The
Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
team based in Pittsburgh,
PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
. They are members of the
Atlantic DivisionThe NHL's Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division...
of the
Eastern ConferenceThe Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
(NHL) and are the defending
Stanley CupThe 2009 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2008–09 season. As a culmination of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Western Conference champion Detroit Red...
champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's
original expansionThe National Hockey League undertook a major expansion for the 1967–68 season, adding six new franchises to double the size of the league...
from six to twelve teams. The Penguins have played in
Mellon ArenaMellon Arena is an arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city's National Hockey League franchise...
since their first season, and will move into their new arena, Consol Energy Center, in time for the 2010–11 NHL season. They have won three
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championships in their history, in 1990–91, 1991–92, and
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
. The team has a long-standing rivalry with fellow Pennsylvania team the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
.
Expansion years: 1967–69
Before the Penguins, Pittsburgh was the home of the early NHL incarnation of the
PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League , based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1925–26 to 1929–30. The nickname comes from the baseball team also based in the city...
, during the 1920s, and the successful Hornets
(AHL)The American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
franchise from the 1930s through the 1960s. In the spring of 1965,
Jack McGregorJack E. McGregor is a former Pennsylvania State Senator from Pittsburgh and the founder of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. He currently resides in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he serves as counsel to Cohen and Wolf, P.C. where he serves as an advisor to companies looking to...
, a
state senatorA state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
from Kittaning, devised a plan to bring an NHL franchise back to Pittsburgh. McGregor's plan involved lobbying some of his campaign contributors who were avid sports fans, and community leaders. The group focused on leveraging the NHL as an urban renewal tool for Pittsburgh. The senator formed a group of local investors for the Pittsburgh franchise that included,
HJ Heinz IIIHenry John Heinz III was an American politician from Pennsylvania, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate .-Early life:...
,
Art RooneyArthur Joseph Rooney Sr Arthur (Art) Joseph Rooney Sr Arthur (Art) Joseph Rooney Sr (Also known as "The Chief" (January 27, 1901–August 25, 1988) was the American founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise in the National Football League.-Early life:...
, and Richard Scaife. The
1967 NHL ExpansionThe National Hockey League undertook a major expansion for the 1967–68 season, adding six new franchises to double the size of the league...
depended on securing votes from the
then-current NHL ownersThe Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. The name is something of a misnomer, since there were other NHL franchises that ceased operations before 1942...
. To ensure that Pittsburgh would be selected for expansion, McGregor enlisted the help of
Pittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
owner Art Rooney, to petition votes from
Jim NorrisJames Francis Norris was a Major League Baseball player from 1977 to 1980 for the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. He mostly played the outfield positions....
, owner of the
Chicago Black HawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
, and
Bruce NorrisBruce A. Norris was owner of the Detroit Red Wings from 1955 to 1982, and was also chairman of the National Hockey League's Board of Governors. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of James D. Norris. The Norris family owned the Red Wings for almost fifty years before selling the...
, owner of the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
.
The effort was successful, and on February 8, 1966, the National Hockey League awarded an
expansion teamAn expansion team is a term used for a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the...
to Pittsburgh for the 1967–68, . The Penguins paid $2.5 million for their entry in to the NHL and $750,000 more for start-up costs. The Civic Arena's capacity was then boosted from 10,732 to 12,500 to meet the NHL requirements for expansion. The Pens also paid an indemnification bill to settle with the Detroit Red Wings that held the rights to Pittsburgh Hornets. McGregor was named president and chief executive officer by the investor group, and he represented Pittsburgh on the NHL’s Board of Governors.
After deciding on the "Penguin" nickname (which was inspired by the fact that the team was to play in the "Igloo", the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena), a logo was chosen that had a penguin in front of a triangle, which symbolized the "Golden Triangle" of downtown Pittsburgh."
The Penguins' first general manager was
Jack RileyJack Riley is a retired professional ice hockey player and executive.Riley played nine seasons of professional hockey, primarily in the Eastern Hockey League for the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Falcons and Washington Lions...
. His team (along with the other expansion teams) was hampered by restrictive rules that kept most major talent with the "
Original SixThe Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. The name is something of a misnomer, since there were other NHL franchises that ceased operations before 1942...
." Beyond aging sniper
Andy BathgateAndrew James Bathgate is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.-Playing career:Andy Bathgate was a popular star-player of the New York Rangers...
and tough defenseman
Leo BoivinLéo Joseph Boivin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:Leo Boivin began playing hockey at seven years...
, the first Penguins team was manned by a cast of former minor-leaguers. On October 11, 1967,
Clarence CampbellClarence Sutherland Campbell was president of the National Hockey League from 1946 to 1977.-Early life and career:...
and McGregor jointly dropped the ceremonial first puck of the Penguins opening home game against the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The Penguins would go 27-34-13 that year, missing the playoffs. However the Penguins were a mere six points out of first place in the close-fought West Division. But there was a great moment in their first season which came on October 21, 1967, when they became the first team from the expansion class to beat an Original Six team as they defeated the
Chicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
4-2.
Though Bathgate led the team in scoring, both he and Boivin were soon gone. Former player George Sullivan was the head coach for the club's first two seasons, until being replaced by
Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
r
Red KellyLeonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, CM , is a retired Canadian hockey player in the NHL. He played on more Stanley Cup winning teams than any player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens...
. With the exception of a handful of decent players such as
Ken SchinkelKenneth Calvin "Whitey" Schinkel is a retired professional ice hockey right wing and coach, most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League and the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:After a junior career ending with the St...
,
Keith McCrearyVernon Keith McCreary was a left winger in the National Hockey League who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Flames.He was born in Sundridge, Ontario.-Playing career:...
, agitator Bryan Watson, and goaltender
Les BinkleyLeslie John Binkley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Career:Les Binkley spent his early career in the minor leagues, reaching the NHL level in his thirties...
, talent was otherwise thin. The Penguins missed the playoffs in five of their first seven seasons.
1970s
Tragedy struck the Penguins in 1970 when promising
rookieRookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport and has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
center
Michel BriereMichel Brière was an NHL hockey player whose career was cut short due to an automobile accident in 1970.-Career:...
, who finished third in scoring on the team, was injured in a car crash. Briere died after spending a year in the hospital, and his jersey, number 21, was the first to be retired by the franchise. The Penguins would reach the playoffs for the first time in 1970, advancing to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the
St. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues," and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
. Pittsburgh managed a playoff berth in 1972 but not much beyond that. With the Penguins battling the
California Golden SealsThe California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970....
near the division cellar in 1973–74, Jack Riley was fired as general manager and replaced with Jack Button. Button traded for
Steve DurbanoHarry Steven Durbano was a professional ice hockey player noted for his villainous behavior on the ice and his larger-than-life persona off it.-Career:...
,
Ab DeMarco, Jr.Ab DeMarco, Jr. is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association during the 1970s. A skilled defender, he was noted for his shot, considered one of the hardest in the sport at the time...
