Penguins' High Defensive Pairing Hits Floor Operating To Begin Season

Ever for the reason that departure of former Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin, the crew has been looking for an appropriate companion for top-pair defenseman Kris Letang.

Though the Penguins have solely performed 4 video games, early returns recommend they could have lastly discovered the proper man.

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Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk – signed to a one-year, $2.75 million free agent contract this summer season – has been in sync with Letang on the Penguins prime defensive pairing by way of the preseason and the primary 4 video games of the season.

“Whenever you’re used to any person for years, it is going to be totally different,” Letang stated. “I feel every single day, we’re getting used to one another, we’re getting higher at studying one another, so it is simply going to enhance. We’re comparable gamers. We wish to skate with the puck, we wish to make the primary cross, be a part of the push. That is, sort of, each of our video games, so I feel that is why it is easy to learn off one another.”

Related: Bottom-Six Comes Through As Penguins Defeat Canadiens, 6-3

And the outcomes are displaying on the ice as effectively. Together with everybody else, they’d a rough start during the 6-0 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers – however they’ve largely been a constructive. Between the 2 of them, they have already got 5 factors in 4 video games, and with the assistance of middle Evgeni Malkin, they mixed for a purpose on Monday towards Montreal.

And it was a direct results of each defensemen leaping into the play and becoming a member of the push:

For Letang, having a constant defensive companion is one thing that has eluded him for the previous a number of seasons, so constructing chemistry with one succesful companion is one thing that ought to solely assist him play to his strengths.

Grzelcyk, 30, spent the primary eight seasons of his NHL profession with the Boston Bruins. Previously an analytics darling and after 4 straight seasons of 20-plus factors, he had a down yr in 2023-24, registering solely two goals and 11 points in 63 games, which led to a while spent within the press field.

For him, taking part in with a seasoned and profitable veteran like Letang has been a comparatively straightforward transition and one thing that he has benefitted from.

Related: New Penguins’ Defensive Pairing Finding Chemistry In Camp

“Attending to play with Tanger for a few weeks now, he is at all times speaking to you between shifts, pointing little issues out,” Grzelcyk stated. “I can not say sufficient good issues about him. I am simply attempting to study from him, be a sponge round him. He has a lot knowledge and expertise, and I’ve had a ton of respect taking part in towards him for thus a few years. To see it up shut and the way onerous he works, how a lot he takes care of his physique, is basically spectacular. Simply attempting to comply with in his footsteps proper now.”

There are nonetheless 78 common season video games to go. In a protracted season, lots can occur, however the final purpose remains to be to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins protection corps is one thing that has been a little bit of a sore space for a couple of years now, so if Letang and Grzelcyk can sustain the physique of labor that they’ve displayed within the earlygoing, having a constant, formidable top-four – including within the pairing of Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson – is one thing that ought to assist the crew get there.

Related: Penguins: Inside The Crosby, Malkin, & Letang Connection

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