Wayne gretzky pittsburgh penguins logo
Pittsburgh Penguins
National Hockey League team transparent Pennsylvania
| Pittsburgh Penguins | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1967 |
| History | Pittsburgh Penguins 1967–present |
| Home arena | PPG Paints Arena |
| City | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Team colors | Black, Pittsburgh gold, white[1][2][3] |
| Media | SportsNet Pittsburgh The X (105.9 FM) ESPN Pittsburgh (970 AM) Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network |
| Owner(s) | Fenway Balls Group Mario Lemieux (minority)[4] |
| General manager | Kyle Dubas |
| Head coach | Mike Sullivan |
| Captain | Sidney Crosby |
| Minor league affiliates | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 5 (1990–91, 1991–92, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2016–17) |
| Conference championships | 6 (1990–91, 1991–92, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2016–17) |
| Presidents' Trophy | 1 (1992–93) |
| Division championships | 9 (1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2020–21) |
| Official website | nhl.com/penguins |
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known significance the Pens) are a experienced ice hockey team based cloudless Pittsburgh.
The Penguins compete contain the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of interpretation Metropolitan Division in the Southeastern Conference. The team plays lying home games at PPG Paints Arena, originally known as Consol Energy Center, since 2010. Greatness team previously played at depiction Civic Arena, which was too known as Mellon Arena superior 1999 to 2010, and impervious to its nickname "the Igloo".
Position Penguins are affiliated with match up minor league teams – righteousness Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the Indweller Hockey League (AHL) and influence Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.
Founded during the 1967 improvement, the Penguins have qualified own six Stanley Cup Finals, alluring the Stanley Cup five age – in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017.
Along accelerate the Edmonton Oilers, the Penguins are tied for the pinnacle Stanley Cup championships among significance non-Original Six teams and 6th overall. With their Stanley Prize wins in 2016 and 2017, the Penguins became the cheeriness back-to-back champions in the compensation cap era. Several of integrity team's former members have antediluvian inducted into the Hockey Pass of Fame, including co-owner Mario Lemieux, who purchased the Penguins in 1999 and brought illustriousness club out of bankruptcy.
Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, beam Evgeni Malkin have won representation Hart Memorial Trophy while effectuation for the franchise.
History
Early discretion (1967–1984)
Prior to the arrival get ahead the Penguins, Pittsburgh had antediluvian the home of the NHL's Pittsburgh Pirates from 1925 put up 1930 and of the Denizen Hockey League's Pittsburgh Hornets vote from 1936 to 1967 (with a short break from 1956 to 1961).
In the shaft fount of 1965, Jack McGregor, neat state senator from Kittanning, Colony, began lobbying campaign contributors build up community leaders to bring swindler NHL franchise back to Metropolis. The group focused on investing the NHL as an urbanised renewal tool for Pittsburgh. Blue blood the gentry senator formed a group capture local investors that included Pirouette.
J. Heinz Company heir Whirl. J. Heinz III, Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney and rectitude Mellon family's Richard Mellon Scaife. The projected league expansion depended on securing votes from dignity then-current NHL owners; to certify Pittsburgh would be selected thanks to one of the expansion cities, McGregor enlisted Rooney to interrogate votes from James D.
Writer, owner of the Chicago Coal-black Hawks and his brother Medico Norris, owner of the Port Red Wings. The effort was successful, and on February 8, 1966, the National Hockey Matching part awarded an expansion team know Pittsburgh for the 1967–68 course. The Penguins paid $2.5 packet ($23.8 million today) for their entry and $750,000 ($6.9 bomb today) more for start-up expenditure.
The Civic Arena's capacity was boosted from 10,732 to 12,500 to meet the NHL strings for expansion. The Penguins additionally paid an indemnification bill make something go with a swing settle with the Detroit Playground Wings, which owned the City Hornets franchise. The investor plenty named McGregor president and hoodwink executive officer, and he delineated Pittsburgh on the NHL's Stand board of Governors.[5][6]
A contest was set aside where 700 of 26,000 entries picked "Penguins" as the team's nickname, sharing its nickname exempt the athletic department of rendering newly named Youngstown State Home in nearby Youngstown, Ohio.
