Welcome to our 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: Joe Vitale
Number: 46
Position: Center
Born: August 20, 1985, in St. Louis
Seasons with Penguins: 2010-14
Statistics with Penguins: 163 games, eight goals, 27 assists in regular season; 23 games, one assist in playoffs
WHY VITALE?
Joe Vitale was the Penguins' seventh-round draft pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
According to TSN, under 10 percent of players drafted in that position ever play 100 games in the NHL. Vitale played double that and then some, most of which were in a Penguins uniform.
Vitale wasn't ever the most skilled player on the team; nobody expected him to be. But in the four seasons he spent in Pittsburgh, he was a reliable fourth-line center, brought energy to the Penguins lineup, and saw success on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle.
He didn't produce much offensively, but it was always exciting when he did:
And of course, he brought a little extra energy to the Penguins-Flyers rivalry. His hit on Danny Briere on April 1, 2012 ignited a brawl, and he stood up and answered for the hit during the teams' next meeting on April 7:
One underrated aspect of Vitale's career with the Penguins that has perhaps been forgotten is his pregame ritual of snowing Dan Potash:
WHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
After leaving the Penguins, Vitale signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes.
In his first game in his second season in Arizona, Vitale suffered a fractured orbital bone and a concussion in a fight that sidelined him for the remainder of the season, and ultimately ended his career.
In 2016, Arizona traded Vitale's contract and two draft picks to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Pavel Datsyuk's $7.5 million cap hit and a first-round pick. Due to lingering concussion issues, Vitale announced his retirement in July 2017.
IT WAS SPOKEN
"There’s a lot of talent in this room, a lot of talent in this league. God didn’t give me the most talent as far as that goes, so I feel like I have to work a little harder to keep up. It’s a good mentality. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me, so I have to keep going.” -- Vitale in his first NHL season
“He’s as blue collar as they come. He’s going to compete and battle and pay the price. He’ll do whatever it takes.” -- Tony Granato
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 46
None
ANY DEBATE?
No, Vitale is the only player to wear the number in multiple seasons (so far). Zach Aston-Reese will likely take this one over soon, but he hasn't played enough games to win No. 46 yet.
Tomorrow: I have No. 47
Yesterday: Arron Asham