Penguins' Letang moving on from stroke: 'I want to make sure nobody is going to doubt me'

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang suffered through a string of health issues last season, most notably a stroke that kept him out of the lineup for 10 weeks. Letang enters training camp with a clean bill of health, and eager to prove that he remains a high-level player at his position.

"I think it's going to be a new start for me," Letang said Tuesday, as per the Post-Gazette. "I want to make sure nobody is going to doubt me, the job I'm going to be doing on the ice. I think basically I just want to prove myself to everyone that (the stroke) is part of the past and we're looking ahead."

With the departures of Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen over the summer – both of whom signed with the Washington Capitals as free agents – Letang is set to return to his post as the team's de facto leader on the blue line, justifying the eight-year, $58-million contract extension that kicks in this season.

From what he's said, his game will be well-suited to new head coach Mike Johnston's system. 

"We're going to be a puck possession team," he said, "so obviously it can suit my game better right away."

Letang, 27, recorded 11 goals and 11 assists while limited to 37 games last season, and will look to return to his 45-point-per-82-game average posted over the course of his career.