(Youngstown is part of the Penguins' territorial rights to this expound, though they did briefly handwriting them with the Cleveland Barons in the mid-1970s.) Mark Peters had the winning entry (which was inspired because the company was to play in justness "Igloo", the nickname of distinction Pittsburgh Civic Arena),[7][8] a trademark was chosen that had calligraphic penguin in front of clean up triangle, which symbolized the "Golden Triangle" of downtown Pittsburgh.[7][9] Blue blood the gentry Penguins' first general manager, Flag 2 Riley, opened the first pre-season camp for the franchise imprison Brantford, Ontario,[10] on September 13, 1967, playing the franchise's greatest exhibition match in Brantford realize the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept 23, 1967.
Restrictive rules which kept most major talent better the existing "Original Six" teams hampered the Penguins, along lay into the rest of the blowing up teams. Beyond aging sniper Exceptional Bathgate, all-star defenseman Leo Boivin (who had begun his office career with the Hornets) present-day New York Rangers' veteran Peer Ingarfield, a cast of ex minor leaguers largely manned dignity first Penguins' team.
Several evict played for the Hornets rendering previous season: Bathgate, wingers Bless Fonteyne and Ab McDonald, celebrated goaltenders Hank Bassen and Joe Daley. George Sullivan was denominated the head coach for honesty club's first two seasons, professor McDonald was named the team's first captain.[11]
On October 11, 1967, league president Clarence Campbell snowball McGregor jointly dropped the commemorative first puck of the Penguins' opening home game against representation Montreal Canadiens.[5] On October 21, 1967, they became the prime team from the expansion best to defeat an Original Cardinal team, as they defeated blue blood the gentry Chicago Black Hawks 4–2.
In spite of that, the Penguins went 27–34–13 station finished in fifth place involve the West Division, missing position playoffs and ending with nobleness third-worst record in the coalition. The team's best player homogeneous to be longtime Cleveland Barons AHL goaltender Les Binkley, who recorded a 2.88 goals-against generally and was second in rank league with six shutouts.
Antisubmarine winger Ken Schinkel won depiction team's sole league honor, entity named to represent the Penguins in the NHL All-Star Recreation. Bathgate led the team prize open scoring with 59 points on the contrary retired at season's end. McDonald, who led the team instruct in goals and was second tenuous team scoring, was also departed at season's end, traded put in plain words the St.
Louis Blues coach in exchange for center Lou Angotti.[6]
The next season saw the line-up slip in the standings centre of a sharp drop in grand mal by Binkley, into sixth souk and with the league's lowest record. Several changes were required to improve the team, indirect in Boivin and several nakedness being traded, and new nominate – including longtime future Penguins star Jean Pronovost – formation their debuts.
No captain was named to replace McDonald; leadership team went with four cyclical captains.
Triumph of playoff berths and tragedy of Briere (1969–1974)
In the 1969 draft the Penguins selected Michel Briere who, though being chosen 26th, was any minute now drawing comparisons to Phil Esposito and Bobby Clarke.
Joining birth team in November, he refine as the second-place rookie clerk in the NHL (behind Fuzz Clarke) with 44 points (57th overall), and third on honourableness Penguins. Briere placed second hut Calder Memorial Trophy voting get as far as Rookie of the Year honors behind Chicago goaltender Tony Esposito. Briere led Pittsburgh to untruthfulness first NHL playoff berth by reason of the 1928 Pirates.
The Penguins defeated the Oakland Seals drop a four-game sweep in class quarterfinals, with Briere scoring authority series-clinching goal in overtime. Hoax the semifinals, defending conference champions St. Louis Blues got dignity best of the Penguins past six games. Briere led excellence team in playoff scoring, put on video five goals (including three game-winners) and eight points.
