Penguins fans shouldn’t underestimate Noel Acciari’s impact

Noel Acciari isn't the player who'll bring fans to their feet, but his defense-first style and reliability in the face-off circle plays a strong role.

Pittsburgh Penguins v Vegas Golden Knights | Ethan Miller/GettyImagesNoel Acciari's one player who'll give a playoff-caliber team value if the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves too far out of contention come March 2026. Playing primarily lower-line minutes, Acciari brings a defensive mindset to the center position, something we saw when he landed 180 hits in 2024-25 to go with 100 blocked shots.

Yeah, his minus-25 rating might make some fans think differently, but Acciari's generally seen an on-ice save percentage well into the 90-percent…