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07-05-2013, 03:17 PM
For defenseman Kris Letang (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8471724), there was no place he’d rather be than in Pittsburgh playing for the Penguins.

Letang, 26, is entering the final year of his contract and had been negotiating, along with his agent Kent Hughes, with Penguins general manager Ray Shero on an extension.

As the conversations progressed, Letang had only one thing on his mind.

“It was about getting a deal done with Pittsburgh,” said Letang. “I never looked at any other team or free agency or anything like that. It was settling on numbers and making sure I can spend the rest of my career in Pittsburgh.”

The numbers were settled and on Tuesday the Penguins and Letang agreed to terms on an eight-year, $58-million extension that will run through the 2021-22 season, essentially keeping Letang in a Penguins uniform until he is 35 years old.

“I’m really happy for my family. For me, it’s awesome to stay in a place like Pittsburgh where I can raise a family,” Letang said.

The Montreal native is entering the prime of his career. Last season, he was a finalist for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman, after scoring 38 points (5G-33A) in 35 games – the only blueliner in the league to average over a point per game.

But just because Letang has some comfort and security with his new deal, he isn’t going to be complacent.

“Every time I go back home for the summer I try to get stronger and more explosive. I’m trying to work on every area of my game, offensively and defensively,” he said. “I put a lot of time and work into that.”

Read more: http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=676425&navid=DL|PIT|home