Welcome to the third part of a series on who wore each number best for the Penguins.
The idea is being openly borrowed from our new hockey writer, Cody Tucker, and his project at the Lansing State Journal covering all the uniform numbers worn through Michigan State football history, one that's been well received by their readers and prompted heavy discussion and debate.
Under the organization of Taylor Haase, and following the voting of a big chunk of our staff, we'll publish one new one each day until completion, which should be right around the start of training camp.
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Name: Olli Maatta
Number: 3
Position: Defenseman
Born: August 22, 1994 in Jyvaskyla, Finland
Seasons with Penguins: 2013-present
Statistics with Penguins: 302 games, 24 goals, 69 assists in regular season, 68 games, two goals, 19 assists in playoffs
WHY MAATTA?
Twenty different players have worn the No. 3 for the Penguins, but there is no question Maatta wore it best.
He's won two Stanley Cups, which was weighted heavily in the voting, and he's only 23 years old. There's no reason to think he can't win a couple more before the time he's through as he hasn't even reached his prime yet. The affable Finn has always held a special place in Pittsburgh's heart. He was the 22nd overall pick of the 2012 Draft, which was held at the then Consol Energy Center.
Maatta's story is as much about heart as it is talent. He burst on to the scene in 2013-14, recording 29 points (nine goals and 20 assists) in 78 games as a 19-year-old rookie. But his career took a detour the following season when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He would have to overcome that and then a series of injuries that limited him to no more than 67 games between 2014 and '17. Finally back to good health late in the 2017 season, Maatta scored goals in Games 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Ottawa:
Though 2017-18 didn't end in another parade, Maatta enjoyed perhaps his finest season. He played in all 82 games, a first, matched his career-high for points and was the Penguins' most consistent defenseman at both ends of the ice.
WHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
Roaming the streets with Justin Schultz.
IT WAS SPOKEN
"We've always believed Olli has good offensive instincts. He jumps in the plays when he sees them. I believe his hockey IQ is his greatest asset. He sees the ice so well. He's a cerebral player, both defensively and offensively." -- Mike Sullivan on Maatta last fall
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 3
Ron Stackhouse
Grant Jennings
Alex Goligoski
Doug Bodger
ANY DEBATE?
Stackhouse received considerable attention as he was a reliable defenseman for nine seasons in Pittsburgh and his 621 games played still ranks 10th in franchise history. But Stackhouse played in just 32 playoff games or 36 fewer than Maatta.
Tomorrow: Jerry Wolper has No. 4
Yesterday: Jim Paek
