The Pittsburgh Penguins organizational history has produced a wealth of great players, and we decided to go through the best Penguins players with each jersey number. Today we continue the list and name the best number 15 in Penguins history.
Many players in franchise history – 32, to be exact – have worn No. 16, but very few have stood out. In fact, most of the standout players in the last 20 years have played for the Penguins.
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 to 2015.
Then there was Jason Zucker – who we believe is the best Penguin for the number 16 spot.
© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Zucker was traded to the Penguins from the Minnesota Wild in 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown. Zucker, who scored 20 goals six times, is known for his offensive power, but his greatest contributions to the Penguins may have been his intangibles.
Zucker’s combination of skill, leadership and energy was hard to match. He was often the spark for the Penguins when they needed some life, and he could be found in the thick of things when things were happening on the ice – which endeared him to his teammates and made him a fan favorite:
After being plagued by injuries in his first few seasons in the Penguins jersey, Zucker found his rhythm in the 2022/23 season. He developed good chemistry with Evgeni Malkin and scored 27 goals and 48 points in 78 games, including five game-winning goals, like 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” comments during the Penguins’ post-win banter:
Zucker left the team as a free agent after the 2022-23 season and signed with the Arizona Coyotes. During his career with the Penguins, he scored 50 goals and 95 points and has scored 196 goals and 370 points in 697 career games.
He signed a one-year, $5 million contract to play for the Buffalo Sabres in the upcoming 2024–25 season.
Honorable Mentions: Gary McAdam, Erik Christensen, Brandon Sutter
Related: Best Penguins by Jersey Number: #15
Related: Best Penguins by Jersey Number: #14
Related: Best Penguins by Jersey Number: #13
