Mark Letestu Agrees to a Tryout with Florida

by
Former Writers
August 16, 2018

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Forward Mark Letestu agreed to a professional tryout with the Florida Panthers Tuesday

NHL training camp is fast approaching and players are looking to make their voice heard. Rookies attempt to make their presence felt and veterans show why they still have an iron grip on their roster spots. This is where the grind truly begins, and the Florida Panthers has a large pool of prospects and seasoned veterans to work with. However, a new player will be joining this band of brothers in an attempt to crack the roster. His name is Mark Letestu, and he and Dale Tallon agreed to a professional tryout on Tuesday.

Mark Letestu Career overview

The Forward from Alberta, Canada was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. However, he would not crack their lineup until the 2009 season where he would only play 10 games, registering one point. The following season, he played 64 games for the squad, putting up 27 points. The next season, he would have a new home. After playing 11 more games for the Pens, Letestu was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in hopes that he would find consistency. He would finish that season with 27 points, 26 of them with the Blue Jackets. In 2013, it seems he would get back on track, finished with 27 points in 46 games. The following season, he would play his first full NHL season, notching 34 points in 82 games. Although it may not have been a drastic improvement, Letestu’s future was looking bright. Unfortunately, in 2015, he would only play 54 games, notching 13 points.

The next year, Letestu would sign with Edmonton, where his career took new heights. He would play another full season and finish with 25 points. The following season, he would finish with a career-high 35 points. In 2017, Letestu would finally have the spark in the postseason. Although he finished that regular season with 19 points, he would streak on in the postseason with 11 points in 13 games. Unfortunately, the following season, he would be traded to the Nashville Predators, only to be traded back to Columbus.

Being in the league for nine seasons, Letestu could be a solid addition to the Florida Panthers. However, if he wants to make any squad, he needs to find consistency. With the potential of Florida’s prospects, Letestu needs to show that he still has what it takes to be an NHL forward.