After 20 years in the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and alternate captain Kris Letang recently earned his 800th career point.

In 2005, Letang was drafted 62nd overall in the third round by the Penguins, and he made his NHL debut in 2006. In his 20 seasons with the Penguins, Letang has earned three Stanley Cups and holds every franchise record for his position.

Letang has been serving as an alternate captain since 2017 alongside captain Sidney Crosby and alternate captain Evgeni Malkin, the longest-tenured trio in North American major pro sports history.

In 2014, at 26, Letang suffered a stroke, which caused him to miss over two months. He had another stroke in 2022, which caused headaches and vision issues, but he returned after two weeks.

This season, Letang has played about 50 games and has picked up 28 points in total, three goals and 25 assists. For comparison, during the 2021-22 NHL season, Letang scored 10 goals and had 58 assists, for a career-best total of 68 points.

This year, Letang did not start the season well. He has faced health issues, and he also has committed a significant number of turnovers and defensive errors. When partnered with a steadier partner this season, like Brett Kulak, who was traded to Colorado, he played better.

Letang and new defensive partner Samuel Girard got off to a rocky start. But recently Letang has played better.

Being 38, Letang is one of the older players on the team, and his contract is up after the 2027-28 season. He will be 41 when the contract ends. It is undecided whether he will sign again, but the team might look for new talent.

With the playoffs nearing, Letang could play a big part in the team’s postseason success.