, Bob "Battleship" Kelly, and
Bob ParadiseRobert Harvey Paradise is a retired American ice hockey defenseman who appeared in a total of 368 National Hockey League regular season games in 1971–79. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame....
. The personnel moves proved successful, as the team's play improved. The Penguins just barely missed the playoffs in 1974.
Beginning in the mid-seventies, Pittsburgh iced some powerful offensive clubs, led by the likes of the "Century Line" of forwards
Syl Apps, Jr.Sylvanus Marshall Apps, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins....
,
Lowell MacDonaldLowell Wilson MacDonald was a National Hockey League right winger during the 1960s and 70s. MacDonald broke into the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings after being promoted from the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets...
and
Jean PronovostJean Pronovost is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals. He is also a noted born-again Christian....
. They came tantalizingly close to reaching the Stanley Cup semifinals in 1975, but were ousted from the playoffs by the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in one of only three best-of-seven game series in professional sports history where a team came back from being down three games to none. As the 1970s wore on, they brought in other offensive weapons such as
Rick KehoeRick Kehoe is a retired professional ice hockey player and coach, most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.- Playing career :...
,
Pierre Larouche"Lucky" Pierre Larouche is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Hartford Whalers, and New York Rangers....
, and
Ron SchockRonald Lawrence "Ron" Schock was a National Hockey League centre from 1964 to 1978. His younger brother, Danny Schock, also played briefly in the NHL. Ron retired following 909 games, recording a total of 166 goals, 351 assists, and 517 points.While playing with the St...
, along with a couple solid blue-liners such as
Ron StackhouseRonald Lorne Stackhouse is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman.-Playing career:...
and
Dave BurrowsDavid James Burrows is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He started his NHL career in 1971, and played through 1981...
. But the Pens' success beyond the regular season was always neutralized by mediocre team defense. Goaltender
Denis HerronDenis Herron is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Kansas City Scouts, and Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League....
was a stalwart in goal, later sharing the Vezina Trophy while with the Montreal Canadiens in 1980–81.
In 1975, the Penguins' creditors demanded payment of back debts, forcing the team into
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay its creditors. Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against a debtor in an effort to recoup a portion of what they are owed or initiate a restructuring...
. The doors to the team's offices were padlocked, and it looked like the Penguins were headed for contraction. Through the intervention of a group that included
Wren BlairWren Blair is a former Canadian ice hockey coach. He was head coach of the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1970. He was also the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from July 1975 to December 1976...
, the team was prevented from folding.
Baz Bastien, a former coach and general manager of the AHL Hornets, later became general manager. The Penguins missed the playoffs in 1977–78 when their offense lagged, and Larouche was traded for Pete Mahovlich and Peter Lee. Bastien traded prime draft choices for several players whose best years were already behind them, such as
Orest KindrachukOrest Michael Kindrachuk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. His parents were Ukrainian immigrants and his first language was Ukrainian.-Playing career:...
,
Tom BladonTom George Bladon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 610 NHL games over a nine-season career mostly with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the Stanley Cup with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975. He also had brief stops with the Edmonton Oilers,...
and
Rick MacLeishRick George MacLeish is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings...
, and the team would suffer in the early 1980s as a result. The decade closed with a playoff appearance in 1979 and a rousing opening series win over Buffalo before a second round sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins.
1980s
The Penguins began the decade by changing their team colors. In January 1980, the team switched from wearing blue and white to their present-day scheme of black and gold to honor Pittsburgh's other sports teams, the
PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions, in addition to the distinction of playing in the first modern World Series. The Pirates are also often...
and the
SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, as well as the
Flag of PittsburghThe flag of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is based on the coat of arms of the Chatham Family. Pittsburgh is named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham...
. Both the Pirates and Steelers had worn black and gold for decades, and both were fresh off world championship seasons at that time. The
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
protested this color change, claiming a monopoly on black and gold. The Penguins defended their choice stating that an
early hockey club in PittsburghThe Pittsburgh Pirates were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League , based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1925–26 to 1929–30. The nickname comes from the baseball team also based in the city...
also used black and gold as their team colors. They also argued that black and gold were Pittsburgh's traditional sporting colors. The NHL agreed, and Pittsburgh was allowed to use black and gold, a color scheme since adopted as well by the
Anaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
when that team changed their uniforms in 2006.
On the ice, the Penguins began the 1980s with defenseman
Randy CarlyleRandy Carlyle is a former hockey defenceman and currently the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. He was raised in Azilda, just northwest of Sudbury, Ontario.-Career:...
, and prolific scorers Paul Gardner and Mike Bullard, but little else.
During the early part of the decade, the Penguins made a habit of being a tough draw for higher seeded opponents in the playoffs. In 1980, the 13th seeded Penguins took the Bruins to the limit in their first round playoff series. The following season, as the 15th seed, they lost the decisive game of their first round series in overtime to the heavily favored St. Louis Blues. Then, in the 1982 playoffs, the Penguins held a 3-1 lead late in the fifth and final game of their playoff series against the reigning champions, the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. However, the Islanders rallied to force overtime and won the series on a goal by
John TonelliJohn A. Tonelli is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played with the New York Islanders, the Calgary Flames, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, concluding his career by playing briefly for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Quebec Nordiques.In 1982 and 1985,...
. It would be the Pens' final playoff appearance until 1989.
The team had the league's worst record in both the 1983 and 1984 seasons, and with the team suffering financial problems, it again looked as though the Penguins would fold. But the reward for the dismal 1983–84 season was the right to draft French Canadian phenomenon
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
. Other teams offered substantial trade packages for the draft choice, but the Penguins kept the pick.
The Mario Lemieux era: 1984–1997
With the first overall pick in the
1984 NHL Entry DraftThe 1984 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 9, 1984, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.The 1984 Entry Draft was noted for the unusually high number of future Hall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds...
Pittsburgh selected
Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
superstar
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
. He paid dividends right away, scoring on the first shot of his first shift in his first NHL game.
Pittsburgh spent four more years out of the playoffs. In the late 80s, the Penguins finally gave Lemieux a strong supporting cast, trading for superstar defenseman
Paul CoffeyPaul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional Hall of Fame ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th overall by...
from the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
(after the Oilers' 1987
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
win), and bringing in young talent such as scorers
Kevin StevensKevin Stevens is a retired NHL hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is best known for being the left wing for Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992 seasons...
, Rob Brown, and
John CullenJohn Cullen is a former professional ice hockey centre who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League between 1988–89 and 1998–99....
from the minors. And they finally acquired a top-flight goaltender with the acquisition of
Tom BarrassoThomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
from the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
. The Pens made the playoffs, but lost in the second round to their trans-
PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
rivals, the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
. Though amassing 123 points, Lemieux missed 21 games in 1989–90 due to a herniated disk in his back, and the Pens slipped out of the playoff picture.
