Penguins' Kris Letang Hits IR With Fractured Foot
The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be without one of their best players for at least a month, as defenceman Kris Letang fractured his foot and will miss at least four weeks.
The Penguins placed Letang on injured reserve on Saturday, as they look to win their sixth straight game, hosting the New York Rangers, who continue to scratch Artemi Panarin with trade talks heating up.
Letang, 38, has been hot of late and playing a ton, eating up over 21 minutes a game the previous two contests. He's been battling some injuries though, which has unfortunately been a common theme at the tail-end of Letang's career, as he missed time recently due to an upper-body injury.
Letang has appeared in 50 games so far this season for the Pens, scoring three times and adding 22 assists for 25 points. He's averaging just over 22 minutes a game throughout the regular season, and continues to produce for the Penguins in all situations.
The Penguins have placed defenseman Kris Letang on Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/sfct9G6PxQ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 31, 2026
The Penguins enter the weekend action with a 27-14-11 record, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, in what is a very log jammed Eastern Conference. Head coach Dan Muse knows the Penguins can't use Letang's absence as an excuse, and need to use the injury as opportunity for someone else on the depth chart to step up.
“I've said it before and will say it again -- injuries come up,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “It's the next-man-up and taking those minutes. It's an opportunity for guys."
