The Pittsburgh Penguins’ organizational history has a plethora of great players, and we’ve decided to go through the best Penguins’ players to wear each jersey number. Today, we continue the list by naming the best #28 in Penguins’ history.
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Twenty-six players have worn #28, many of them defensemen. Gordie Roberts, Kjell Samuelsson, and Michael Roszival come to mind.
But best among them is someone who still dons the Penguins’ sweater. And that’s Marcus Pettersson.
© Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports
Pettersson was drafted 38th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He spent parts of two seasons in Anaheim before he was traded to the Penguins in 2018, which is when his game really started to blossom.
Known as a defensive defenseman, it took a few years for Pettersson to really find his game and come into his own. Although he was always capable of providing a bit of offense – he registered 19 and 22 points in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh – he emerged as an elite defensive defenseman during the 2022-23 season:
The Penguins’ 5v5 defense with Marcus Pettersson this season, and without him.
Kind of incredible he’s been able to put up such strong defensive results when every other PIT defender is at or below league-average. pic.twitter.com/BnAqwjYJ61
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) November 2, 2022
And since then, he’s been one of the league’s most underrated top-four defensemen. He excels in the defensive zone and one the defensive side of the puck in general, he performs masterful work on the penalty kill, and he set career highs in both goals (four) and points (30) in 2023-24.
He even scored a thrilling, no-look overtime goal against the Ottawa Senators last season:
Fans should expect his offensive production to continue to climb next season, especially if he continues to be deployed alongside top offensive defenseman Erik Karlsson. And there’s no reason to suggest that his defensive work will suddenly fade, either.
Pettersson, 28, is a pending unrestricted free agent in 2025. Up to this point in his career – and the majority of his 7-year career with Pittsburgh – he has registered 14 goals and 133 points in 444 games, and he figures to continue his stellar work with the Penguins in 2024-25.
Honorable Mentions: Gordie Roberts, Kjell Samuelsson, Michael Roszival
Related: Best Penguins by Jersey Number: #27
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