Kris Letang - NHL Awards - June 27th, 2023

None

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Yeah, Alex better than me.It would have been better than me on
on stage too. Put her theworks, special, the lights for it.
It's but I mean it's it's specialfor my family, to be honest.
It's uh, like I've said onstage, it's no word that you

(00:24):
don't you're not able to get ifyou don't have the people around you,
you know, starting my wife,Um, you know, family friends.
Obviously a great group of teammates Ihave in Pittsburgh for for so many,
so many years, UM coaches,um strength coach. So yeah, it's

(00:46):
it's a special night for for allof them because they all have you know
a little part of this. Youknow, how do you think they hated
pretty good? Obviously the Entourage thing. They never never watched it, so
at you know, get get himup to date. He's too too young,

(01:07):
so um, but you know itwas it was pretty cool to have
somebody that it was close to meand close to my kids and family.
Um, you know, you know, uh, he always been fun to
have at home. You know,he brings a obviously he's a young kid,
and he brings a different energy anduh, you know, everybody in
the family loves to hanging around him, so, UM, it was fun

(01:30):
to see him out there because heput into words what this season up and
down obviously, UM, emotionally itwas really hard. Um at some times,
you know, you don't you know, the mine wasn't there, and
uh, you don't want to youknow, you don't want to come to
the rank and you know kind ofshow those emotions because you know that your

(01:56):
teammates are there. They have ajob to do. UM. You know,
I think what they did for mein Montreal, um to come down
and um, you know, bepart of of of the funeral role and
being there for me and my family, UM kind of like triggered something in

(02:16):
me. And uh, that's atthe point where my wife said, you
should you should actually go back togo back to the rink and you know,
change your mind and UM, tryto you know, forget about what
happened in the last few months andand try to try to get back on
track and you know the guys willbe there for you. And UM,

(02:38):
I think that's where it all started. Last year at the draft, you
indicated you'd you'd like play till fortytwo forty three. I assume that that
buyer, that dedication to do thatstill there and here lots of different work
in off the ice to get tothat goal. Yeah, well it's it's
the same since I've been back fromthe end of the year. UM,
I obviously took the time with thewith the family and try to clear my

(03:00):
head. But at the same time, UM, you know, I still
prepare. I still prepare like it'severy other year, and UM, you
know, I just want to getback at it and um make sure we
have a strong season. And obviouslyon the hockey note, we were all
disappointed last year and we want towe want to come back stronger and and

(03:23):
have a great year, and Iwant to be a big part of it
too. Personal is that healing processgoing for you? Everything you did go
through you know, physically, howare you moving forward? Uh? I
mean we're aware of everything on thehealth side, so obviously we know what
to expect and uh there's there's certainthings we will do eventually that UM probably

(03:49):
going to help. And as faras mentally with everything that happened in my
family, UM, it's something youcan really put the de side. It's
something that it's already always going tobe, but you have to be able
to uh navigate through life with thatand you know, keep your focus on
the things you have to do.And that's what I've I've been doing obviously

(04:12):
with with the alp of everything oreverybody that surrounds me, just us to
be able to take Alex. Imean, the older he gets, and
I feel like the more he realizeskind of like what is that like that
he was a dad to be ableto share these kinds of nights with him,
particularly, I mean I think it'sthat's the ayelut of the night,
just him chasing every other hockey player. Uh he almost uh he almost requested

(04:39):
uh Connor McDavid zolograph in the bathroom. So but that's that's what it's all
about, to be honest. Iyou know, all Star game or awards,
that's you know, that's is night. You know. He he watches
every single game and he sees allthose uh those stars on on TV and
he wants to meet them, andyou know, um, obviously I have

(05:01):
the chance to be able to makeit happen for him. So you know,
I think that's the eyelight overnight.You know, because your team is
on prime jerseys in the past,no team's gonna wear them this year's form
ups. I'm just wondering what youthink about what kind of decision. But
uh, I mean it's such atouchy subject, you know. UM,

(05:24):
you know I you know I everythingum, that has happened, uh this
year in the league with those jerseys. UM, you know I I thought
it was you know, I thoughtit was tough to see that some guys
didn't. UM. I understand sometimeswhy they didn't. But UM, to

(05:47):
me, it's it doesn't mean,it doesn't mean that you're fully supporting or
not supporting. It's just you know, to make or support accessible to everybody.
So UM, but I do understandthat in some other places in the
world or UM, it can bea problem and I can really judge or

(06:13):
say anything about what happened. AndUM, I kind of understand why the
league is taking this approach now tonot cause any drama or anything bigger than
it should be. Thanks. We'lltake questions in French now, Thank you. Thank