ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A wrong was made right by the fans.
Kris Letang was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game, the league announced Friday, as part of its 'Last Men In' vote conducted online. He'll join Sidney Crosby as part of the Metropolitan Division team in the three-on-three tournament Jan. 26 at San Jose's SAP Center.
After the Penguins' morning skate here at the Honda Center, Letang expressed gratitude to those who voted:
Also, he's definitely participating. I double-checked.
"If my captain's going," he said with a smile, "I'm going."
In 41 games this season, Letang has 10 goals and 27 assists, ranking seventh among all NHL defensemen, and his average ice time of 26:05 ranks fourth. Those are part of what has him being discussed continent-wide as a candidate for the Norris Trophy, an award he's never won in his 13-year career.
The rest of the Metro team consists of the Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, the Blue Jackets' Cam Atkinson and Seth Jones, the Islanders' Mathew Barzal, the Flyers' Claude Giroux, the Devils' Taylor Hall, the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, and the Capitals' John Carlson and Braden Holtby. Alexander Ovechkin also was chosen from Washington but declined.
The other 'Last Men In' selections league-wide are the Sabres' Jeff Skinner, the Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog and the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl.