In 1990–91, the Penguins reached the top of the standings. They drafted
CzechThe Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe that is sometimes considered to be Eastern European. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is Prague...
right-winger
Jaromir JagrJaromír Jágr is a professional ice hockey right winger, who plays for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. Jágr formerly played in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and most recently the New York Rangers...
in the
1990 NHL Entry DraftThe 1990 NHL Entry Draft was the 28th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990...
, the first player from his country to attend an NHL draft without having to defect, and then paired with
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
as the league's biggest one-two scoring threat since
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
and
Jari KurriJari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland.-Jokerit :...
on the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the 1980s.
Mark RecchiMark Recchi is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
arrived from the minors, and
Bryan TrottierBryan John Trottier is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey center who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins...
signed as a free agent.
Joe MullenJoseph Mullen is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins from 1980–1997. He won three Stanley Cups in 1989 with Calgary, and in 1991 and 1992 with Pittsburgh...
in a minor trade all set up these major trades that brought Larry Murphy,
Ron FrancisRonald Michael Francis, Jr. , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centreman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, and
Ulf SamuelssonUlf Samuelsson is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes. He played for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.- Biography :He specialized in heavy body checks and...
to Pittsburgh. The Penguins finally became the league's best team, defeating the
Minnesota North StarsThe Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow gold and white...
in the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals in six games. After the
1991 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1991 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars. It was the Penguins' first Final series appearance and their first Stanley Cup victory. As of 2009, this is the first and only Stanley Cup Final to feature two teams from the...
, The Stanley Cup Champions Penguins visited the White House to meet President
George H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st President of the United States . He was also Ronald Reagan's Vice President , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence....
. They were the first NHL team to ever visit the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
. The following season, the team lost coach Bob Johnson to
cancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
, and
Scotty BowmanWilliam Scott Bowman is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit...
took over as coach. Under Bowman, they swept the
Chicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.
CancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
nearly dealt the Penguins a double whammy in 1993. Not only were they reeling from Johnson's death, but Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Only two months after the diagnosis, his comeback was one of the league's great "feel-good" stories of all time, missing 24 out of 84 games, but winning his fourth
Art Ross TrophyThe Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the NHL by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ross. The trophy has been awarded 61 times to 25 players since its inception...
as scoring champion with 160 points scored, edging out
Pat LaFontainePatrick Michael LaFontaine is an American former ice hockey center in the National Hockey League who spent his entire career playing for the league's New York-based teams; LaFontaine skated for the New York Islanders from 1983 until 1991, the Buffalo Sabres from 1991 until 1997, and the New York...
and
Adam OatesAdam Oates is a retired professional ice hockey and lacrosse player.-Playing career:Oates' break came when Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offered him a scholarship. He played for the college from 1982 to 1985, where he majored management and was a contributor to RPI's 1985 NCAA Division I...
for the award. Despite the off-ice difficulties, Pittsburgh finished with a 56-21-7 record, winning the franchise's first (and still only)
Presidents' TrophyThe Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also...
as the team with the most points in the regular season; the 119 points earned that year is still a franchise record. After Lemieux's return, the team played better than it ever had before, winning an NHL-record 17 consecutive games before tying the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the final game of the season. Despite all of this success, they were still eliminated in the second round by the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in overtime of Game 7.
The Penguins continued to be a formidable team throughout the 1990s. The stars of the Stanley Cup years were followed by the likes of forwards
Alexei KovalevAlexei Kovalev is a right winger who plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League beginning with the 2009–10 season. He has previously played for the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New York Rangers, with whom he was originally drafted and won a Stanley Cup in...
,
Martin StrakaMartin Straka is a Czech ice hockey centre who plays for HC Lasselsberger Plzen of the Czech Extraliga.-Playing career:...
,
Aleksey MorozovAleksey Morozov is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Robert Lang and
Petr NedvedPetr Nedvěd is a Czech Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. He is a center for the hockey club HC Bílí Tygři Liberec in the Czech Extraliga....
, and defensemen
Sergei ZubovSergei Alexandrovich Zubov is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently under a contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. He has also played for the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins...
,
Darius KasparaitisDarius Kasparaitis is a Lithuanian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League...
and
Kevin HatcherKevin John Hatcher is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the NHL for 17 seasons between 1984 and 2001 for the Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. He is the older brother of former NHL player Derian...
.
Jaromir Jagr era: 1997–2001
Lemieux retired in 1997. Because of Lemieux's achievements over the course of his career, the
Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
waived its three-year waiting period and inducted him as an Honored Member in the same year he retired.
The captaincy was passed to Jagr and for the next 4 seasons, Jagr won 4 consecutive Art Ross Trophies. However, the Penguins were unable to match Jagr's individual success with a sustained playoff appearance, with a first round exit in 1998 despite being the second seeded team in the east followed by a second round exit in 1999 this time from eighth seed. In 2000 the Penguins stunned the highly touted Washington capitals 4-1 in the first round only to fall to their rivals the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
4-2 in the second round.
Off the ice, the Penguins were in the midst of a battle for their survival. Their free-spending ways earlier in the decade came with a price; owners
Howard BaldwinHoward Baldwin is an American entrepreneur and film producer. He is the CEO of Baldwin Entertainment, which has produced films such as the Academy Award-nominated Ray and operates the Iowa Stars AHL ice hockey team. Baldwin founded the New England Whalers ice hockey franchise in the WHA and has...
and
Morris BelzbergMorris Belzberg is a Canadian born businessman, who has lived in the United States since apprixmately 1966. He is the former owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1992. He was the Chairman of Budget Rent A Car Corp from approx...
(who bought the Penguins after their first Cup win) had asked the players to defer their salaries. When they finally came due, combined with other financial pressures, the Penguins were forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 1998—the second such filing in franchise history.
Just when it appeared that the Pittsburgh franchise was about to either move or fold, Lemieux stepped in with an unusual proposal. By this time, he'd become one of the team's largest creditors due to being owed $30 million in deferred salary. He proposed to recover this money by converting it into equity and buying the team, and promised to keep it in Pittsburgh. The league and the court agreed, and Lemieux assumed control on September 3, 1999.
The return of Mario Lemieux
Lemieux later shocked the hockey world by deciding to come back as a player who was also the owner of the team he played for. He returned to the ice on December 27, 2000, becoming the first player-owner in NHL history. Lemieux helped lead the Penguins deep into the 2001 playoffs, highlighted by an overtime victory against the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
in Game 7 of the second round. Kasparaitis scored the series-clinching goal to advance the Penguins to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost in 5 games to the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Still, the Penguins needed to cut costs, especially now that the huge salary of Lemieux had been added. Controversially, Jagr, their stalwart for the last four years, was traded to the
Washington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
along with
Frantisek KuceraFrantišek Kučera is a retired Czech professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.-Playing career:Originally...
for prospects
Kris BeechKristopher "Kris" Beech is a Canadian professional ice hockey center, currently playing for HV71 in the Swedish elite league Elitserien.-Playing career:...
,
Michal SivekMichal Sivek is a former professional hockey player who last played for Sparta Praha. He was one of three players acquired from the Washington Capitals for Jaromir Jagr.-Career statistics:...
, and
Ross LupaschukRoss Lupaschuk is a Canadian ice hockey defenseman. He most recently attended Phoenix Coyotes training camp, but was released on September 20th, 2009.-Juniors:...
