Welcome to our new 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 my organization, 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: Jim Paek
Number: 2
Position: Defenseman
Born: April 7, 1967 in Seoul, South Korea
Seasons with Penguins: 1990-95
Statistics with Penguins: 170 games, four goals, 26 assists in regular season, 27 games, one goal, four assists in playoffs
WHY PAEK?
Paek made history on Oct. 13, 1990 when he became the first Korean-born player to play in the NHL. The rookie played in two more games that October before being recalled again in April for the Penguins' first Stanley Cup run. Paek scored his first NHL goal -- on a 2-on-1 with Mario Lemieux -- in the Penguins' 8-0 win over Minnesota to clinch their first Stanley Cup, making Paek the first Korean-born player to win the Stanley Cup.
Paek became more of a regular on the Penguins' blue line in the 1991-92 season, and played 49 regular season games and 19 playoff games as Paek and the Penguins won their second Stanley Cup. He set career highs in 1992-93 when he scored three goals and 15 assists in 77 games.
Paek wasn't in Pittsburgh long -- he was traded to the Kings in 1994 -- but his accomplishments make him the best No. 2 in Penguins history.
WHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
Paek, 51, retired from professional hockey in 2003, finishing his career in the British Ice Hockey Superleague. He started his coaching career as the head coach of the Orlando Seals in the now-defunct World Hockey Association 2, and was also assistant coach at St. Edward High School in Ohio. He was hired as an assistant coach for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, a position he held for nine seasons. Paek was part of the Griffins' first Calder Cup championship in 2013.
Paek was named the director of hockey for the Korea Ice Hockey Association and head coach of the South Korean national team in 2014, and was behind the bench for South Korea's first appearance in the Olympics. The Korean team didn't win a game, but they made their home country proud.
Just spoke to Korean hockey coach Jim Paek, he said his team “won the gold medal”. This was just after he was crying on the bench. Great showing by not only the team but the fans. #pyeongchang2018
— Rob Pizzo (@robpizzo) February 20, 2018
IT WAS SPOKEN
"This dream is going to last forever. Don't you ever wake me up." -- Paek after winning the Stanley Cup in 1991
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 2
Duane Rupp
Bob Paradise
Matt Niskanen
Hal Gill
Josef Melichar
Chris Tamer
Any debate?
Eh. It's hard to compare players from the Stanley Cup years to guys that played in the '60s and '70s, like Rupp. Rupp played more games and was more valuable on a lesser team. Paek's Stanley Cups and influence on Korean hockey give him the edge, in our opinion.
Tomorrow: Chris Bradford has No. 3.
Yesterday: Johan Hedberg