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    Kelsey Surmacz
    Kelsey Surmacz
    Dec 27, 2024, 04:59

    Who is the best player in Penguins' history to wear #82?

    Who is the best player in Penguins' history to wear #82?

    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 #82 in Penguins' history.

    Only one player in franchise history has worn #82, and he scored some big-time goals for the Penguins during the late-1990s and early-2000s.

    The best and only #82 in Penguins history is Martin Straka.

    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AYj4WCna0M[/embed]

    Straka, a center, was drafted 19th overall by Pittsburgh in the 1992 NHL Draft. He played his first three NHL seasons with the Penguins - including a sophomore season with 30 goals and 64 points in 1993-94 - before being traded to the Ottawa Senators after a disappointing 1994-95 season with Pittsburgh.

    He played for the Senators, New York Islanders, and Florida Panthers before returning to the Penguins in 1997-98 on a free agent contract. And, from there, his NHL career found new life. 

    Over the next seven seasons with Pittsburgh, Straka registered 128 goals and 346 points in 403 games - including 19 game-winning goals in the regular season. He was widely regarded as a clutch player and knew how to come up big in big moments.

    But he scored some huge goals in the playoffs as well - including two overtime goals during the 2001 playoffs. And one of those was, arguably, one of the most memorable in franchise history - and that was the Game 6 series-clinching goal against the Washington Capitals to send the Penguins to the second round:

    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I4MAI-rdS4[/embed]

    Straka was traded to the Los Angeles Kings during the 2003-04 season, and he went on to play three NHL seasons with the New York Rangers after the 2004-05 lockout. Over the course of his NHL career, Straka recorded 257 goals and 717 points in 954 games.  

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