Top 10 Defensemen in Pittsburgh Penguins History

By Amanda Sklarek

Top 10 Defensemen in Pittsburgh Penguins History

Pittsburgh Penguins alumni — The Pittsburgh Penguins have had their fair share of talented defensemen over the years. Here are the top 10 defensemen to ever suit up in Pittsburgh.

10. Kevin Hatcher

Kevin Hatcher

10. Kevin Hatcher

Pittsburgh Penguins — Hatcher defended the Penguins for three full seasons. During those seasons, Hatcher scored 49 goals and accumulated 99 assists.

9. Kris Letang

Kris Letang

9. Kris Letang

Pittsburgh Penguins — Letang has been plagued by injuries and even a stroke, but when he is healthy, he is unstoppable. It might seem premature to put Letang on this list, but he has accomplished a considerable amount with the Penguins already. The 2013 Norris Trophy finalist is a skilled offensive defenseman. He has a career high of 50 points with the Penguins and is a three-time NHL All-Star.

8. Phil Bourque

Phil Bourque

8. Phil Bourque

Pittsburgh Penguins — Bourque spent six full seasons on the Penguins' blue line and assisted them to Stanley Cup victory in 1991 and 1992. Bourque was a versatile player who knew how to score.

7. Ron Stackhouse

Ron Stackhouse

7. Ron Stackhouse

Pittsburgh Penguins — Stackhouse really shined as a defenseman when he joined the Penguins. The NHL All-Star scored a career-high of 70 points while he was with the Penguins and was one of the most prominent players on the team in the 1970s.

6. Sergei Gonchar

Sergei Gonchar

6. Sergei Gonchar

Pittsburgh Penguins — One of the Penguins' most beloved blueliners played in Pittsburgh from 2005 to 2010. During Gonchar's best year with the Penguins, he scored 13 goals and posted 54 assists. Gonchar won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009 and is one of the most intelligent defenseman the Penguins have ever signed.

5. Dave Burrows

Dave Burrows

5. Dave Burrows

Pittsburgh Penguins — Not only is Burrows one of the greatest defenseman to ever play for the Penguins, but he is also one of the greatest players to ever put on a Penguins uniform. Burrows played with the Penguins from 1971 to 1978. He was then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but eventually rejoined the Penguins in 1980 to retire. Burrows was a solid defenseman and NHL All-Star.

4. Ulf Samuelsson

Ulf Samuelsson

4. Ulf Samuelsson

Pittsburgh Penguins — Samuelsson might have a reputation for being one of the dirtiest players to ever lace up in the NHL, but he was still a brilliant defenseman nonetheless. Samuelsson won the Stanley Cup two times with the Penguins and even scored the 1991 Stanley Cup-winning goal.

3. Randy Carlyle

Randy Carlyle

3. Randy Carlyle

Pittsburgh Penguins — Carlyle remains the only Penguin to ever win the Norris Trophy. He spent five full seasons with the Penguins and reached triple digits in points three years in a row.

2. Larry Murphy

Larry Murphy

2. Larry Murphy

Pittsburgh Penguins — Murphy played 336 games with the Penguins and generated 78 goals and accumulated 223 assists. Murphy is another defenseman on this list who was with the Penguins when they won the Stanley Cup.

1. Paul Coffey

Paul Coffey

1. Paul Coffey

Pittsburgh Penguins — The second-highest points producing defenseman in the NHL played four seasons with the Penguins. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, Coffey set numerous records. Coffey was known for his speed and being defensively sound.

Amanda Sklarek is a Pittsburgh Penguins/NHL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandabukowski, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.

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