When healthy, the Pittsburgh Penguins have arguably the best top four defensive pairings in the league. Paul Martin with Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi with Kris Letang comprise the top two pairings for the Penguins. Matt Niskanen is also have an outstanding season as is rookie Olli Maatta.

1. Kris Letang

Kris Letang is acknowledged as the best defenseman on the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s one of the fastest skaters in the entire NHL, he can defend very well, and he’s one of the best offensive scoring defenseman in the NHL right alongside Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators. The only thing that concerns me with Letang is his health. The last few years he’s been injured at least once every season potentially costing him a shot at the Norris Trophy, which goes out to the league’s best defenseman. Letang just signed an extension that should keep in in Pittsburgh for the next eight years.

2. Olli Maatta

Olli Maatta has had an excellent rookie season for the Penguins and Pittsburgh is seeing their future for defenseman. Maatta has no shortage of vowels in his name and talent at both ends of the ice. He has to be considered as one of the candidates for the Calder Trophy considering how well he has had to perform with all the injuries at his position. The 19-year old Finn has shown some explosive talent and has certainly benefitted from playing on the same ice as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. 

3. Paul Martin

Paul Martin has established himself as one of the best defenseman on this team as well. Last year, he was the best defenseman for the Penguins, certainly the most consistent. In the playoffs, he was playing unbelievable, finally earning the big contract that had many Penguin fans frustrated. This year he’s playing lights out hockey for the Penguins, but is currently on injured reserve. He needs to get healthy again because the Penguins will need him come playoff time to make the push for the number one seed.        

4. Rob Scuderi

Much to the delight of Penguins’ faithful, Rob Scuderi is back with the club. The “piece” came back to Pittsburgh this year after he signed a multiyear deal, returning to the Steel City. He’s spent the last few seasons with Los Angeles winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2012. Scuderi is known as “Fleury’s puppy guarder” for his tendency to bail out goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. He doesn’t score a lot but is known for his clutch defensive plays as he did in 2009 for the Penguins when he made two saves with his leg during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Red Wings. He’s expected to come off the IR very soon from a broken ankle that has sidelined him over 20 games this season.

5. Matt Niskanen

Niskanen has been having his best season in a Penguins uniform by far. Many people, including me, thought he was going to be traded this past summer to lower the cap. Ray Shero wanted to keep him as insurance for Letang and it has proven to be an excellent choice for Pittsburgh. If he can continue to have the season he is having, Niskanen could be looking at a contract extension from the Pens.

6. Brooks Orpik

Orpik’s play this season as really gone down considering he was ne of the most reliable blue liners in the NHL. Aside from the Shawn Thornton incident, Orpik has seemed a step behind and out of position. He is still one of the most ferocious hitters in the game and the Pens have had to lean heavily on Orpik with all of the injuries. Now that he is out with a concussion, rookies Brian Dumoulin, Philip Samuelsson and Robert Bortuzzo have gotten some ice time.