, and $4.9 million in the summer of 2001. The absence of Jagr proved devastating to the Penguins, and in 2002 they missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Further financial difficulties saw them trade fan favorite
Alexei KovalevAlexei Kovalev is a right winger who plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League beginning with the 2009–10 season. He has previously played for the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New York Rangers, with whom he was originally drafted and won a Stanley Cup in...
to the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
the next season, quickly followed by the departure of Lang in free agency. The Penguins slumped to last place, where they remained for several years despite the acquisition of top draft picks.
In the
2003 NHL Entry DraftThe 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, only the third goalie in NHL history selected as the first overall draft choice...
, the Penguins picked with their first-overall selection goaltender
Marc-Andre FleuryMarc-André Fleury is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
. However, given that the 2004 Draft contained the likes of
Alexander OvechkinAlexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
, the 2003–04 was expected to be a rebuilding year for the Penguins. The highly rated Fleury did not play most of the season for the Penguins for this reason. The Penguins signed new head coach (and former Penguin and commentator) Eddie Olczyk. Lemieux suffered a hip injury early in the season, and he sat out the rest of the season to recover. The Pens then traded Straka away to the
Los Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The Penguins finished with the worst NHL record having won just 23 games, but were unable to secure the first overall draft pick as they lost the draft lottery for the
2004 NHL Entry DraftThe 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout that prevented the 2004–05 NHL season....
to the
Washington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Alexander OvechkinAlexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
went to Washington, but the Penguins did select
Evgeni MalkinEvgeni Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player...
with the second overall pick, a pick that would propel them back to a competitive level in future years.
The Penguins have suffered small-market syndrome for most of their existence, and cost-cutting prevented another collapse into insolvency. Financially, the team was one of the better-managed NHL franchises between its 1998 bankruptcy and the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Thanks to significant post-season runs, the Penguins broke even in 2000 and turned a small profit in 2001. Failure to make the playoffs in the next three seasons hurt the team's bottom line, but the shedding of contracts (such as Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka) kept the team afloat as other franchises, like the
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, faced significant losses or declared bankruptcy. In the 2003–04 season, they had the lowest average attendance of any team, with just 11,877 fans per game.
However, by 2005, the Penguins had paid off all of their creditors, both secured and unsecured. In fact, the court approved Lemieux's plan largely because it was intended to pay everyone the team owed.
With the 2004–05 NHL season canceled due to the NHL lockout, several Penguins signed with the club's
American Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League . 28 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL's 29 active clubs...
affiliate
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.- History :...
, while experienced players like
Aleksey MorozovAleksey Morozov is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and
Milan KraftMilan Kraft is a Czech professional ice hockey centre. He was drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft....
honed their talents in the elite European leagues. Morozov and Kraft would stay in the elite European leagues after the 2004–05 NHL lockout.
After the lockout: 2005–present
The Penguins won an unprecedented draft lottery - where owing to their poor performance over the last few seasons they were given highest possible weighting out of all thirty teams - on July 22, 2005, for the
2005 NHL Entry DraftThe 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
. The Penguins chose highly touted junior league player
Sidney CrosbySidney Patrick Crosby
ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
from the
Rimouski OcéanicThe Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season...
of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
.
With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed by the owners and players to end the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Penguins began rebuilding the team under a salary cap. They signed big-name free agents
Sergei GoncharSergei Viktorovich Gonchar is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman and an alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He has also played for the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins....
,
John LeClairJonathan Clark LeClair is an American professional ice hockey player. He most recently played left wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League , who released him on December 14, 2006...
, and
Zigmund PalffyŽigmund "Ziggy" Pálffy is a Slovak professional ice hockey player currently playing for HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga....
, and traded for goaltender
Jocelyn ThibaultJocelyn Thibault is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres...
. However,
Evgeni MalkinEvgeni Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player...
, the Penguins'
2004 NHL Entry DraftThe 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout that prevented the 2004–05 NHL season....
selection with their 2nd overall pick, could not come to Pittsburgh immediately due to a dispute with his Russian league.
The team began the season with a long winless skid that resulted in a coaching change from Olczyk to
Michel TherrienMichel Therrien is a former hockey player and head coach for the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Therrien coached the Canadiens for three seasons, taking them to the Eastern Conference semi-finals in the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs...
. Palffy announced his retirement due to a lingering shoulder injury while the team's second-leading scorer. Then on January 24, 2006, Lemieux announced his second retirement, this time for good, after developing an
irregular heart beatAtrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and involves the two upper chambers of the heart. Its name comes from the fibrillating of the heart muscles of the atria, instead of a coordinated contraction...
. He finished as the NHL's seventh all-time scorer (1,723), eighth in goals (690) and tenth in assists (1,033), but also with the second highest career points per game average (1.88), which is second to
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
's 1.92.
As the poor season continued, Crosby had a highly productive rookie season. On the Penguins' final game of the season, Crosby scored a goal and an assist to become the top scoring rookie in Penguins history with 102 points (eclipsing Lemieux who previously held the record), despite losing the rookie scoring race to Russian superstar
Alexander OvechkinAlexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
, who had, unlike Malkin who was also set to debut this season, been able to make his way to the NHL. The Penguins posted the worst record of the Eastern Conference and the highest goals-against in the league. They received the second overall draft pick after losing the lottery in the 2006 NHL Draft and picked
Jordan StaalJordan Staal is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
, the third of four Staal brothers in hockey.
The team announced on April 20 that the contract for General Manager
Craig PatrickCraig Patrick is a former American hockey player, coach and general manager, the son of Lynn Patrick and the grandson of Lester Patrick...
would not be renewed. Patrick had been GM since December 1989. On May 25,
Ray SheroRejean "Ray" Shero is the current general manager of the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. He was hired on May 25, 2006, replacing Craig Patrick. He is the son of former Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers coach Fred Shero.- Hockey Career :Shero played his college hockey for the St...
signed a five-year contract as General Manager.
The real change for the Penguins came next season when on October 18, 2006, young
RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n superstar
Evgeni MalkinEvgeni Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player...
played his first NHL game : scoring a goal. He went on to set the modern NHL record with a goal in each of his first six games. On February 27, 2007, the Penguins acquired Gary Roberts from
FloridaThe Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the South Florida metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise.-Franchise...
and
Georges LaraqueGeorges Laraque is a professional ice hockey forward, and a radio host for CFRN. He and former teammate Francis Bouillon are among the very few NHL players of Haitian descent. He is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League as an enforcer. He is also known as "Big...
from
PhoenixThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team currently based in Glendale, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Malkin continued scoring points as the Penguins earned points in sixteen straight games with 14 wins and 2 overtime losses in early 2007. The streak ended on February 19 with a last-minute loss to the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. It was the second longest point streak in club history.
