Phil Kessel has gotten a pretty fair start to his tenure with the Penguins, and should establish himself as the most prolific No. 81 in franchise history long before this season expires.
Not that there’s much competition for that distinction.
Miroslav Satan, who had 17 goals and 19 assists in 65 games with the Penguins in 2008-09, is the only other player to wear that number since the team entered the NHL in 1967.
Then again, if things had broken differently for Kessel early in his career, he might someday be challenging Rick Kehoe as the most productive No.