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New Penguins assistant Martin likes Letang’s vision, offensive skill

Pittsburgh Penguins v Boston Bruins - Game Four

in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on June 7, 2013 in Boston, United States.

Bruce Bennett

The prospect of working with a young defenseman like Kris Letang is an enticing one for Jacques Martin.

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Martin as the team’s new assistant coach, thus giving him an opportunity to soon work with the smooth-skating Letang.

Martin not only brings nearly 1,300 regular season games worth of experience as an NHL bench boss, but he is also one of the most reputable defensive minded coaches in the game.

This could be of benefit to the 26-year-old Letang, who already has great offensive instincts on the Penguins blue line, averaging more than a point per game during the 2013 regular season and playoffs, and is entering the prime of his career.

However, based on Martin’s comments, there are still parts of Letang’s game that need refining.

“From the outside, from coaching against him, there’s no doubt that he has tremendous vision, has tremendous offensive skill,” Martin told reporters.

“I think like many other young (defensemen) I think it’s moving without the puck, it’s improving, playing maybe more of a controlled game.

“I’m looking forward to that opportunity as well as the other great players on this team.”

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