It might appear minimize and dry who the highest defenseman in Pittsburgh Penguins historical past is, however the gamers main as much as it have made a case for themselves. Whereas the Penguins’ franchise isn’t a gold mine of elite, long-term defenders, they’ve had some luxuries over their 56-year historical past.
Earlier than we go any additional, a few honorable mentions must be given. First, to Doug Bodger for being a top-10 choose by the Penguins the identical yr they drafted Mario Lemieux. Discuss a shadow to play in. Bodger began his 16-year profession in Pittsburgh after being the 9th general choose in 1984. He performed in 299 video games and scored 167 factors with the Penguins.
Associated: Penguins’ Finest & Worst Trades of the Decade
The second point out goes to Dick Tarnstrom. He wasn’t in Pittsburgh lengthy and solely performed 5 seasons within the NHL, however his 2003-04 yr with the Penguins can’t be forgotten. He led the dead-last Penguins in factors with 52, together with 16 targets, 12 of which got here on the facility play.
10: Brian Dumoulin
We begin with the youngest entrant on our listing. Previous to leaving the Penguins after his age-31 season, Brian Dumoulin created a resume that compares with a number of the franchise’s finest. A staple on the highest defensive unit, Dumoulin performed a number of the finest protection within the NHL. He was neglected by a number of the high-scoring, point-producing blueliners who’re taking up the place, however whenever you watched his recreation, you noticed how particular he was.
He’s not recognized for his scoring contact, however his means to play protection which is healthier than a lot of the league; he blocked greater than 100 photographs in a season 4 occasions, and exceeded 100 hits 4 occasions. His concentrate on protection makes him an ideal pairing for the offensive-minded Kris Letang.
Dumoulin turned a daily with the Penguins within the 2015-16 season, on their method to back-to-back Stanley Cups. When his time ends in Pittsburgh, he might transfer up just a few spots on a listing like this.
9: Zarley Zalapski
Not solely can his title get you 41 factors in a recreation of Scrabble, however he can carry your crew 135 factors in his first 190 profession NHL video games. Drafted fourth general by the Penguins in 1986, Zarley Zalapski made an instantaneous impression after becoming a member of the crew. He made the NHL’s All-Rookie Crew in 1988-89, the third Penguin to try this after Mario Lemieux and Warren Younger in 1985.
Whereas the crew was a juggernaut ready to occur, “ZZ Prime,” as they known as him, appeared like he could be a quintessential a part of it. He scored 135 factors in components of 4 seasons, and he left a fairly large stamp on the franchise when he obtained traded just a few seasons later in 1991, throughout a profession yr; in 66 video games he scored 12 targets and 48 factors.
Zalapski was a part of one of many greatest trades in franchise historical past. He, together with John Cullen and Jeff Parker, have been despatched to the Hartford Whalers for Grant Jennings, Ulf Samuelsson, and future Pens captain and Corridor of Famer Ron Francis.
8: Dave Burrows
The numbers for Dave Burrows might not be record-breaking, such is life as a defenseman, however what he excelled at was his skating and with the ability to play a stout defensive recreation. As a stay-at-home defenseman, he was the Penguins’ prime blue-liner for many of his time within the Metal Metropolis.
Burrows, often called “Bone Rack,” discovered pleasure in enjoying on protection and centered his recreation on his personal zone; he was arduous on puck carriers and a talented shot blocker. Whereas he could have completed in Pittsburgh as a minus-55, which could possibly be a aspect impact of enjoying on fairly awful groups, he was at all times a prime participant on the roster.
You might also like:
Chosen for the Penguins’ Corridor of Fame in 1996, his 1975-76 season with the membership was career-defining. He performed in all 80 video games, posting seven targets, 22 assists for a career-high 29 factors, and a career-high plus-26, one in all solely two occasions in his profession he was a plus participant. He has performed the 12th most video games in franchise historical past with 572.
7: Brooks Orpik
Being named after one of the crucial well-known coaches in hockey historical past has to place a weight on one’s shoulders, proper? Brooks Orpik, named after legend Herb Brooks, is one other defenseman who didn’t base his recreation on scoring. He performed a hard-nosed, gritty model and completed a season with over 250 hits 4 occasions, and over 100 hits within the postseason twice.
Associated: Penguins’ Title & Mascots Maintain Legacy in Pittsburgh
Exterior of laying large hits, Orpik was the Penguins’ finest defensive defenseman for eight seasons. When he left for the Washington Capitals after the 2013-14 season, he topped all Pittsburgh d-men in video games performed, with 703.
Orpik was an essential piece of the Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup victory, however his greatest second in Pittsburgh got here through the 2013 postseason when he scored the series-clinching aim towards the New York Islanders. The aim got here throughout extra time of Recreation 6 within the first spherical. It was his first aim that season, and first profession playoff aim.
6: Sergei Gonchar
The Penguins’ present assistant and defensive coach, Sergei Gonchar spent a handful of seasons in Pittsburgh as a participant. He wasn’t simply expert; he persistently produced on the highest pairing. In 322 video games with the Penguins he recorded 259 factors.
Gonchar was additionally extra than simply an on-ice risk. He turned a pacesetter off the ice, as nicely. Simply as Lemieux invited younger famous person Sidney Crosby to reside with him at the start of his profession, Gonchar opened his doorways to fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin. Gonchar rapidly turned a fan favourite in Pittsburgh and was an essential veteran presence through the Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup run.
On the age of 41, the Penguins gave Gonchar his final likelihood to crack an NHL lineup with an expert tryout contract in 2015. In 4 preseason video games, he scored a aim and an help, however was a minus-8, and did not make the crew. Instantly after that preseason, nevertheless, the Penguins signed him to be their defensemen growth coach.
