Penguins defensemen P.O Joseph, Kris Letang could be reunited

Before Tuesday, P.O Joseph’s most recent appearance in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup came in a 5-2 home loss to the Florida Panthers on Feb. 14 when he served as a seventh defenseman.

The team was dealing with some injuries and limited salary cap space limited it to dressing 11 forwards while deploying a septet of rearguards.

Joseph had an uneventful game, logging 11:43 of ice time on 13 shifts and attempting two shots, neither of which found the net.

A healthy scratch for each of the team’s next two games, he received a considerable promotion Monday when he was stationed on the left side of the top defensive pairing next to All-Star Kris Letang during a practice session in Cranberry.

That pairing represented a reunion of sorts, at least as much as active roommates can be reunited.

A four-year veteran, Joseph was occasionally teamed with the established Letang when the former was still a rookie on the occasions the Penguins’ incumbent defensemen were absent due to injuries or other factors.

Joseph has a firm idea of what is required to be Letang’s partner.

“Just following him, how quick he moves everything, how smart he is with and without the puck,” Joseph said. “I can be solid defensively and help him in our zone to get out and go play in the offensive zone. … I just (got) to make sure the puck goes out of our zone and I skate with him. Protect him and he protects me as well.”

Even before Joseph became a full-time member of the Penguins’ NHL roster, Letang has served as a mentor to the fellow Quebecois.

“We watch games together,” Joseph said. “When I watch my (video), he’s always there behind my shoulder to say a couple of things. He’s been around the league for so long that he knows and understands so much around the game. The little things that I might be asking myself why I did it or why I didn’t, he’s always there to have some answers.”

Entering Tuesday’s home game against the New York Islanders, Joseph had been limited to 22 games and three assists along with an average of 13:04 of ice time per game this season.

Those marks represent a considerable decline from his first full NHL season of 2022-23 in which he appeared in 75 games and posted 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) along with an average of 15:15 of ice time per contest.

Absences due to injury (12 games), illness (two) and healthy scratches (12) have been his most prolific statistic in 2023-24.

He understands the opportunity he has been provided with in potentially playing with Letang once again.

“I’ve got to show it first,” Joseph said. “I’ve got to prove to myself and to others that I deserve to be there. I’ve watched video a lot playing with him throughout the years. I know how big of a responsibility it can be. I just want to play my game and bring my game to him.”

What kind of game does Joseph need to bring to maximized this opportunity?

“He’s just got to play to his strengths,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “P.O is a real mobile guy. He gets back to pucks, he’s a really good puck mover. He can help us drive some offense, he joins the rush extremely well. He defends well with his stick. He’s got to bring the game that sets him up for success.

“When he does that, P.O is a very good defenseman.”

While Joseph has experienced a deficit of good this season, he has managed to keep his wings level through a somewhat turbulent campaign.

“It’s kind of hard to stay even throughout the hockey season or life in general,” Joseph said. “I can just work my butt off every day and just stay positive around these guys and just be happy. There are so many people that want to get here in our spot that I’ve just got to be grateful for having the chance to be here today.”