Olli Maatta

Penguins' Pouliot preparing for larger role on defense

Published Aug. 27, 2015 3:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Although the offseason acquisition of five-time 30-goal scorer Phil Kessel dominated the headlines, the Pittsburgh Penguins will need to see an improvement from their defense if they are going to return to glory this season.

A healthy Kris Letang will certainly go along way in that regard, but the Penguins may need to lean on Derrick Pouliot as a top-four defenseman in 2015-16. The eighth overall pick of the 2012 draft, Pouliot made a favorable impression after replacing an injured Olli Maatta in December and should have more on his plate with the departures of Paul Martin (San Jose Sharks) and Christian Ehrhoff (Los Angeles Kings).

"I think I'm capable of being a reliable defender in this league. I think I can produce even more offensively, too," the 21-year-old Pouliot told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette earlier this summer. "It's really about taking a two-way role, not giving up anything and creating some chances for us."

Pouliot scored two goals and set up five others in 34 games with Pittsburgh before seeing his season come to an end due to an upper-body injury. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Pouliot also collected seven tallies and 17 assists in 31 games in 2014-15 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Pittsburgh (43-27-12) finished in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division last season and limped into the playoffs as an eighth seed before getting brushed aside in five games by the New York Rangers.

(h/t NBC Sports)

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