The verdict is in on Kris Letang's possible signing with the Montreal Canadiens

The Pittsburgh Penguins want Kris Letang back in the fold beyond next season. Signing the talented defenseman to a multi-year contract is the club's top priority according to what Rob Rossi of The Athletic reports.

Quite a development for those who saw him with the CH! Now we can probably forget about that idea. We can forget about Kris Letang in Montreal.

The Penguins' new owners, Fenway Sports Group, would like to secure both Letang and his compatriot Evgeni Malkin for the duration of their careers. The ultimate goal is to please captain Sidney Crosby so that he can finish his career in a Penguins uniform as well.

Crosby's call would have been heard (with reason).


Letang set career highs with 58 assists and 68 points this season. The 35-year-old has played his entire 16-year career with the Penguins, playing a central role in two of their three Stanley Cup championships during that time.

The Penguins' management group has repeatedly expressed their desire to re-sign Letang and Malkin. Both stars have also stated that they would like to stay. Crosby, meanwhile, is under contract through 2024-25. The trio has been together for Letang's 16 seasons, the longest sequence in NHL history.

In January, it was reported that Letang was seeking a significant pay raise for his next contract. The defenseman just finished an eight-year contract that paid him an average of $7.25 million.

Pittsburgh has approximately $23 million in cap space. The club's other pending UFAs include trade deadline acquisition Rickard Rakell, forward Evan Rodrigues and backup goalie Casey DeSmith. Kasperi Kapanen and Danton Heinen are the team's pending UFAs.

Nothing is official yet but it seems that many fans will have to forget their dream of seeing the defenseman join his former agent in Montreal!