The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting an exciting, two-way player in Noel Acciari.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have missed Branden Tanev since his selection in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. His departure left a glaring hole in the Penguins' bottom six defensively and energetically. As a result, the Penguins have had one of the worst group of bottom six forwards over the past two seasons. 

Kyle Dubas aimed to correct that this offseason, bringing in reinforcements like Lars Eller and Matt Nieto to add defense, consistency, and leadership to a team desperate for depth contributions. What Eller and Nieto don't bring, however, is an unrelenting ruggedness. 

Enter Noel Acciari, a bruising forward with an underrated scoring touch. A defensively inclined player, he has three 10+ goal seasons and a 20 goal season to his resume. This past year he maintained his elite defensive play while also tallying 14 goals. He's a player that can provide offense at times, but he's more known for his play at the other end of the ice.

It's no surprise then, that he and Tanev are not only thought of similarly around the league, but are also friends. So, when Acciari's old pal told him how much he would enjoy Pittsburgh, it played a huge role in helping the Pens sign him to a three-year, $6 million contract this summer. 

And the Penguins need a player just like him. The reason why is simply put by Kyle Dubas: "He's going to be extremely physical every night."

Rugged Determination

That toughness is sorely needed for the Penguins as they hunt for a return to the playoffs. Acciari brings it every shift. In 77 games this past season, he was top 10 in hits, recording 244 body checks. 

But his ruggedness doesn't end there. It takes the form of him blocking shots or battling along the boards. It also takes shape in his tendency to stir the pot. Acciari is unafraid on the ice and isn't afraid to mix it up, regardless of who that requires him to face-off against. This past season, he tussled with the notoriously tough Matt Martin from the New York Islanders.

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

The results went anything but Acciari's way against a much stronger and tougher opponent. Still, his effort sends a clear message: he will not back down. He pushes back, shows some snarl and desperation, and leads by example. 

Know Your Role

In his introductory Penguins media availability, Acciari spoke at length about how important playing defense is and what it means to him. One quote that stuck out was when he said: "I take it personal getting scored on." 

It's a breath of fresh air to hear a player come in and not only know the role they were brought in to do, but to be enthusiastic about it. Acciari isn't saying that he'll do whatever is asked of him to help the team, which he certainly will do. Instead, he's clear that he's here to provide defensive and penalty killing stability and be a physical force on the ice. While the offensive contributions are a huge plus, he knows his role is focused on preventing the other team from scoring. It's something he's willingly accepted and is eager to excel at. 

"For me, it's blocking shots, making hits, getting out of the zone quick, and chipping in when you can at times."

The Penguins need more of that, and they finally received the reinforcements to do so with the signing of Acciari. 

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