Penguins A to Z: Offense, health were the only things missing for Noel Acciari
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With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 50 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until next season — with the organization, from fourth-line center Noel Acciari to reserve winger Radim Zohorna.
This series is scheduled to be published every weekday leading into the NHL Draft on June 28.
(Note: All contract information courtesy of Cap Friendly.)
Noel Acciari
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Age: 32
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 209 pounds
2023-24 NHL statistics: 55 games, seven points (four goals, three assists), 12:58 of ice time per contest
Contract: In the first year of a three-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2 million. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2026.
(Note: Acciari’s contract contains a modified no-trade clause which allows him to submit a list of eight teams he would not accept a trade to.)
Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, July 1, 2023
Last season: One of Kyle Dubas’ leading priorities in his first offseason as the Penguins’ president of hockey operations was to boost the team’s group of bottom-six forwards and he splurged a bit on unrestricted free agents such as Acciari, Lars Eller and Matt Nieto.
Having played for Dubas previously when the two were stationed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Acciari was the only one of that group to receive a contract for more than two years.
Primarily deployed on the fourth line, Acciari largely offered the Penguins what he has offered in any of his other stops in the NHL.
That’s to say he was a steady defensive presence and took on a lot of dirty work such as blocking shots, strong board play and defensive zone faceoffs.
Those characteristics were evident in the season opener, a 4-2 home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, as Acciari offered a baseball slide as a penalty killer to force Blackhawks rookie forward Connor Bedard to shoot wide.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) April 22, 2024
Acciari’s offensive figures were lacking, however. While his opportunity to generate production was certainly limited given his role, he did manage to reach double-digit goal figures in three of his previous eight seasons in a similar deployment.
His first goal with the Penguins did not come until a 3-0 home win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 19.
Pittsburgh goal!
Scored by Noel Acciari with 08:21 remaining in the 2nd period.
Assisted by Matt Nieto.
Pittsburgh: 2
Vegas: 0#VGKvsPIT #LetsGoPens #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/AgjoWfTfLb— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 20, 2023
Injuries started to pockmark Acciari’s season in December when he missed seven games due to an undisclosed ailment. That was followed by a six-game absence in February due to a concussion after he was hit in the head by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon on Feb. 6.
Matt Rempen taklaus muistuttaa tätä Brenden Dillonin taklausta. Noel Acciari ajoi silmät kiinni liikennevaloihin, valitettavasti aivotärähdys. Dillon sai kolme peliä kieltoa tilanteesta, jonka olisi välttänyt vain jäämällä kotiin. pic.twitter.com/X4tPw0zBVP
— Jouni Nieminen ???????? (@OnsideWithJouni) February 23, 2024
When he was healthy, Acciari was one of the team’s leading penalty killers, averaging 2:17 of short-handed ice time per game, second-most among Penguins forwards. And his success rate of 54.5% was third-best among the team’s regular faceoff specialists.
By late March, Acciari was injured again and missed the final 12 games of the regular season. Designated to long-term injured reserve, Acciari would have been able to participate in playoff games had the Penguins qualified for the postseason.
The future: There’s little to suggest Acciari will be used any differently going into 2024-25. When he was healthy, he was highly trusted by the coaches, particularly when he centered the fourth line with wingers Jeff Carter and Jansen Harkins.
Barring anything unforeseen, Acciari will open next season as the Penguins’ fourth-line center once again.
Acciari offered what was expected. The only things he was missing were offense and health.