Penguins defenseman joins exclusive club after recording 700th career point
Pittsburgh Penguins star Kris Letang reached a massive career milestone on Saturday, recording point No. 700 to join an exclusive group of defensemen.
Letang is only the 10th defenseman in the history of the NHL to post 700 career points with one team. He joins a list of nine Hall of Famers, including Ray Bourque (1,506), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,142), Denis Potvin (1,052), Brian Leetch (981), Bobby Orr (88), Larry Robinson (883), Al MacInnis (822), Doug Wilson (779) and Borje Salming (768). Only Potvin (New York Islanders) and Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) played their entire careers with the same team.
The 36-year-old Letang is the 29th blue-liner to reach 700 points and only the third active defenseman with 700 or more points, along with Brent Burns (844) and Erik Karlsson, per Stathead. Letang tallied his record-setting point on an assist, setting up captain Sidney Crosby for a game-tying goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period.
Considering the road Letang has taken, the feat reached becomes even more impressive. Throughout his long career, Letang has broken bones and suffered a handful of concussions, which kept him off the ice for significant periods. He's had two strokes during his career, one in 2014 and another in 2022. Miraculously, Letang missed only four games last season and went on to win the Bill Masterton Trophy – given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Playing in his 18th season, the former 2005 third-round pick (62nd overall) has spent his entire career in a Penguins uniform, winning three Stanley Cups along the way. A six-time All-Star, Letang ranks among the Penguins all-time leaders in several categories, including games played (3rd, 1,021), assists (5th, 543), points (5th, 700) and game-winning goals (6th, 32).
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