Who wore it best: No. 72, Patric Hornqvist

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 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: Patric Hornqvist

Number: 72

Position: Right wing

Born: Jan. 1, 1987, in Sollentuna, Sweden

Seasons with Penguins: 2014-current

Statistics with Penguins: 286 games, 97 goals, 98 assists in regular season; 68 games, 21 goals, 15 assists in playoffs.

WHY HORNQVIST?

This one doesn't need much explanation. Without Hornqvist, it's hard to see how the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2016 or '17.

He's not the biggest guy, he stands a modest 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds but is jacked (and plays much, much bigger). He's certainly not the fastest skater. His shot is not the hardest, but he's scored 203 goals in his decade-long career (200 of them seemingly from within five feet of the net).

For all of the above-stated reasons, Hornqvist was the 230th -- and last -- player selected in the 2005 Entry Draft, 229 behind future teammate Sidney Crosby.

But what the scouts couldn't see in Hornqvist are the intangibles he brings. Hornqvist's "f%*@ you" attitude, as teammate Carl Hagelin calls it, is exactly what the Penguins needed after a string of playoff underachievement.

In many ways, Horqnvist has been the polar opposite of James Neal, the aloof sniper who the Penguins dealt to the Nashville Predators at the 2014 Draft in exchange for Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.

In hockey circles it's called "compete" and no one competes harder than Hornqvist, a whirlwind of elbows and emotion on the ice. Hornqvist makes the absolute most out of his skill set, parking himself in front of opposing goaltenders, taking as much abuse from defensemen as he gives.

And his production has been remarkably consistent. He has averaged 24.2 goals in his four seasons with Pittsburgh and, as the net-front presence, is an invaluable member of a power play which has consistently ranked among the NHL's best since his arrival.

In 2016, Hornqvist's first career playoff hat trick in Game 1 against the Rangers made a winner of surprise starter Jeff Zatkoff and served notice that these Penguins wouldn't bow down to the Blueshirts as they had done each of the previous two springs:

A year later, Hornqvist scored the biggest goal of his career, delivering the coup de grace to his former team in Game 6 at Nashville:

That goal alone earns himself a spot on this list.

In just four seasons, "Horny" has turned himself into a favorite with fans and teammates alike with his infectious personality and the energy he brings every time he steps on the ice.