The Penguins finished the 2006–07 season in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47-24-11, totaling 105 points, only two points behind the division winner,
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. It was the franchise's first 100-point season in 11 years, and represented a healthy 47-point leap from the previous season. In the first round of the
2007 Stanley Cup playoffsThe 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
, the Penguins were defeated 4-1, by Stanley Cup runners-up, the
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. At the season's end, rookies Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal were finalists for the
Calder Memorial TrophyThe Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The award has been awarded 72 times since its beginnings in 1937...
, awarded to the Rookie of the Year, which Malkin won.
After a mediocre start to the 2007–08 season, Crosby and starting goaltender Fleury were both injured long-term due to high right ankle sprains. In their absence, the Penguins flourished due to the play and leadership of center Evgeni Malkin and backup goaltender
Ty ConklinTy Curtis Conklin is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League....
. The Penguins markedly improved in January, and fell no lower than the third seed in the East from that point onward. On February 26, the Penguins would acquire Atlanta star right winger
Marian HossaMarián Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player and currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . Originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Hossa has also played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings...
and forward
Pascal DupuisPascal Dupuis is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
at the NHL trade deadline, relinquishing
Colby ArmstrongColby Joseph Armstrong is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently playing for the Atlanta Thrashers.-Early life:...
,
Erik ChristensenErik Christensen is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
,
Angelo EspositoAngelo Esposito is a Canadian major junior ice hockey player who currently plays for the Montreal Juniors of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and is a prospect for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League...
, and a first round pick in the
2008 NHL Entry DraftThe 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on June 20–21, 2008...
. The Penguins also acquired defensemen
Hal GillHarold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
from the
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for a second round pick in the
2008 NHL Entry DraftThe 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on June 20–21, 2008...
and a fifth round pick in the
2009 NHL Entry DraftThe 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th NHL Entry Draft. It was held June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
.
On April 2, 2008, the Penguins clinched the Atlantic Division title—their first division title in 10 years—with a 4-2 win against rivals the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
. However, they closed the season with a loss to the Flyers on the next night, relegating them to the second seed in the East behind the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The Pens had spent most of the second half going back and forth with the Habs for first place in the East. Evgeni Malkin finished the season with 106 points for second place in the league just behind Washington's
Alexander OvechkinAlexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
and become a finalist for the
Hart Memorial TrophyThe Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League. The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 84 times to 51...
. The team launched into their first extended playoff run in many years, beating Ottawa 4-0, defeating the New York Rangers 4-1 and then defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 to clinch the
Prince of Wales TrophyThe Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, prior to the final series of games for the Stanley Cup...
. Pittsburgh went on to lose the
2008 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
to the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
in six games, finishing the playoffs with a 14-6 record. In the offseason, the Penguins notably lost
Marian HossaMarián Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player and currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . Originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Hossa has also played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings...
who rejected a large contract from the Penguins to accept a contract in Detroit.
In the 2008-09 season, Malkin again starred for the Penguins, taking the Art Ross by narrowly defeating rival Ovechkin in the points race and a candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy for MVP. The Penguins' record dipped mid-season but lifted after head coach Michel Therrien was replaced by Dan Bylsma. The effect was almost instantaneous and the Penguins recovered enough to secure home ice advantage in their first round matchup against the inconsistent Flyers. In the first round, the Penguins dominated the first game at home before the Flyers almost took the second away, it took a huge toe save by Fleury and a late third period goal by Malkin to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead. The Flyers dominated games 3, 4 and 5 on the ice, but crucially Fleury, who was having a dominant series, stopped 44 shots in game 4 to achieve victory. The Penguins were down 3-0 in game six until a Max Talbot fight and a
Ruslan FedotenkoRuslan Fedotenko is a Ukrainian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . A two-time Stanley Cup champion, he has additionally played in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders...
goal spurred a comeback that culminated in a 5-3 victory. The next round was highly publicized due to the presence of Ovechkin, Malkin and Crosby. All three were prolific, as Ovechkin lead the series with 14 points, while Sidney Crosby followed close behind with 13 points. Malkin, who only had three points through the first four games, put up seven points over the final three games for a total of 10 points. The Penguins, who came on top in seven games, went on to the Eastern Conference Finals to beat the
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
4 games to 0, with Malkin notching up a hat-trick and easily leading the series in both points and assists.
2008-09 Rematch Comeback Victory
The Penguins returned to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight season with a rematch against the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
. The Red Wings took the first two games both with a score of 3-1, going back to Pittsburgh for game 3 most people believed that the Penguins would repeat the same as the previous year. However the Penguins held through winning both games in Pittsburgh tieing the series 2-2. It was a different series and many spectators believed Pittsburgh could pull it off until game 5 on June 9. The Penguins started off strong, out shooting the Red Wings in the first period, however Dan Cleary scored a goal in the first to put the Wings up 1-0 which may have been the shift of momentum. The Second period was a massacre for the Penguins. The Wings scored 4 goals in the second to put them up 5-0 going into the third resulting in the pulling of Fleury from goal. Detroit ended up winning the game 5-0 and taking a 3-2 lead in the series. Going into game 6 the series had the same situation as the previous year. The Penguins won game six to a score of 2-1. Game 7 was a defensive struggle for both teams. Crosby suffered a groin injury early in the game and spent much of the time on the sidelines, only returning to the ice for a short shift and to late lift the Stanley Cup. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 2-1 on two Talbot goals, which would result in Talbot becoming a popular sports hero in Pittsburgh. The Game 7 victory was the first by a road team in the NHL since 1971 and the first in pro sports since 1979. Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history to hoist the cup, and Evgeni Malkin won the
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 44 times to 38 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
becoming the first Russian player to do so.
Relocation avoided
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had their tradition and success on the ice tempered with a shaky ownership group from time to time. As early as the mid-1970s, the ownership group experienced cash flow issues and sought to sell the team, even if it meant
relocationRelocation of professional sports teams, is a practice which involves a sporting franchise moving from one metropolitan area to another, although occasionally moves between municipalities in the same conurbation are also included...
. A decade later, a similar financial situation faced the team. As recently as the
2006–07 seasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins 2006–07 Season was ripe with potential, as the team featured one of the largest groups of young stars in the National Hockey League. Evgeni Malkin, the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, defected from Russia prior to the season and joined the team. He...
, the franchise ownership sought alternatives that would provide a
returnReturns, in economics and political economy, are the distributions or payments awarded to the various suppliers of the factors of production.- Wages :...
on their
investmentInvestment or investing is a term with several closely-related meanings in business management, finance and economics, related to saving or deferring consumption. Investing is the active redirection of resources: from being consumed today, to creating benefits in the future; the use of assets to...
. Various prospective owners sought to buy the team; however, the Lemieux Group eventually decided to keep ownership rather than move the team to the highest bidder, thus resulting in the Penguins being set to remain in Pittsburgh for at least 30 more years. As in the mid-70s and 80s, the fanbase and local government officials were successful in persuading the ownership that Pittsburgh and the surrounding region were capable of meeting the needs of a modern NHL team. The possible relocation sites about which there was the greatest speculation and discussion were Houston,
Kansas CityKansas City may refer to:* Kansas City, Missouri, the largest city in Missouri and anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area* Kansas City, Kansas, third-largest city in the Kansas City metropolitan area...
and
Oklahoma CityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. The decision to keep the team in Pittsburgh proved favorable, as the Penguins enjoyed franchise-record home sellouts throughout the 2007–08 NHL season and
2008 Stanley Cup playoffs−The 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 9, 2008, after the 2007–08 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions...
