Injured Penguins defensman Kris Letang staying close during the team’s Cup run
CRANBERRY TWP. 鈥� 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鈥� practice. He said that his recovery is going to plan.
鈥淚鈥檝e been starting to work out, doing a lot of things off the ice. Everything is good,鈥� Letang said. 鈥淚 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鈥檒l get cleared for everything.鈥�
For Letang, it鈥檚 been difficult to have to watch from the press box instead of playing during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He鈥檚 remained a passionate fan and active part of the team, even announcing the Penguins鈥� lineups in the locker room before each game.
鈥淚 think when I鈥檓 sitting in the box up there, the people next to me don鈥檛 really like me. I鈥檓 screaming,鈥� 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot slower when you鈥檙e on top and you kind of realize things that you don鈥檛 really see at the ice level,鈥� Letang said. 鈥淚 think as a player I鈥檓 going to learn a lot, too, watching in a different situation. And it鈥檚 easy now to go down and tell those guys, 鈥楬ey, this is open. You might not feel like it, but this is open.'鈥