Penguins Update: Letang Wins the Masterton

I was most pleased when Kris Letang garnered the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy at the NHL awards ceremony last night. Making him the third Penguin to win the award, along with Lowell MacDonald in 1973 and Mario Lemieux in ’93.

Not that his co-finalists weren’t deserving, too. Arizona’s star forward, Clayton Keller, recovered from a femur broken in two places to register an 86-point season. Chicago goalie Alex Stalock rebounded from Covid-induced heart issues that sidelined him for the better part of two seasons to resume his career.

But with all due respect to his fellow nominees, for me Letang was the clear choice.

The quicksilver defenseman has overcome so much in his career, from his first (and more serious) stroke in 2014 to a herniated disk in his neck that required surgery in 2017, forcing him to miss our Cup run that spring.

Last season the adversity that almost seems to be Tanger’s constant companion intensified. He suffered his second stroke on November 28, yet remarkably was back in the lineup (and logging a typically robust 22:14 of ice time) only 12 days later.

Let that sink in for a moment.

I honestly can’t think of any other athlete in any other sport who would’ve made it back so quickly. Shades of Mario returning to the lineup the day after his last radiation treatment in ’93…and going on to capture the scoring title. Truly the stuff of legends.

Turns out, Letang’s struggles were just beginning. In rapid succession, he suffered a broken foot in late December before receiving the crushing news that his father, Claude Fouquet, had passed away.

Again, Tanger made a triumphal return, scoring a pair of goals, including a dramatic OT winner, and four points to lead the Pens to a wild 7-6 victory over Florida on January 24. Finishing with a flourish, he tallied 10 goals and 25 points over his final 35 games, five points during our last four games when we were battling for our playoff lives.

After we were eliminated from postseason competition, he and Jason Zucker were reported to be the most upset.

At age 36, the fire still burns.

However, when Kris was called up on stage last night, I was struck by how sweet, humble and self-effacing he seems. Teammate Pierre-Olivier Joseph, a fellow French-Canadian, shared how Letang eased his transition to the NHL and took care of him. A side of the sport we don’t often see and all-too-often overlook.

The human side.

Simply put, we’re lucky to have Tanger.

Who was Bill Masterton?

I was a fledgling 10-year-old fan the night Bill Masterton struck his head on the ice, leading to his death a short time later. I remember feeling shocked and saddened. After all, our sports heroes weren’t supposed to die young, certainly not while playing.

Recently, I decided to learn more about him, so I began to delve into his career.

A Winnipeg native, Masterton was a sturdy 6’0” 185-pound center of some promise, especially early in his career. He starred for three seasons at the University of Denver, piling up a staggering 196 points in 89 games. In 1961, he led the Pioneers to the national collegiate championship.

Property of the Canadiens, he spent the next two seasons toiling in the Montreal farm system. In ‘62-63, he racked up 27 goals and 82 points in 72 games for the AHL Cleveland Barons, the Habs’ top farm team. Despite his strong season, the Canadiens boasted plenty of center depth with legendary Jean Beliveau, Ralph Backstrom and Henri Richard. Opportunities for advancement were scarce, especially in the days of the six-team NHL. So Masterton retired from professional hockey at the age of 25.

He took a position at Honeywell, but continued to play semi-pro and amateur hockey. Skating for the U.S. National Team in ’66-67, he piled up 10 goals and 39 points in only 23 games.

With the NHL welcoming six new teams for the ’67-68 campaign, Masterton was courted by Minnesota coach Wren Blair. Coaxed into making a comeback, the 29-year-old rookie scored the very first goal in North Stars history. Settling into a support role, he tallied a modest four goals and 12 points in 38 games, but could always be counted on for an honest effort.

Then tragedy struck on the night of January 13, 1968. After colliding with Oakland Seals defensemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris, Masterton’s head twisted violently before he fell backward and struck the ice. Like nearly all players of his day, he didn’t wear a helmet.

The swelling in his brain was so rapid, there was little doctors could do. Two days later, Masterton was taken off life support, leaving behind a wife and two small children.

An unspeakable tragedy.

According to an article by ESPN, it’s believed Masterton suffered a previous head injury against Boston two weeks earlier that may have contributed to his death. He’d complained of migraines during the interim, a likely sign of a concussion.

In a bittersweet irony, Masterton tallied a career-best three assists in his next-to-last game, a 6-4 victory over the Flyers.

Foligno on the Move

In a move designed to surround soon-to-be Blackhawk wunderkind Connor Bedard with a supporting cast, Chicago acquired veteran forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno from Boston yesterday. Reminiscent of when the Pens signed Mark Recchi and John LeClair to play with Sidney Crosby back in 2005.

I’ve always admired and coveted Foligno. The 6’0” 210-pound left wing reminds me very much of former Pen power forward Gary Roberts in terms of playing style and impact. Like “Scary Gary,” the former Blue Jackets captain brooks no indiscretions against his teammates.

I’d give my eye teeth to have a guy like that. Ironically, Kyle Dubas…then GM of the Maple Leafs…acquired Foligno at 2021 trade deadline.

At age 35 (soon to be 36), the former King Clancy and Messier Award winner probably isn’t who we need at this stage of his career. But I’d dearly love to have a player of his ilk.