Injured Penguins defensman Kris Letang staying close during the team’s Cup run
CRANBERRY TWP. — Defenseman Kris Letang, whose been out of play due to surgery on a herniated disc in his neck in April, spoke Tuesday after the Penguins’ practice. He said that his recovery is going to plan.
“I’ve been starting to work out, doing a lot of things off the ice. Everything is good,” Letang said. “I wear my skates a couple times. I would say I have a couple more weeks before I have another appointment, and from there I think I’ll get cleared for everything.”
For Letang, itĢƵ been difficult to have to watch from the press box instead of playing during the Stanley Cup playoffs. HeĢƵ remained a passionate fan and active part of the team, even announcing the Penguins’ lineups in the locker room before each game.
“I think when I’m sitting in the box up there, the people next to me don’t really like me. I’m screaming,” Letang said.
In his time off, Letang has become an extra set of eyes for his teammates and the coaching staff, giving them advice after games based on what he sees from his vantage point.
“ItĢƵ a lot slower when you’re on top and you kind of realize things that you don’t really see at the ice level,” Letang said. “I think as a player I’m going to learn a lot, too, watching in a different situation. And itĢƵ easy now to go down and tell those guys, ‘Hey, this is open. You might not feel like it, but this is open.'”