Welcome to the sixth 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 (except me, because no one took my Ian Moran and Paul Bissonnette votes seriously), 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: Trevor Daley
Number: 6
Position: Defenseman
Born: October 9, 1983 in Toronto, ON, CAN (six days younger than myself)
Seasons with Penguins: 2015-2017
Statistics with Penguins: 109 games, 11 goals, 30 assists, 11 power play points (27% of total) in regular season, 36 games, 2 goals, 9 assists in playoffs
Trevor Daley celebrates with fellow former Penguins Scott Wilson and Conor Sheary. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPSWHY DALEY?
The trade that brought Daley to Pittsburgh, cemented Jim Rutherford's legacy in Pittsburgh as a burglar and sent former 'piece' Rob Scuderi to Chicago helped send the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins using speed, puck movement and transition ability. Daley, of course, exemplified each of those traits and emerged as someone who excelled in the Mike Sullivan system where he wasn't able to as a Blackhawk.
Daley was as big a part of the first Cup as any and was rewarded by being the first to receive the Stanley Cup from captain Sidney Crosby despite being unable to play with a broken ankle.
Did I mention he could flat out skate?
Seriously. Wheels.
Trevor Daley. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPSWHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
Daley is under contract with the Red Wings for another two seasons after playing 77 games in the first of his three-year deal in Detroit. Daley scored 9 goals in 2017-18, the most since his career-best 16 goals over 68 games as a member of the Stars the season before joining the Penguins via the Blackhawks.
Daley will visit the Penguins on December 27, 2018 and will host his former team in Detroit on April 2, 2019 before heading straight back to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins again on April 4, 2019. I will undoubtedly be at the April 2 game in Detroit to take advantage of the best media meal in the NHL, headlined by the Little Caesars deep dish pizza.
IT WAS SPOKEN
The most memorable quote regarding Daley is not one that he spoke, for me at least. It was one from his teammate and captain which ultimately spoke indefinitely of the love and connection those championship teams had for Daley:
“Getting hurt at the time he did, knowing how important it was, he had told me that he went to see his mom in between series and stuff, she wasn’t doing well, she wanted to see him with the Cup ... That was important to her. I think that kind of stuck with me after he told me that. We were motivated to get it for him, even though he had to watch.” — Captain Sidney Crosby
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 6:
Ben Lovejoy
Jim Johnson
Ryan Whitney, if for no other reason than Chris Kunitz.
ANY DEBATE?
No debate, especially from this photographer. Trevor Daley is the easy choice on the list if only because he helped spark the championship run and saw back-to-back successes through. For me, Daley will always be the 'best 6,' though, because — as I've told Taylor Haase since the summer between Cup runs — he's pretty. The guy looks good on camera, and I'd for sure be remiss if I didn't sneak that in here with a pretty photo to close things out.
Tomorrow: Chris Bradford has No. 7.
Yesterday: Ulf Samuelsson
Trevor Daley. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS