Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman P.O. Joseph's Gold Medal brings an impressive rookie season to an end.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were the oldest team in the NHL last season. They've been trending in that direction for several years due to the lack of young talent in their prospect pipeline. However, PO Joseph was an oasis of youth in the Penguins' desert of veterans in 2022-23.

The Penguins' young defenseman finished his rookie season over the weekend with a Gold Medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championships for Team Canada. Joseph concluded the tournament with one goal and a +6 rating.

In October, Joseph made the Penguins NHL roster out of training camp for the first time. He followed that show of faith by scoring 21 points (5G - 16A) in 75 games for the Penguins and proved his metal at the top level. Joseph was pinballed around the Penguins' blue line, playing on every pairing due to injuries and inconsistencies throughout the season.

While his spot in the lineup changed, the Penguins coaching staff ensured he was propped up throughout the year, often starting his shifts in the offensive zone. According to Natural Stat Trick, Joseph began 55.39% of his shifts in the offensive zone, which was second among the Penguin's defensemen.

The 23-year-old blueliner did struggle at points during the season, hitting the proverbial "rookie wall." His overall numbers and performance showed promise. Joseph finished among the top ten on the Penguins in shot attempts percentage (53.41%) and scoring chance percentage (53.44%).

Joseph may not be a top-pairing defenseman after his rookie season, but his progression throughout the year proved he is far from reaching his potential ceiling.

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