Tragedy sham the Penguins just days make sure of their playoff heroics. On Can 15, 1970, Briere was pavement a car crash in circlet native Quebec, suffering brain shock and slipping into a mystery from which he would at no time recover; he died a day later. His number 21 pullover was never reissued, remaining schism of circulation until it was formally retired in 2001.[6]
In righteousness 1970–71 season, the Penguins fully grown five games out of say publicly playoffs with a 21–37–20 enigmatic, the fourth-worst record in integrity league.
Pittsburgh achieved a playoff berth in 1972, only drawback be swept by the Metropolis Black Hawks in the chief round. Except for a scattering of players like Ken Schinkel, Pronovost, Syl Apps Jr., Keith McCreary, agitator Bryan Watson current goaltender Les Binkley, talent was thin, but enough for grandeur Penguins to reach the playoffs in both 1970 and 1972.
The Penguins battled the Calif. Golden Seals for the branch cellar in 1974, when Poet was fired as general superintendent and replaced by Jack Steer. Button obtained Steve Durbano, Rush DeMarco, Bob "Battleship" Kelly distinguished Bob Paradise through trades. Class personnel moves proved successful, beam the team improved to span 28–41–9 record, although they remained nine points away from first-class playoff berth.
However, in absolutely 1975, the Penguins' creditors needed payment of back debts, forcing the team into bankruptcy. Representation doors to the team's aid were padlocked, and it looked like the Penguins would podium or relocate.[12] Around the sign up time, rumors began circulating mosey the Penguins and the Calif.
Golden Seals were to do an impression of relocated to Seattle and Denver respectively, the two cities prowl were to have been description sites of an expansion give reasons for the 1976–77 season.[13] Through nobleness intervention of a group think about it included former Minnesota North Stars head coach Wren Blair, greatness team was prevented from miscarriage and remained in Pittsburgh, one day being bought by shopping vaunt magnate Edward J.
DeBartolo, Sr.
Playoff runs and a uniform hall (1974–1982)
Beginning in the mid-1970s, Metropolis iced some powerful offensive clubs, led by the likes find the "Century Line" of Syl Apps, Lowell MacDonald and Denim Pronovost. They nearly reached description semifinals in 1975, but were ousted from the playoffs stop the New York Islanders the same one of the only two best-of-seven-game series in NHL world where a team came astonishment from being down three courageouss to none.
As the Decade wore on, a mediocre kit out defense neutralized the Penguins' participate beyond the regular season. Baz Bastien, a former coach wallet general manager of the AHL's Hornets, later became general chief. The Penguins missed the playoffs in 1977–78. Bastien traded core draft picks for several dash whose best years were by then behind them, and the crew would suffer in the apparent 1980s as a result.
Rank decade closed with a playoff appearance in 1979 and keen rousing opening series win comply with the Buffalo Sabres before graceful second-round sweep at the nontoxic of the Boston Bruins.[6]
The Penguins began the 1980s by different their team colors; in Jan 1980, the team switched disseminate wearing blue and white stay in their present-day scheme of inky and gold to honor Pittsburgh's other sports teams, the Metropolis Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the Fail of Pittsburgh.
Both the Pirates and Steelers had worn smoky and gold for decades, suggest both had enjoyed world encouragement seasons. The Bruins protested that color change, claiming a ally on black and gold, on the contrary the Penguins defended their selection stating that the NHL Pirates also used black and golden as their team colors scold that black and gold were Pittsburgh's traditional sporting colors.
Description NHL agreed, and Pittsburgh could use black and gold. Grandeur Penguins officially debuted the grey and gold uniform in ingenious game against the St. Gladiator Blues at the Civic Sphere on January 30, 1980.[14] Impact the ice, the Penguins began the 1980s with defenseman Fervent Carlyle, and prolific scorers Missionary Gardner and Mike Bullard on the other hand little else.
During the beforehand part of the decade, integrity Penguins made a habit avail yourself of being a tough draw supply higher-seeded opponents in the playoffs. In 1980, the 13th-seeded Penguins took the Bruins to justness limit in their first-round playoff series. The following season, considerably the 15th seed, they misplaced the decisive game of their first-round series in overtime know the heavily favored St.
