Mark Letestu: Human Yo-Yo

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 11, 2010 8:00 AM EST in Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects

Every penny counts under the salary cap for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but you have to wonder if Mark Letestu is breaking the budget for the hired cars they use to make the trips.

Still, Letestu probably gets 'trooper of the year' for his attitude about the current situation he's in, as he said to Jonathan Bombulie of the Wilkes-Barre Citizen's Voice:

"I'll take it. Anyway to get up," he said. "If this is the way it's gotta be for the next 10 years of my life, I don't care. I'll do it. It's great to be up. But it wears. I don't think I've had a real practice in two weeks now. I'm just finding different ways to get ready for games."

If you're not keeping track at home, here's what his wire log of transactions looks like this season. Of course, a possible demotion might come today, but with Maxime Talbot seemingly shut-down through the Olympic break, Letestu might be right back in Pittsburgh in time for Friday night's game against the Nashville Predators.

10-Feb-10	Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
08-Feb-10	Assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
05-Feb-10	Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
02-Feb-10	Assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
30-Jan-10	Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
08-Dec-09	Assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
05-Dec-09	Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
17-Nov-09	Assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
14-Nov-09	Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

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I wonder how much the Pens could really save by sending him down for 1 day. Its not like Letestu’s breaking the bank to begin with. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happend though. I wonder if he says hes going back to Wilkesbarre and just hangs in a hotel in Pittsburgh. He knows hes going to be back up for the next game. Probably not allowed to do that but i feel bad for the kid. The Pens seemed to really like him, but just cant afford to keep him up.
On other topic I like the third line with Letestu centering it rather than Craig Adams. There just doesn’t seem to be that offensive threat with them when Adams is playing center. Besides that Letestu is a lot better than Adams.

by genomachine-O on Feb 11, 2010 8:11 AM EST reply actions

I like Staal centering that line even better. Some people liked the Malkin-Staal combo, but I don’t personally, as it weakens one or both of their strengths, not to mention the ultimate strength of the team, our depth down the middle.

by ipenguin67 on Feb 11, 2010 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

Yea but I would rather have a good second line and an average third, than a weak second line and a good third. Malkin on Staals wing isn’t a permanent thing, but its better to try it out now than late in the season.

by genomachine-O on Feb 11, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I’m gonna disagree. I think our strength isn’t hurt when Staal is w/ Malkin, I think its a combination of great scoring ability and shut-down defense. We can put our second line up against the best opposing line, and still get positive points out of the game. And then we have our 1st line still that (with Kunitz’s return) now has been revitalized and roaring towards the break.

I REALLY like Lets on the 3rd line, I think he and TK are dangerous because of their speed and offensive touch, and Cookie is a monster on the boards (no pun intended).

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." - George Washington

by Hockey Beard in SLC on Feb 11, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

By my rudimentary count, Letestu’s $500k NHL salary counts about $2,600 per day against the salary cap, which is broken out and counted every day from Oct-Apr during the regular season.

Doesn’t sound like much (Crosby and Malkin take up approx. $45,000 per day by my count) but I guess it’s just one of those things were every dollar counts and saving now could make a difference when it comes to giving Shero a little more wiggle room atthe trading deadline.

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"I'm glad I got drafted first, because no one remembers number two." -- Alexandre Daigle

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 11, 2010 3:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

[E]very dollar counts and saving now could make a difference when it comes to giving Shero a little more wiggle room atthe trading deadline.

Exactly, it gives Shero more options the more money we can save. Nickel and Dime’ing it FTW!

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." - George Washington

by Hockey Beard in SLC on Feb 11, 2010 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

I sometimes wonder why they don’t just put him up in a hotel across the street or something. It makes little sense to send him all the way back to WBS just to call him up again in a day or two.

And I can totally relate with his comment in that one article. The ride on the TPK is just about as mind-numbing as can be. If I wasn’t the one driving all the time I’d definitely be reading, sleeping or playing a game as well.

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by FrankD on Feb 11, 2010 9:01 AM EST reply actions