; in some cases, their home playoff games were sold out in less than 15 minutes.
New arena agreement
On March 13, 2007, in a joint announcement by
Pennsylvania Governor Ed RendellEdward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician and Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
,
Allegheny CountyAllegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,281,666. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
Chief ExecutiveA county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position. When elected, he/she typically functions either as a voting member of the elected county government, or may have...
Dan OnoratoDaniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It was announced October 6, 2009 that he will be a candidate for governor in 2010. -Personal history:...
, Pittsburgh Mayor
Luke RavenstahlLuke Robert Ravenstahl is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh. In September 2006, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history at the age of 26...
, and
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
of the Pittsburgh Penguins ownership group, it was made public that an agreement had been reached between the parties. A new state-of-the-art multi-purpose arena, the Consol Energy Center, will be built, guaranteeing that the Penguins will remain in Pittsburgh. Following the announcement of this plan, the Lemieux ownership group announced that they no longer have plans to sell the team.
On June 8, 2007, a $325 million
bondIn finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
was issued and the Penguins signed a 30-year
leaseA lease is a contract conferring a right on one person to possess property belonging to another person to the exclusion of the owner landlord, and all others except with the invitation of the tenant. It is a rental agreement between landlord and tenant...
, binding the Penguins to the city of Pittsburgh for the next 30 years, and the lease agreement was signed on September 19. On May 6, 2008, the Pittsburgh planning commission unanimously approved the final design. The arena will include a glass
atriumIn modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within an office building and usually located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
overlooking downtown Pittsburgh and rooftop lights shining into the sky. The new $290 million dollar arena is expected to open in time for the 2010–11 NHL season. On August 14, 2008, the ground breaking ceremony for the new arena was held, thus officially beginning construction on the new facility. On December 15, 2008, it was announced by the Penguins they had entered into an agreement with Consol Energy on a 21 year deal for naming rights to the new arena.
Logos and uniforms
With the exception of the 1992–2001 period, the Penguins have used a variation of the "skating penguin" logo since the team's inception. For their inaugural season, the logo featured a hefty-looking skating penguin wearing a scarf, on a yellow triangle inside a circle reading "Pittsburgh Penguins". The yellow triangle is a reference to the
Golden TriangleDowntown Pittsburgh, officially called the Golden Triangle or Central Business District, is the urban downtown center of Pittsburgh. It is located at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River whose joining forms the Ohio River. The "triangle" is bound by the two rivers. The...
in the city of Pittsburgh. General manager Jack Riley felt the team's name and logo were ridiculous, and refused to have either appear on the team's uniforms, which featured only the word "PITTSBURGH" diagonally. A refined version of the logo appeared on a redesigned uniform in the second season, which removed the scarf and gave the penguin a sleeker, "meaner" look. The circle encompassing the logo was removed mid-season in 1971–72.
The team's colors were originally
powder bluePowder blue may refer to two different colors. Originally, it referred to a dark blue color, but it has since come to refer to a pale blue color, possibly because the name reminded people of baby powder and so people thought of it as a color similar to baby blue...
,
navy blueNavy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue almost appears as black. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue worn by officers in the British Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world....
and white. The powder blue was changed to
royal blueRoyal blue describes both a bright shade and a dark range of blue. It is said to have been invented by millers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of which won a competition to make a dress for Queen Charlotte....
in 1974, but returned in 1977. The team adopted the current black and gold color scheme in January 1980 (the announcement was made at halftime of
Super Bowl XIVSuper Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
) to unify the colors of the city's professional sports teams, although like the
PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions, in addition to the distinction of playing in the first modern World Series. The Pirates are also often...
and
SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the shade of gold more closely resembled yellow.
This would remain unchanged until the 1992–93 season, when the team unveiled new uniforms and a new logo. The logo featured a modern-looking "flying penguin". Although the logo survived in various forms for 15 years, it received mixed responses from fans and was never as widely accepted as the "skating penguin" logo. Longtime
KDKAKDKA-TV is the CBS owned and operated television station in Pittsburgh. Its studios are located at One Gateway Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 25 from its transmitter in Pittsburgh. Along with sister station KYW-TV, it is one of two television...
anchor
Bill BurnsBill Burns was an American journalist and news anchor.Burns anchored the news for over three decades in Pittsburgh for KDKA, which was the largest station in the market.- Career :...
even went as far as calling the penguin in the logo "a pigeon."
After
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
(a personal fan of the "skating penguin" logo) purchased the team from bankruptcy court in 1999, he announced plans to bring back the "skating penguin" logo. This occurred for the 2000–01 season, when the team revived the logo (albeit with a "Vegas gold" triangle instead of yellow) on the chest of the team's new
alternate jerseysA third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate and/or throwback design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. Alternate jerseys are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro...
. The following season, the logo became the primary logo, and the "flying penguin" logo (also with a "Vegas gold" triangle instead of yellow) was relegated to secondary status, and only on the shoulders of the team's jerseys, until it was quietly retired in 2007 when the team introduced their version of the Rbk Edge uniforms.
The uniforms themselves have changed several times over the years. The original jerseys from the team's first season had diagonal text reading "Pittsburgh". Currently, only images of these uniforms survive, although the jersey is available in
NHL Hitz 20-03NHL Hitz 20-03 is a hockey video game developed by Midway Sports Home Entertainment, Inc. The game was released on Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and also on the Game Boy Advance...
as an alternate jersey for the team. The uniforms themselves were discovered nearly thirty years later in a garbage bag by a
Civic ArenaMellon Arena is an arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city's National Hockey League franchise...
employee at the arena. Due to the years of neglect in the bag, the uniforms were damaged beyond repair. The following season, a revised version of the logo was used on a completely redesigned uniform. Player names were first added in 1970.
Until 1977, the team had some minor striping patterns on the jerseys change every few years. But in 1977, the team basically adopted their longest-lasting uniform style to date and a style they would wear for the next 16 seasons, winning the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
twice in the process. When the colors were swapped from blue and white to black and gold in 1980, the uniform patterns themselves remained unchanged. This was likely due to the fact that the change was made in the middle of the season. From the 1981–82 season to the 1984–85 season, the team had a gold
"Sunday" jerseyA third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate and/or throwback design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. Alternate jerseys are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro...
, called as such because the team only worn them on Sundays. This was a rare example of an NHL team having a
third jerseyA third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate and/or throwback design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. Alternate jerseys are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro...
before the rule allowing such jerseys was officially implemented in 1995.
After winning their second
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 1992, the team completely redesigned their uniforms and introduced the "flying penguin" logo. The team's away uniforms were somewhat of a throwback to the team's first season, as they revived the diagonal "Pittsburgh" script. In 1995, the team introduced their second
alternate jerseyA third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate and/or throwback design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. Alternate jerseys are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro...
