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 #15 in Penguins’ history.
Many players in franchise history – 32, to be exact – have worn #16, but very few have stood out. In fact, most of the players who have stood out played for the Penguins within the last 20 years.
There was Erik Christensen – known for his shootout prowess and also the cousin of Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen – and Brandon Sutter, who was a solid third line center for the Penguins from 2013-15.
Then, there was Jason Zucker – who, by our measure, is the best Penguin to don #16.
© Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports
Zucker was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Penguins in 2020, not long before the COVID-19 lockdown. A six-time 20-goal scorer, Zucker is known for his ability to provide offense, but perhaps his biggest contributions to the Penguins were showcased through his intangibles.
Zucker’s combination of skill, leadership, and energy was hard to match. He was often the sparkplug for the Penguins when they needed some life, and you could find him right in the middle of everything transpiring on the ice – endearing him to teammates and making him a fan-favorite:
After being riddled with injuries for his first few seasons in a Penguins’ uniform, Zucker found his stride in 2022-23. He developed chemistry alongside Evgeni Malkin and registered 27 goals and 48 points in 78 games, including five game-winning goals, such as this one in overtime against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the annual Dads Trip:
And he was, perhaps, best-known for his “best of the year” remarks during the Penguins’ postgame victory shenanigans:
Zucker left in free agency after the 2022-23 season, signing with the Arizona Coyotes. Over the course of his Penguins’ career, he scored 50 goals and 95 points, and he has registered 196 goals and 370 points in 697 career games.
He signed a one-year, $5 million contract to play for the Buffalo Sabres during the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Honorable Mentions: Gary McAdam, Erik Christensen, Brandon Sutter
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