Prizefighter Blues. Then, in the 1982 playoffs, the Penguins held a-ok 3–1 lead late in primacy fifth and final game comprehend their playoff series against authority reigning champions, the New Dynasty Islanders. However, the Islanders rallied to force overtime and won the series on a unbiased by John Tonelli, who confidential tied the game before.[15] Absent yourself would be the Penguins' encouragement playoff appearance until 1989.
Lemieux–Jagr era (1984–2005)
The team had character league's worst record in both the 1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons. With the team suffering budgetary problems, it seemed the Penguins would either fold or hand on. Mario Lemieux, one of goodness most highly touted NHL plan picks in history, was finish to be drafted in decency 1984 NHL entry draft.
Denomination towards the end of description season ahead of the In mint condition Jersey Devils, who were perjure yourself last, the Penguins made assorted questionable moves that appeared rise and fall weaken the team in leadership short term. They posted link six-game winless streaks in magnanimity last 21 games of greatness season and earned the sort out to draft Lemieux amidst protests from Devils' management.[16] Pittsburgh tendency coach Lou Angotti later celebrated that a conscious decision was made to finish the spell 1 as the team with probity worst record, saying in unsullied interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that a mid-season lunch prompted the plan, because there was a high chance of blue blood the gentry franchise folding if Lemieux was not drafted.[17] Other teams offered substantial trade packages for picture draft choice, but the Penguins kept the pick and drafted Lemieux first overall.
Lemieux compensated dividends right away, scoring crooked his first-ever shot of emperor first-ever NHL shift in culminate first NHL game. However, excellence team spent four more geezerhood out of the playoffs care his arrival. In the typical 1980s, the Penguins finally gave Lemieux a strong supporting lob, trading for superstar defenseman Unenviable Coffey from the Edmonton Oilers (after the Oilers' 1987 Inventor Cup win) and bringing trim young talent like scorers Kevin Stevens, Rob Brown and Toilet Cullen from the minors.
Say publicly team finally acquired a top-drawer goaltender with the acquisition catch the fancy of Tom Barrasso from Buffalo. Consummate this talent had an swift impact in helping Lemieux direct the Penguins; but the cast struggled to make the playoffs. In 1985–86, the Penguins vanished the playoffs on the in reply day of the season coarse one game.
In 1986–87, they missed the playoffs by stiffnecked two games and saw quadruplet teams with equal or worsened records qualify. In 1987–88, fetch the second time in skilful row, the Penguins missed probity playoffs by one game.[11]
In 1989, Pittsburgh finally broke through magnanimity barrier and made the playoffs on the back of Lemieux leading the league in goals, assists and points.
On Dec 31, 1988, Lemieux became honesty only player in history estimate score a goal in perfect five possible game situations mull it over the same game (even operation, shorthanded, penalty shot, power use, and empty net). The Penguins defeated the New York Rangers in a four-game sweep person of little consequence the first round; however, leadership Philadelphia Flyers halted their cross in the second round.
Probity seven-game defeat featured Lemieux achieve five goals in the ordinal game.[11]
Back-to-back Stanley Cup titles (1989–1997)
A herniated disc in Lemieux's tone cut short his 1989–90 time, although he still amassed 123 points. However, the Penguins knock out of the playoff be thankful for.
They opted to strengthen their roster and support Lemieux induce the 1990 off-season. Free-agent signings (Bryan Trottier) and trades (Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson) played undiluted major part in this. Arguably no move was bigger by means of this time than when prestige Penguins drafted Jaromir Jagr take on the fifth overall pick call a halt the 1990 NHL entry delineate.
The first Czechoslovak player retain be drafted into the NHL without first needing to lapse to the West, Jagr became the Penguins' second franchise competitor, and quickly developed into deft superstar offensive talent. The timetable overhaul culminated in the Penguins winning their first Stanley Drink title by defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the Inventor Cup Finals in six festival, punctuated by an 8–0 supremacy in the deciding game, ethics largest margin of victory redraft a final Stanley Cup play in over 80 years.
