2024-25 Penguins’ Lineup Project: Second pairing, left defenseman

Time to vote for who Kris Letang who should be skating alongside this fall.

The 2024-25 Pensburgh lineup project continues with a search for the next defensive partner for Kris Letang.

You voted in Marcus Pettersson as Erik Karlsson’s partner for next season, so it’s time to decide who will pair up with the Penguins’ longest-tenured blueliner.

Here’s a look at the reader-voted lineup so far, featuring a familiar top six forwards, a new-look bottom six and Pettersson and Karlsson as the first defense pairing.

Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Beauvillier - Kevin Hayes - Valtteri Puustinen
Blake Lizotte - Lars Eller - Noel Acciari
Jesse Puljujarvi

Marcus Pettersson / Erik Karlsson
LD2 / Kris Letang
LD3 / RD3
Depth defender

Goalie 1
Goalie 2

The Penguins could decide to run it back with a Ryan Graves-Letang pairing this fall. Letang spent about a third of the 2023-24 season skating alongside Graves at even strength (h/t Natural Stat Trick) and although the pair was at times left dangerously exposed on defense, the term and size of Graves’ contract might give the Penguins motivation to try him out again alongside Letang. Graves will need to have improved his speed and strength on the puck this offseason in order for this pairing to click better this fall.

Another option to join Letang is Matt Grzelcyk, the 30-year-old former Boston Bruin who signed a one-year deal with the Penguins this offseason. Grzelcyk said earlier this month that it would be a “huge privilege to get the opportunity to play with” either Karlsson or Letang, per DK Pittsburgh Sports’ Taylor Haase. The veteran blueliner could be a good match, as he has experience skating on the Bruins’ top pairing alongside Charlie McAvoy. He looked sharp in transition with playing in Boston and should be an asset on the rush for the Pens.

John Ludvig, Sebastian Aho and Ryan Shea could also be considered depth options down the left side. Ideally, it seems the Penguins would be slotting one of these players in on the bottom pairing, especially with both Graves and Grzelcyk on the roster. Ludvig and Shea played very limited minutes with Letang at 5v5 last season.

Now it’s time to get your vote. Who do you think should be skating alongside Letang in October?