Over the weekend, the Montreal Canadiens traded Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Mike Matheson and a 2023 fourth round pick.
This was a tough move for fellow blue liner Kris Letang, who admitted on Wednesday that he has struggled with losing his close friend to their hometown team.
Both Letang and Matheson are from Montreal, and earlier this summer prior to him signing a new contract extension with the Penguins, many expected that Letang could be the one joining the Canadiens.
However, the trade took place on Saturday, and Tanger lost his buddy Matheson.
“It’s really hard to see Mike go,” Letang said in French to RDS during a LSHL hockey tournament.
“He’s a good friend of mine, I know his background. In Florida, he didn’t have a good time. But he came to Pittsburgh, where we have an extraordinary coach for defensemen in Todd Reirden. He really took him under his wing and put him back to the player he should be, explosive with a lot of attack. I think his journey has been incredible. It hurts me, I won’t hide it. But I know at the same time that it’s life, it’s hockey.”
Letang was hesitant to admit that the Canadiens had pulled off quite a move by acquiring Matheson, but knows it will be a good new chapter for Matheson.
Despite keeping the core intact with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and him in Pittsburgh, we can understand how Letang is upset with the move and hoping the addition of Petry will be a good one for the Penguins.
As he says: it’s hockey.
