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 #32 in Penguins’ history.
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Thirteen players have worn #32, and it has been a mix of forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders. Forward Dave Hannan sported the number in the ’80s. Defenseman Peter Taglianetti wore it for the Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 1991 and 1992. Even goaltender Mathieu Garon donned it for four total appearances in 2009.
But the best Penguin to wear #32 was – perhaps – the best of the infamous “X-Generation” team, defenseman Dick Tarnstrom.
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Tarnstrom was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 11th round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He did not debut until 2001, and he was claimed off waivers by the Penguins in 2002. He was with Pittsburgh from 2002-06 as a key member of the bottom-feeder “X-Generation” team.
He only played five NHL seasons in total – as he intermittently played in the Swedish Elitserien League (SEL) during the lockout and sandwiched between NHL seasons in 2006-07 – but the beginning of his Pittsburgh career pre-lockout was pretty remarkable. In 2002-03, Tarnstrom registered seven goals and 41 points in 61 games, but it was the season after that turned heads.
Tarnstrom’s 16 goals and 52 points in 80 games led all Penguins’ skaters in scoring that year, which is the only time in franchise history that a defenseman has led the Penguins in scoring over an entire season. He even received some Norris Trophy votes that season.
He and defense partner Ric Jackman flourished together on the power play, and the “Ric and Dick Show” was some of the only positive hockey to watch in 2003-04 and into the season after the lockout. They played together until January 2006, when Tarnstrom requested a trade and was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers, who lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes that season.
Tarnstrom played one more season in the NHL in 2007-08 after playing a year for AIK in the SEL, starting with the Oilers and finishing with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Over the course of his brief NHL career, Tarnstrom recorded 35 goals and 140 points in 306 games.
Honorable Mentions: Dave Hannan, Peter Taglianetti
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