According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi, the Penguins do not plan on trading defenseman Kris Letang prior the trade deadline, though he has an 8-year contract exension kicking in this summer (with his cap hit doubling from $3.5 million to $7.25 million, per Capgeek), because, well...Letang is ill:

Kris Letang's mystery illness is not believed life threatening, but the Penguins are not sure when he will play again this season, multiple sources told the Tribune-Review.

The team planned to update Letang's condition Friday.

There were concerns last week that Letang's season — if not his career — could be in jeopardy because of the illness, the sources said.

Letang, a defenseman, has not taken the ice since Jan. 30, when he practiced but did not play at Los Angeles. He will not play against the New York Rangers at Consol Energy Center on Friday — the Penguins' final game before the NHL's Olympic break.

“There will be no update on Kris Letang until we have further update on his condition,” coach Dan Bylsma said Thursday.

Rossi continues at length, and this quip is important to fans of all 30 teams: