Alex Letang, the 7-year-old son of Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, is already thinking about what number he will wear when he plays for Pittsburgh.
"I want to be 58," Alex said, referring to his dad's number. "But if my dad is still playing, I'll be 87."
Letang seemed to wince at the idea of being in the NHL in 11 years when Alex would be ready to play. But just in case he was still playing, the 32-year-old told his son, "we'll have to tell Sid to retire."
Then he caught himself.
"Don't say that. We need him."
Letang was meeting the media Friday because he was unable to get to St. Louis for All-Star Game Media Day on Thursday. But it was Alex who got most of the attention, even answering questions intended for his dad.
This All-Star Game is the sixth for Kris and second for Alex, but the trip to St. Louis is a boys' trip with Letang's wife and baby daughter staying home.
"My mom didn't want to come with my baby sister because she would scream," Alex said. "And I really wanted to go, so my mom said to go."