5: Randy Carlyle
Positive, the one Penguin to win the Norris Trophy deserves a spot on this listing, nevertheless it’s not simply his 1980-81 season that places Randy Carlyle right here. Carlyle got here to Pittsburgh from the Toronto Maple Leafs in return for Burrows (talked about above) and straight away turn out to be among the finest gamers on the crew. Each full season he spent in black and gold, he led the crew in defensive factors.
Carlyle’s 1980-81 season was essential not just for him but additionally for the franchise. He gained his solely Norris Trophy and the franchise’s solely Norris to this point. In 76 video games, he put up 16 targets and 83 factors, and he beat out New York Islanders nice Denis Potvin for the award that yr.
The season after successful the Norris, Carlyle turned the sixth Penguins captain in franchise historical past. He wore the C for 3 seasons till he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in 1984, for his or her first-round draft choose that yr. The Penguins chosen honorable point out Bodger. In 397 video games in a Penguins uniform, Carlyle scored 323 of his 647 profession factors.
4: Larry Murphy
The primary Corridor of Famer to be talked about on this listing, Larry Murphy had a profession with 1,200-plus factors and 4 Stanley Cups, two of them with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. He performed 336 video games with the Penguins and recorded 301 factors, ranked fourth all-time amongst Penguins defensemen when he left in 1995.
Murphy was not only a proficient puck mover and scoring defender, but additionally among the finest defensive defensemen in Pittsburgh through the early to mid-’90s. He could not have been the fleetest of foot, however he performed each side of the puck higher than most defenders within the NHL on the time. His 85 factors through the 1992-93 season led the Penguins’ blue line, and ranked third within the NHL for defensemen. That was the season the Pens gained their solely Presidents’ Trophy.
It’s value noting that he’s the namesake of the “Murphy Dump.” Corridor of Fame announcer Mike Lange observed Murphy clear a puck in a different way than others by lofting it excessive above the ice and having it cease earlier than reaching the aim line, so it wasn’t known as for icing.
3: Ron Stackhouse
The unique nice Penguins defenseman, Ron Stackhouse was a puck mover who put up 4 30+-assist seasons in Pittsburgh. At 6-foot-3 inches, followers needed Stackhouse to be a bruiser, however he knew that he had the talent to be an offensive risk. That’s precisely what he did, placing up 60 factors in 1974-75 and 71 factors the next yr.
Associated: Pennsylvania Hockey – A Lengthy, Proud Historical past
Throughout the mid to late Seventies, the Penguins have been enhancing with a better win share and a number of playoff appearances, and Stackhouse was an enormous a part of that. It took the arrival of Carlyle to dethrone Stackhouse because the Penguins’ top-scoring defender yearly.
Throughout a March 8, 1975 recreation, Stackhouse tied an NHL document with six assists in a single recreation by a defenseman. He retired after the 1981-82 season because the Penguins’ all-time chief in targets, assists, and factors amongst defensemen. His 66 targets, 277 assists, and 343 factors nonetheless rank third in franchise historical past amongst d-men.
2: Paul Coffey
Arguably one of many best defensemen of all time, Paul Coffey set the usual for all future Penguins’ blueliners. When the Pittsburgh traded for the three-time Cup winner in 1987, the crew was starting to appear to be a critical contender. Regardless of being injured for a lot of the 1991 championship run, Coffey was an integral a part of bringing Pittsburgh its first Stanley Cup.
Throughout his ultimate full season with the Penguins, Coffey put up 93 factors in 73 video games through the common season to position third in defensive scoring. He trailed solely Al MacInnis and Ray Bourque who had 103 and 94 factors, respectively.
In 1989, Coffey virtually joined Carlyle on the listing of Penguins Norris Trophy winners. He completed second in voting behind the Montreal Canadiens’ Chris Chelios, regardless of placing up 40 extra factors. Throughout the 1988-89 season, Coffey was the one defenseman to attain greater than 80 factors with 113. Second amongst defensemen in scoring was the Los Angeles Kings’ Steve Duchesne with 75. Possibly it was Coffey’s minus-10 that damage his probabilities, however he wouldn’t have been the primary minus participant to win the award. When Carlyle gained it with the Penguins, he was a minus-16.
In his four-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, Coffey set each main statistical document for a defenseman; 108 targets, 332 assists, 440 factors. These numbers stood as Penguins data for nicely over 20 years till…
1: Kris Letang
Drafted in 2005, third-round choose Kris Letang set the usual for future generations of d-men. Possibly his longevity performs a job on this selection nevertheless it’s value noting that Letang is the longest-tenured Penguins defenseman, with components of 14 seasons beneath his belt, and two years remaining on his contract. His 808 video games rank fourth in Penguins historical past, no matter place.
What makes this all of the extra spectacular is the harm troubles Letang has gone via. Via neck points to concussions to a stroke in 2014, he has managed to stay an elite performer, (from ‘Why did 26-year-old Pittsburgh Penguin Kris Letang have a stroke?’ The Star, 02/07/2014).
Letang could also be one of the crucial criticized gamers on the Penguins, however that comes with the territory. Head coach Mike Sullivan is aware of Letang is a top-tier participant, so he earns top-tier minutes. Averaging 23:58 of ice-time per recreation, he’s a fixture on the crew’s full power, energy play, and penalty kill items.
Appropriately, Letang’s 742 profession factors rank 25th in NHL historical past for factors by a defenseman. He’s 37, so his finest seasons are behind him, however his numbers will proceed to develop, and his mark left on the Penguins’ group will develop with them.
Whereas the top-2 on this listing are nearly set in stone, the remaining eight are at all times up for dialogue and issues. The Penguins have had a skinny listing of all-star defensemen, however sufficient to boast some spectacular numbers and gamers.
