Ever since the departure of former Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin, the team has been trying to find a suitable partner for top-pair defenseman Kris Letang.
Although the Penguins have only played four games, early returns suggest they may have finally found the right guy.
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Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk – signed to a one-year, $2.75 million free agent contract this summer – has been in sync with Letang on the Penguins top defensive pairing through the preseason and the first four games of the season.
“When you’re used to somebody for years, it’s going to be different,” Letang said. “I think every day, we’re getting used to each other, we’re getting better at reading each other, so it’s just going to improve. We’re similar players. We like to skate with the puck, we like to make the first pass, join the rush. That’s, kind of, both of our games, so I think that’s why it’s easy to read off each other.”
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And the results are showing on the ice as well. Along with everyone else, they had a rough start during the 6-0 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers – but they’ve largely been a positive. Between the two of them, they already have five points in four games, and with the help of center Evgeni Malkin, they combined for a goal on Monday against Montreal.
And it was a direct result of both defensemen jumping into the play and joining the rush:
For Letang, having a consistent defensive partner is something that has eluded him for the past several seasons, so building chemistry with one capable partner is something that should only help him play to his strengths.
Grzelcyk, 30, spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Boston Bruins. Formerly an analytics darling and after four straight seasons of 20-plus points, he had a down year in 2023-24, registering only two goals and 11 points in 63 games, which led to some time spent in the press box.
For him, playing with a seasoned and successful veteran like Letang has been a relatively easy transition and something that he has benefitted from.
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“Getting to play with Tanger for a couple of weeks now, he’s always talking to you between shifts, pointing little things out,” Grzelcyk said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. I’m just trying to learn from him, be a sponge around him. He has so much wisdom and experience, and I’ve had a ton of respect playing against him for so many years. To see it up close and how hard he works, how much he takes care of his body, is really impressive. Just trying to follow in his footsteps right now.”
There are still 78 regular season games to go. In a long season, a lot can happen, but the ultimate goal is still to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Penguins defense corps is something that has been a bit of a sore area for a few years now, so if Letang and Grzelcyk can keep up the body of work that they’ve displayed in the earlygoing, having a consistent, formidable top-four – adding in the pairing of Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson – is something that should help the team get there.
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