The Pittsburgh Penguins most underrated addition this season has played a key role.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially surpassed the midpoint of the 2023-24 season. Much of the conversation concerning first-year Penguins has revolved around players like Erik Karlsson, Ryan Graves, and even Alex Nedeljkovic.
However, one player who has come in and played his role to perfection is Penguins' fourth-line center Noel Acciari. Acciari signed a three-year contract with the Penguins on the first day of free agency in July and immediately became a pivotal piece to the bottom six.
Acciari has won 54% of his face-offs this season, with most in the defensive zone. His consistency in that area has garnered the respect of Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, who has deployed Acciari and the fourth line in "weighty moments" in recent weeks.
Outside of his defensive contributions at 5v5, Acciari has been a key figure on the Penguins penalty kill. The penalty kill success rate dropped to 70.4% when Acciari missed time in December due to a lower-body injury. Since his return to the lineup, the Penguins penalty kill has an 87.5% success rate, which is sixth in the NHL during that span.
He leads all Penguins forwards in blocked shots (52) and the entire team in hits (66). Acciari's contributions are not always found on the scoresheet, but make no mistake, he is a massive piece to the Penguins' success this season.
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