Bylsma's Boys

The Revival of Paul Martin

by Teddy Krzywiecki

Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Paul Martin. Equivelant to a swearword on the tongue of yinzers throughout the 2011-2012 season of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Why all the hate?

Paul Martin was ultimately the scapegoat of the sorry excuse of the season the Pittsburgh Penguins put together last year. Teasing fans with Stanley cup lore, the Penguins became the San Jose Sharks of the 2012 playoffs. Widespread panic among fans hinted at the notion that the Penguins were incapable of putting together a legitimate blueline to lockdown the star power of other Eastern Conference teams. 

Penguins fans may call to mind the constant giveaways and mishandling of the puck by Martin last year, but there may have been a larger issue behind their Penguins failures. The 2012 Penguins had much greater problems than the miscues of Paul Martin, but that my friends is another story. Fans, analysts, and coaches alike agreed that Martin had an abysmal year. This blueliner was signed for a whoppping $25 million (5 years) as a free agent, a salary that Kris Letang wasn't even worth at the time. 

In the 2010 offseason, Martin was one of the most coveted free agents on the market...Ray Shero understood this. By signing Martin, the Penguins were getting a solid defenseman with great puckhandling ability. 

In the 2012 offseason, fans were calling for Martin's head on a platter. "Trade Paul Martin" was the consensus among fans, and they were not alone in their thinking. Ray Shero asked Paul Martin if he wanted out of Pittsburgh...Martin declined. When asked in a radio interview Martin said, "I’d rather have a great season here than get traded and have a good one somewhere else.  For me, it was an easy decision.  I came here for my reasons and to win a cup with the team that we have in here.”  Martin wanted another chance. He wanted to prove his worth to fans. He needed a revival.

Now...I don't want to say I'm right, but I was right. 

I had a feeling that Paul Martin was going to redeem himself, and at least so far...he's done it.

He and Brooks Orpik have been a shutdown defensive pairing up to this point, giving a sense stability to the Penguins blueline. 

Paul Martin is beginning to once again look like the player that Ray Shero signed two years ago. 

This is not a matter of chance. Martin has always been a smooth skater, clean puck handler, and technical defensemen. Pittsburgh fans were blind to this fact last season because of the lack of discipline throughout the lineup. 

Martin wanted another chance. He got it. 

Paul Martin stayed in Pittsburgh because he wanted to win a Stanley Cup. In his mind, this team had the best chance to accomplish such a feat. 

Credit: cbssports.com

As a consistent + player on the ice, Martin has continued to regain the trust of Penguin fans with his performances this season. Since his addition to the Penguins power play, the Pens have finally found a rythm. Martin even notched the game winner in Sunday's 3-2 win against Buffalo. 

The revival of Paul Martin has been crucial to the Penguins strong start to the season. If this blue-liner continues his consistent play, the Penguins may finally be able to fill the gap on the defensive end. 

You have to love an underdog, especially one who was notorious among Pens fans last season. 

This guy is fighting for the hearts of Pens fans... he has mine.