fans during his appearance on the Breakfast with Benz podcast.
Madden claimed that Kris Letang had requested a trade, stating,
"I heard there were discussions to try and bring Letang to Montreal at his request, but nothing came of it."Mark Madden
The quote can be heard at the 16:50 mark of the episode.
Surprisingly, this rumor hasn’t got more attention, and given Madden's reputation, it’s hard to believe he would share such information without some basis in truth. Either way it raises an important question:
Would trading Letang make sense for the Penguins?
Most fans would consider trading Letang to be blasphemous and downright foolish, but some might agree that the time for such a move could be now.
This is the simple yet often repeated truth.
The Penguins have not won a playoff series since 2018 and have missed the playoffs in the last two seasons. This isn’t breaking news, but despite the trades Penguins GM Kyle Dubas made this week to strengthen the team's draft stock, the need for more prospects remains.
While I'm not suggesting that Montreal is the ideal trade destination, I do believe it would be wise for the Penguins to explore all options when it comes to trading Letang, especially if he requested it.
Reading between the pipes
Maybe this trade rumor explains why Sidney Crosby has been reluctant in signing an extension.
Not much has been done to bring in players who fit their top six, and trading Jake Guentzel has forced them to lean on Drew O'Connor in his place. If what Madden says is true, Crosby has surely heard about Letang's request. It's just bad optics.
As we head into the season, there are many questions surrounding Crosby's contract discussions, and now there’s this rumor about Letang wanting out. Even if nothing materialized from this trade talk, it’s unsettling to enter the 2024-25 season with so many uncertainties.
The Penguins are at a crossroads, and how they navigate these challenges will define not just this season but the future of the franchise.