, which was a black Penguins jersey with the team's logo and had blue accents, an obvious throwback to the original team colors. This jersey would prove to be so popular that the team adopted it as their away jersey in 1997.
In 2000, the team unveiled yet another
alternate jerseyA third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate and/or throwback design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. Alternate jerseys are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro...
, the aforementioned black jersey featuring the revival of the "skating penguin" logo. This would later prove to be a test to see how the revived logo would do with fans, and the following season became the team's away uniform with a white version as the team's home jersey. When the Rbk Edge jerseys were unveiled for the 2007–08 season leaguewide, the Penguins made some major striping pattern changes and quietly removed the "flying penguin" logo from the shoulders. They also added a "Pittsburgh 250" gold circular patch to the shoulders to commemorate the 250th birthday of the city of Pittsburgh.
While the Penguins, as with the rest of the NHL, have worn their dark jerseys at home since the league made the initiative to do so starting with the 2003–04 NHL season, the team wore their white jerseys in some home games during the 2007–08 NHL season and at least once during the
2008–09 NHL seasonThe 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
, as well as wearing their powder blue, 1968–72
throwbacksThrowback uniforms and jerseys are one-time or limited-time variations on a sports team's uniforms styled to resemble uniforms from that team's past...
against the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
in the
AMP Energy NHL Winter ClassicThe 2008 NHL Winter Classic also known as the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic was a National Hockey League game played on January 1, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ET, outdoors at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. It was the first regular-season outdoor professional ice hockey game to be played in...
. On November 5, 2008, this jersey was introduced as the current third jersey. This will be worn for select home games during the
2008–09 seasonThe 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
.
Season-by-season record
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Penguins.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Records as of April 7, 2007.
| Season |
GP |
W |
L |
OTL |
Pts |
GF |
GA |
PIM |
Finish |
Playoffs |
| 2004–05 |
Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout |
| 2005–06 |
82 |
22 |
46 |
14 |
58 |
244 |
316 |
1539 |
5th, Atlantic |
Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 |
82 |
47 |
24 |
11 |
105 |
277 |
246 |
1211 |
2nd, Atlantic |
Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1-4 (SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
) |
| 2007–08 |
82 |
47 |
27 |
8 |
102 |
247 |
216 |
1155 |
1st, Atlantic |
Lost in Finals, 2-4 (Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
) |
|
|2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
>
82 |
45 |
28 |
9 |
99 |
264 |
239 |
1114 |
2nd, Atlantic |
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Champions, 4-3 (Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
) |
- 1 As of the 2005–06 NHL season, all games will have a winner; the OTL column includes SOL (Shootout losses).
Hall of Famers
Players
- Andy Bathgate
Andrew James Bathgate is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.-Playing career:Andy Bathgate was a popular star-player of the New York Rangers...
, RW, (1967–68, 1970–71) inducted 1978
- Leo Boivin
Léo Joseph Boivin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:Leo Boivin began playing hockey at seven years...
, D, (1967–69) inducted 1986
- Paul Coffey
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional Hall of Fame ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th overall by...
, D, (1987–92) inducted 2004
- Ron Francis
Ronald Michael Francis, Jr. , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centreman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, C, (1990–98) inducted 2007
- Tim Horton
Tim Horton was a Canadian professional hockey defenceman. He played in 24 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. He was also a businessman and the co-founder of Tim Hortons, now Canada's largest restaurant...
, D, (1971–72) inducted 1977
- Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
, C, (1984–97, 2000–06) inducted 1997
- Joe Mullen
Joseph Mullen is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins from 1980–1997. He won three Stanley Cups in 1989 with Calgary, and in 1991 and 1992 with Pittsburgh...
, RW, (1990–95, 1996–97) inducted 2000
- Larry Murphy, D, (1990–95) inducted 2004
- Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and honoured member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. During his 19-season National Hockey League career, Robitaille won a Stanley Cup in 2001–02 with the Detroit Red Wings, and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers,...
, LW, (1995) to be inducted 2009
- Bryan Trottier
Bryan John Trottier is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey center who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins...
, C, (1990–92, 1993–94) inducted 1997
Builders
- Scotty Bowman
William Scott Bowman is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit...
, director of player development & head coach, (1990–93) inducted 1991
- Bob Johnson, head coach, (1990–91) inducted 1992
- Craig Patrick
Craig Patrick is a former American hockey player, coach and general manager, the son of Lynn Patrick and the grandson of Lester Patrick...
, GM & head coach, (1989–06) inducted 2001
- Herb Brooks
Herbert Paul "Herb" Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey coach, best known for coaching the U.S. hockey team to a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics in an event known as the "Miracle on Ice"....
, head coach, (1999–00) inducted 2006
Other
- Media - Mike Lange
Mike Lange is the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster....
, broadcaster (1974–75, 1976–present) inducted 2001 - Foster Hewitt Memorial AwardThe Foster Hewitt Memorial Award is an award named after Foster Hewitt and presented by the Hockey Hall of Fame to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of hockey during their broadcasting career...
Penguins Hall of Fame
- Bob Johnson, head coach (1990-91) inducted 1992
- Jean Pronovost
Jean Pronovost is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals. He is also a noted born-again Christian....
, RW (1968-78) inducted 1992
- Rick Kehoe
Rick Kehoe is a retired professional ice hockey player and coach, most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, RW (1974-85) inducted 1992
- Syl Apps, Jr.
Sylvanus Marshall Apps, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins....
, C (1970-78) inducted 1994
- Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.
Edward John DeBartolo, Sr. was an American businessman who is widely regarded as the father of the American shopping mall...
, owner (1977-91) inducted 1996
- Dave Burrows
David James Burrows is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He started his NHL career in 1971, and played through 1981...
, D (1971-78, 1980-82) inducted 1996
- Elaine Heufelder, front office (1967-2003) inducted 1996
- Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
, C (1984-97, 2000-06), owner (1999-present) inducted 1999
- Jack Riley
Jack Riley is a retired professional ice hockey player and executive.Riley played nine seasons of professional hockey, primarily in the Eastern Hockey League for the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Falcons and Washington Lions...
, GM (1967-70, 1972-74) inducted 1999
- Joe Mullen
Joseph Mullen is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins from 1980–1997. He won three Stanley Cups in 1989 with Calgary, and in 1991 and 1992 with Pittsburgh...
, RW (1990-95, 1996-97) inducted 2000
- Craig Patrick
Craig Patrick is a former American hockey player, coach and general manager, the son of Lynn Patrick and the grandson of Lester Patrick...
, GM (1989-2006) inducted 2001
- Mike Lange
Mike Lange is the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster....
, broadcaster (1974-75, 1976-present) inducted 2001
- Anthony "A.T." Caggiano, locker room (1967-2000) inducted 2001
- Les Binkley
Leslie John Binkley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Career:Les Binkley spent his early career in the minor leagues, reaching the NHL level in his thirties...
