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Pierre-Olivier Joseph | D
Marcus Pettersson | D
Kris Letang
ON-ICE VALUE
First-Pairing Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Vision: Letang has been a sterling puck-moving defenseman for a long time. He sees the ice well, recognizing both his safe outlets and opportunities for stretch passes. In the offensive zone, he dishes the puck quickly and accurately. He’s also quite effective at slap-passing to teammates in the slot for deflections.
Skating: There are faster blueliners in the NHL, but not many possess his blend of pace and agility. He’s quick, elusive and confident above all else, single-handedly breaking the puck out or wheeling around the offensive zone as though he’s strolling through a park.
Shot: He’s accurate and smart with his bids. He understands how to buy time in order to open up lanes, and he does very well to take some steam off his shot to ensure that it gets through and is tippable. If he gets a clean look from the high slot, though, he can still rip it by goaltenders.
WEAKNESSES
Defense: He’s never been consistent on the defensive end. He’s a stingy rearguard at times and displays more grit than you might expect, but he sleepwalks through too many shifts to be considered a complete defenseman. Letang struggles with discipline as well, taking bad penalties when he’s frustrated or unwilling to keep up defensively.
Decision-making: Especially on the power play, Letang makes questionable choices. He tries to fit pucks into lanes that aren’t there or takes low-quality, unscreened shots. Sometimes, he simply takes too long to make a decision altogether.
