Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is enjoying a breakout performance en route to the Stanley Cup Final, but which Pittsburgh Penguin had a similar run back in 2009? The Pittsburgh Penguins had one of the most log-jammed defense cores in recent history last season. They entered the season with ten NHL-caliber defensemen on the roster and added to that as the season progressed. Despite that, the defense finished 21st in the NHL in expected goals allowed per 60 minutes, according to moneypuck.com. Quantity did not give way to quality on the blue line. Marcus Pettersson emerged as one of the few defensemen to succeed in 2022-23. Regardless of where he was in the lineup or who he played with, Pettersson was the most consistent defensive force on the roster. The lack of an undoubted top defenseman on the left side of the ice forced Mike Sullivan to try different combinations on the back end. As a result, Pettersson played significant minutes with Jan Rutta, Jeff Petry, and eventually Kris Letang. It took a few games for Pettersson and Letang to acclimate to each other at the top of the lineup, but they began to figure things out as time elapsed. Unfortunately, Pettersson suffered a lower-body injury late in the season just as the two began to click. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Penguins had 52.8% of the scoring chances and outscored opponents 20-18 when Pettersson and Letang were on the ice together at 5v5. While the Penguins may look for a sure-fire left-handed option to pair with Letang this summer, Pettersson proved to be a terrific option if nothing comes of that search. At the very least, Pettersson should be removed from the Penguins trade bait list. A list that he's held residence on since signing his contract extension in 2020. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xi1KVjEcis[/embed] Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins [http://insidethepenguins.com/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more! The Butterfly Effect of the Penguins' Loss to the Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/butterfly-effect-pittsburgh-penguins-loss-chicago-blackhawks] Penguins' Casey DeSmith Pitches Shutout in IIHF Quarterfinals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-casey-desmith-shutout-iihf-quarterfinals] Matthew Tkachuk's Playoff Performance Should Feel Familiar to Penguins Fans [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/podcasts/matthew-tkachuk-playoff-performance-familiar-pittsburgh-penguins] The Remaining Candidates in the Penguins Front Office Search [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/remaining-candidates-pittsburgh-penguins-front-office-search] Penguins Have Decision To Make With Jason Zucker's New Contract [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/pittsburgh-penguins-decision-jason-zucker-contract] * undefined * undefined