, G (1967-1972) inducted 2003
- Ulf Samuelsson
Ulf Samuelsson is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes. He played for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.- Biography :He specialized in heavy body checks and...
, D (1991-1995) inducted 2003
- Vince Lascheid, organist (1970-2003) inducted 2003
- Paul Coffey
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional Hall of Fame ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th overall by...
, D (1987-1992) inducted 2007
- Frank Sciulli, locker room (1967-2007) inducted 2007
Retired numbers
- 21 Michel Briere
Michel Brière was an NHL hockey player whose career was cut short due to an automobile accident in 1970.-Career:...
, C (1969–70) taken out of circulation following his death (1971) but not officially retired until January 5, 2001
- 66 Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
, C (1984–97) & (2000–06) number retired November 19, 1997; his number was "unretired" when he began his comeback on December 27, 2000. '66' was then re-retired on October 5, 2006.
- 99 Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
, C: Number retired league-wide by NHL on February 6, 2000 (No official banner at Mellon Arena)
Penguins' Ring of Honor
A mural honoring members of the franchise's "Millennium Team", it was first displayed September 26, 2003. This is a permanent display at Mellon ArenaMellon Arena is an arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city's National Hockey League franchise...
designed to honor past greats without having to retire their numbers. Current members are:
Franchise scoring leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Penguins player
| Player |
Pos |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
P/G |
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
|
C |
915 |
690 |
1033 |
1723 |
1.88 |
Jaromir JagrJaromír Jágr is a professional ice hockey right winger, who plays for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. Jágr formerly played in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and most recently the New York Rangers...
|
RW |
806 |
439 |
640 |
1079 |
1.34 |
| Rick Kehoe Rick Kehoe is a retired professional ice hockey player and coach, most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.- Playing career :...
|
RW |
722 |
312 |
324 |
636 |
.88 |
Ron FrancisRonald Michael Francis, Jr. , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centreman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs...
|
C |
533 |
144 |
449 |
613 |
1.15 |
| Jean Pronovost Jean Pronovost is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals. He is also a noted born-again Christian....
|
RW |
753 |
316 |
287 |
603 |
.80 |
| Kevin Stevens Kevin Stevens is a retired NHL hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is best known for being the left wing for Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992 seasons...
|
LW |
522 |
260 |
295 |
555 |
1.06 |
| Syl Apps, Jr. Sylvanus Marshall Apps, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins....
|
C |
495 |
151 |
349 |
500 |
1.01 |
Martin StrakaMartin Straka is a Czech ice hockey centre who plays for HC Lasselsberger Plzen of the Czech Extraliga.-Playing career:...
|
C |
560 |
165 |
277 |
442 |
.79 |
Paul CoffeyPaul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional Hall of Fame ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th overall by...
|
D |
331 |
108 |
332 |
440 |
1.33 |
| Ron Schock Ronald Lawrence "Ron" Schock was a National Hockey League centre from 1964 to 1978. His younger brother, Danny Schock, also played briefly in the NHL. Ron retired following 909 games, recording a total of 166 goals, 351 assists, and 517 points.While playing with the St...
|
C |
619 |
124 |
280 |
404 |
.65 |
Franchise individual records
Season
- Most goals in a season: Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
, 85 (1988–89)
- Most assists in a season: Mario Lemieux, 114 (1988–89)
- Most points in a season: Mario Lemieux, 199 (1988–89)
- Most penalty minutes in a season: Paul Baxter
Paul Gordon Baxter was an National Hockey League defenceman from 79" to 87" and an NHL assistant coach for eleven seasons. He is currently coaching the Wenatchee Wild in the NAHL.-Career:...
, 409 (1981–82)
- Most points in a season, defenseman: Paul Coffey
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional Hall of Fame ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th overall by...
, 113 (1988–89)
- Most points in a season, rookie: Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby
ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
, 102 (2005–06)
- Most wins in a season: Tom Barrasso
Thomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
, 43 (1992–93)
Playoffs
- Most Goals in a playoff season: Kevin Stevens
Kevin Stevens is a retired NHL hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is best known for being the left wing for Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992 seasons...
, 17 (1990-91)
- Most Assists in a playoff Season: Mario Lemieux, 28 (1990-91)
- Most Points in a playoff Season: Mario Lemieux, 44 (1990-91)
- Most Points in a playoff Season, defenseman: Larry Murphy
Lawrence Thomas Murphy is a former Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman.-Playing career:...
,23 (1990-91)
- Most wins in a playoff season: Tom Barrasso, 16 (1991–92) and Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-André Fleury is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
, 16 (2008–09)
- Lowest goals against average in a playoff season: Ron Tugnutt
Ronald Frederick Bradley Tugnutt is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the OHL from 1984-1987 and was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques of the NHL in the 4th round, 81st overall....
, 1.77 (1999–00)
- Highest save percentage in a playoff season: Ron Tugnutt, .945% (1999–00)
- Most playoff shutouts: Tom Barrasso, 6
- Most shutouts in a playoff season: Marc-Andre Fleury, 3 (2007–08)
- Most consecutive games in a single playoff with multiple points: Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player...
, 6 (2009)
Current staff
Media
The Penguins currently have their radioRadio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
home on WXDX-FMWXDX-FM , is a modern rock radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an ERP of 15.5kw.-History:...
and their televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
home is on FSN Pittsburgh.
The Penguins recently started their own 24-hour radio channel on HD RadioHD Radio technology is a system used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals. As a standard practice,the kilohertz signal rate is written next to its corresponding data transfer rate kilobits/s or kbits/s in HD Radio...
, with WXDX converting their adult album alternativeAdult album alternative is a radio format broadcast mostly on FM. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots may have been established sometime during the 1960s from what was called freeform and later progressive...
digital subchannelIn broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel...
on HD-2 into a 24-hour Penguins channel. The channel will feature the NHL’s own daily “NHL Live” and league commissioner Gary Bettman’sGary Bruce Bettman is the commissioner of the National Hockey League , a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association...
weekly “NHL Hour,” in addition to local programming. The team becomes the first NHL team with its own radio channel, and joins the NFL'sThe National Football League is the largest professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
Dallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team that plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . They are headquartered in suburban Irving, Texas, which lies between Fort Worth and Dallas...
as the second professional sportsProfessional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are those in which athletes receive payment for their performance. While men have competed as professional athletes throughout much of modern history, only recently has it become common for women to have the opportunity to become professional...
team to have such a channel.
Radio
- Mike Lange
Mike Lange is the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster....
, play-by-play
- Phil Bourque
Phil Bourque is a former National Hockey League left wing and defenceman. He was never selected in the NHL Entry Draft; instead, he was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 4, 1982....
, color commentator
- Bob Grove
Bob Grove is a sports writer and media specialist who has been covering the Pittsburgh Penguins since 1981. He is a senior writer for the monthly Pittsburgh Sports Report. He also serves as a regular co-host on the Penguins Radio Network. Grove formerly wrote for the Washington, PA Observer-Reporter...
, pre & postgame host
See also
External links