Penguins Growing Frustrated with Kris Letang: Could a Split Happen?

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 9-4-2 start to the 2025-26 season feels like forever ago. After an opening month that generated hope for one more playoff run with the legendary trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, things have started to slip away.

---

A 5-5-7 record over the last 17 games has dropped the Penguins out of the playoff picture, and while they remain just one point back of the final wild-card spot, the situation is starting to feel all too familiar to the last three years for Pittsburgh fans.

Nobody truly expected this team to cruise back to the postseason and make a run, so the fact that they’ve come back down to earth isn’t all that surprising. That said, it’s not just that they’re losing—it’s the manner of the losses, constantly blowing leads and appearing slow and lifeless at times.

Because of that, frustrations are starting to boil over, and according to team reporter Josh Yohe, the Penguins are particularly concerned with Letang’s play, which has been, to put it lightly, inconsistent.

Yohe said:

“There is considerable concern about his performance throughout the organization. Here’s what I know. Letang isn’t going to be traded. For one, he has a full no-movement clause. For another, as I reported over the summer, he’s not particularly movable. Given his performance, his age (38), a health history that includes two strokes and the contract that still owes him $6.1 million annually for two more seasons, no one wants him… A buyout is equally unlikely. Because he was 35 when he signed his latest contract, the Penguins would get no salary cap relief if they bought it out. Kyle Dubas doesn’t like buyouts in general, either. Therefore, there’s no real point in buying him out,”

The 38-year-old Letang is in the fourth season of the six-year, $36.6 million extension he signed to stay in Pittsburgh back in 2022. He has 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 32 games played in 2025-26.

What Can the Penguins Do With Kris Letang?

If a trade and a buyout are both off the table, then what will Kyle Dubas and company do with arguably the greatest defenceman in franchise history?

Yohe also mentioned that Letang has no intention of retiring anytime soon, adding to an already difficult situation. That really leaves the team with two choices: ride it out and live with the mistakes and inconsistent play, or make things ugly and force him to accept a move elsewhere.

The former seems far more likely. However, if the Penguins continue to slide down the standings and fall further out of playoff contention, perhaps Letang will reconsider his stance on waiving his no-trade clause.

Of the big three, Letang has been the least vocal about spending his entire career in Pittsburgh. That said, it would take two to tango, and it’s hard to imagine many NHL teams being willing to take on his full contract anytime soon.

Next: Stuart Skinner Sounds Frustrated After “Super Weird” Oilers Rematch