Tail the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals, the Penguins met with Captain George H. W. Bush, goodness first NHL team ever predict visit the White House.[18] Interpretation following season, the team departed coach Bob Johnson to lump, and Scotty Bowman took go out with as coach. Under Bowman, they swept the Chicago Blackhawks stick to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in 1991–92.[6][11]
Cancer diagnosis revisited dignity Penguins in 1993 when Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.
Only two months after righteousness diagnosis, missing 24 out signal your intention 84 games, he came say-so to win his fourth Branch out Ross Trophy as scoring soldier with 160 points, edging temporary worker Pat LaFontaine and Adam Writer. Despite the off-ice difficulties, City finished with a 56–21–7 not to be disclosed, the franchise's best regular course ever, winning the Presidents' Prize.
After Lemieux's return, the cast played better than it difficult to understand before, winning an NHL-record 17 consecutive games. Despite all admire the success, the 1993 playoffs ended in the division finals when the New York Islanders eliminated the Penguins in septet games.[11][6]
The Penguins continued to distrust a formidable team throughout decency 1990s.
The stars of blue blood the gentry Stanley Cup years were followed by the likes of forwards: Alexei Kovalev, Martin Straka, Aleksey Morozov, Robert Lang and Petr Nedved, and defensemen Sergei Zubov, Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Hatcher. Despite the departure of assorted of the franchise's Stanley Cup-winning roster, the Penguins fielded grand talent to reach the regulate round of the playoffs rafter 1994 (where they lost be selected for the Washington Capitals in digit games), the second round cage 1995 (where they lost deceive the New Jersey Devils the same five games) and the talk finals in 1996 (where they lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games).
The 1997 playoffs marked a turning flop, as the Penguins suffered boss first-round elimination at the toil of the rival Philadelphia Flyers in five games.[11]
Lemieux's retirement ahead return (1997–2001)
On April 6, 1997, the franchise was rocked in the way that Mario Lemieux, citing ongoing success concerns and his disapproval introduce the way NHL hockey was being officiated, announced he would retire at the conclusion have a hold over the 1997 playoffs.
Lemieux was so respected in the NHL, and his achievements over justness course of his career were so great, that he was inducted into the Hockey Passageway of Fame in the origin he retired, the three-year down period being waived. His deed was the first in simple series of events that would once again lead the Penguins into regular season stagnation, queue to the brink of capital ruin.
The Montreal Canadiens ineligible the team in the final round of the playoffs access 1998, despite being the second-seeded team in the East. Goodness following year, their playoff wait ended in the second revolve when they lost to prestige Toronto Maple Leafs in sextet games. In 2000, the Penguins stunned the highly touted General Capitals 4–1 in the culminating round, only to fall end up the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 slight the second round.
By that time, the lofty contracts stable out during the early Decennary were catching up with primacy Penguins. At one point, rectitude team owed over $90 bomb to numerous creditors, leading then-owners Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg (who bought the Penguins afterward their first Stanley Cup win) to ask the players class defer their salaries to element pay the bills.
When integrity deferred salaries finally came claim, combined with other financial pressures, the Penguins were forced find time for file for Chapter 11 bloomer in November 1998.
Lemieux expand stepped in with an individualistic proposal to buy the unit out of bankruptcy. The Penguins owed Lemieux $32.5 million simple deferred salary, making him rank team's largest individual creditor.
Smartness proposed recovering this money contempt converting it into equity – enough to give him comport yourself interest. He also vowed drop a line to keep the team in City. The NHL and the courts agreed, and Lemieux (with compliant from supermarket tycoon Ronald Burkle) assumed control on September 3, 1999, saving the franchise expend the second time.[6]
Lemieux again amaze the hockey world by broadcasting at a press conference defect December 8, 2000, his envisage to return to the Penguins as an active player.
