OTTAWA -- Kris Letang lurched forward, eyes wide, and guffawed when he was told what a Penguins teammate had said about him 20 minutes earlier.

"He's the best [defenseman] now in the league," center Evgeni Malkin declared.

Letang, who along with Malkin and winger James Neal are representing the Penguins as All-Stars this weekend, wasn't ready to hear that.

But he was ready to acknowledge that, at 24, he has been able to develop his game a great deal since he was a third-round Penguins draft pick in 2005. He is a strong two-way defenseman and the power-play quarterback.

Letang trotted out a list of people who have been instrumental in his pro career, a list so long that if this had been an awards show rather than a large media event Friday, music would have started playing.

"I had great coaches," he said. "[Former Penguins coach] Michel Therrien helped me a lot, and Mike Yeo [now the Minnesota head coach]. I have [assistant] Todd Reirden, who works with me every day. We watch video every day together. [Coach] Dan Bylsma helps me a lot.

"[Former Penguins defenseman] Sergei Gonchar has been a great mentor to me. He talked to me pretty much every game while he was playing with us.

"It was just a question of learning. A defenseman sometimes take a little bit longer. But every day I stepped on the ice, I was learning. It's been a whole process of having those people around me."

Letang was named as a replacement All-Star player earlier this week. That's not a major surprise considering his talent.

The astounding part is that when the NHL named the bulk of the All-Stars, filling in after fans voted for the top six players, it was farfetched to think Letang would be able to participate this weekend, much less come roaring back from a concussion and play at an All-Star level leading into the exhibition.

He was out from Nov. 26, when he took a thundering hit from Montreal's Max Pacioretty, to Jan. 19. In four games since his return -- all wins, part of a seven-game streak -- Letang has two goals (one on a power play), four points and a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

That's just the paper version.

He has skated fast and strong and has been crisp moving the puck.

That's just the offensive version.

He has been physical and played well in his own end. Along with his 12 shots in those four games, he has six hits and six blocked shots.