Penguins reporter tags “#Leafs” teasing Kris Letang news

Uh…

Kris Letang, as we all know, is a primarily offensive RIGHT shooting defenceman that plays big minutes in a non-shutdown role.

There’s an update at midnight Eastern, and with TLN HQ being based on the West Coast, we’ll have plenty of time to update with serious news.

So check back… then I guess. We’ll see if we’re close to Defcon Letang.

UPDATE: Rob Rossi was just on TSN 1050…

Letang is apparently curious about his future in Pittsburgh, and if the Penguins can’t commit to him, they make look to trade him. Toronto has apparently emerged as a “preferred landing spot”. Rossi did stress that there have been no discussions between the two sides, but the asking price is apparently a roster player, a 1st round pick, and another roster player or a top prospect.

“The Penguins would only move him if they thought he could make a significant return.”

“His preference right now is to work something out with the Penguins.”

“He is at least considering where he wants to be.”

Letang is a UFA next summer, but has no leverage right now in determining a landing spot for 2013-14, if the Penguins wanted to move him sooner than later.

So, that’s the meat. Not a lot of substance on that bone, especially when it comes to a trade. BASICALLY, Rossi guaranteed himself a few dozen pageviews at midnight by invoking the Leafs. If Toronto is a “preferred destination” than that’s purely coming from Letang, and his opinion doesn’t matter a whole heck of a lot until next summer.

Here is Rob Rossi’s actual column. Basically, the same things he said on the radio. I’m very underwhelmed by the SEO.

To be clear, the Leafs and the Penguins are NOT talking trade, ergo there is NO price set, ergo the Leafs are NOT weighing trading Nik Kulemin or James Reimer. Furthermore, since any decision to let a quality defenceman like Letang go would be salary cap-related, the Penguins would NOT be interested in Dion Phaneuf and being in the same situation with him.