Here's Letang's primary goal for this season

A lot of hockey players are reluctant to divulge their statistical objectives for the season.

Not Penguins defenseman Kris Letang.

Maybe because the numbers he has in mind has nothing to do with goals or assists.

Not directly, anyway.

“My only goal is to play 82 games, or close to 82,” he said before the team’s annual pre-training camp golf outing at Allegheny Country Club today.

“It would be great. That’s my main goal. I just want to try to help the team all year long, not just part of it.”

Letang has endured a series of serious physical issues, including a stroke and concussions, in recent years, and has dressed for 82 games just once in eight-plus seasons with the Penguins.

Having him be healthy and productive this season will be particular important now that veterans Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff have departed via free agency.

Letang said he feels “really good” and believes that it’s imperative he manage his playing time more effectively in 2015-16. That doesn’t mean reducing his ice time, just using it more wisely.

“Managing my ice a little bit more is going to be important,” he said. “I cannot be all-out like I do all the time.”

“I don’t want to change my game. I want to be the same guy who is aggressive. I want to finish checks and be a guy who’s tough to play against.

“I’m not going to change anything. I’m just going to manage it better.”

SUBHEAD

The Penguins will have just three days of training-camp drills before opening their eight-game preseason schedule at Columbus Monday.

While players these days generally report to camp in excellent condition, center Nick Bonino noted that it’s difficult to prepare for the physical rigors of games against other teams [as opposed to camp scrimmages].

“That’s the one thing it’s very tough to [simulate] during the summer,” he said. “It definitely adds a little bit of fatigue on you, when you’re getting hit and when you’re playing in the corners and using your body.

“That’s probably what we’ll use these [first three days of camp for] the most, then see what happens Monday.”

SUBHEAD

Center Matt Cullen, signed as a free agent this summer, will be playing for his eighth NHL club when he pulls on a Penguins sweater.

He’s had enough experience at changing teams that he appreciates the challenges of setting in with a new club, on and off the ice.

“There’s a lot that goes into it, as far as getting settled into a new place,” he said. “Getting comfortable with the team is probably the biggest thing, just getting comfortable where you fit within in team and in a locker room of 20 guys.

“It’s important that guys come together quickly. The season starts and things start happening awfully fast. You don’t have a lot of time to come together as a team in October and November.

“It has to happen quick. You have to get on the same page in a hurry.”