Pittsburgh Penguins Season Grades: Paul Martin

In this edition of Penguins Puck’s Pittsburgh Penguins 2011 Season Grades, I’ll take a look at the season of free agent acquisition defenseman Paul Martin. Grading scale: The grading scale will range from A+ down through F, with half grades (+/-) included. The players will be graded on their overall season performance, as well as how they performed compared to their potential, talent level and expectations. In July of 2010, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero signed then-29-year-old Paul Martin to a five-year/$25 million deal. The team had failed to negotiate a deal with the offensively talented Sergei Gonchar, and was looking to take some potential pressure off the young Kris Letang heading into the 2010-11 season. Martin is by no means Sergei Gonchar. That was known the day he was signed. While Gonchar is an offensive powerhouse and power play specialist, Martin is one the most well-rounded defensemen in the game. He has talent offensively, but is also solid in hi...