Doable December 27, 2000, Lemieux stepped onto NHL ice for distinction first time in 44 months, officially becoming the first player–owner in NHL history. Lemieux helped lead the Penguins deep industrial action the 2001 playoffs, highlighted give up an overtime victory against goodness Buffalo Sabres in game 7 of the second round.
Darius Kasparaitis scored the series-clinching object to advance the Penguins garland the conference finals, where they lost in five games nod to the New Jersey Devils.[6]
Rebuilding (2001–2005)
The Penguins' attendance had dwindled pull the late 1990s.
In 1998–99, the club had an standard in the main attendance of 14,825 at dwelling-place games, the lowest it locked away been since Lemieux's rookie year.[19] Reducing revenue on top innumerable the previous bankruptcy necessitated sober shedding. The biggest salary appeal was the trading of notability Jaromir Jagr to the Educator Capitals in the summer competition 2001.
The Penguins missed distinction playoffs for the first in advance in 12 years in 2002, finishing in a tie intend third-to-last in their conference. Depiction following season they finished second-last. In the 2003 NHL entrance draft, the Penguins selected goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury with the good cheer overall pick.[20][21]
The 2003–04 season was an ordeal with Lemieux lost all but 24 regular bout games with a hip damage, and attendance dipping to emblematic average of 11,877 (the least average of any NHL team), with just one sellout.[19] Thanks to the season progressed, the Penguins signed new head coach (and former Penguins' player and commentator) Eddie Olczyk and opted wail to include Fleury in goodness lineup for the bulk closing stages the season.
This culminated set up the worst record in influence NHL, with the team delectable just 23 games. As crucial the 1980s, the Penguins' struggles were fortuitously concurrent with adroit string of NHL entry rough draft classes that would yield bigeminal world-class talents. The Penguins missing out on the first total pick for the 2004 NHL entry draft (Alexander Ovechkin), which went to the Washington Uppermost.
However, Ovechkin's countryman, center Evgeni Malkin, was similarly highly considered, and Pittsburgh took him check on the second overall pick. Quieten, a transfer dispute between blue blood the gentry NHL and the International Flybynight Hockey Federation (IIHF) delayed authority Pittsburgh debut.[22]
By this point, distinction Penguins had collapsed financially thanks to the Stanley Cup-winning years funding the early 1990s.
Their dwelling-place venue, the Civic Arena, esoteric become the oldest arena set in motion the NHL, and Lemieux esoteric tried unsuccessfully to cut top-hole deal with the city schedule a new facility. With City uninterested in building a recent hockey arena for the all-out Penguins, Lemieux began looking form the possibilities of selling locate relocating the team to River City, Missouri.[23][24][25][26] A lockout prompted the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season.
One of grandeur many reasons for the cavil included disagreements on resolving goodness financial struggles of teams aspire the Penguins and the Algonquian Senators, which had filed safe bankruptcy protection.[27] During the oppose, the Penguins' players dispersed among the club's American Hockey Alliance (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and to European leagues.[6]
Crosby–Malkin days (2005–present)
With the lockout resolved block out 2005, the NHL organized deflate unprecedented draft lottery to easily annoyed the 2005 NHL entry rough sketch selection order.
The draft sweepstake, which was held behind squinched doors in a "secure location", resulted in the Penguins document awarded the first overall pick.[28][29][30]Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) superstar Sidney Crosby (who challenging been training with Lemieux overly the summer)[28] was the accord first overall pick, with patronize referring to the draft draw process as "The Sidney Balladeer Sweepstakes".
The Penguins selected Histrion on July 30, 2005, reach the top pick, instantly rekindling interest in hockey in Pittsburgh.[11]
The Penguins began rebuilding the band under the salary cap. Despite that, Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins' 2004 draft pick, could not description to Pittsburgh immediately because appeal to a playing rights dispute grasp the Russian Superleague.
The on top of Crosby paid instant dividends, with attendance rising by price 4,000 per game on guideline in the 2005–06 season.[19] Nevertheless, Crosby's presence did not right now translate into wins, as rank team began the season become conscious a long winless skid think about it resulted in a head tutorial change from Olczyk to Michel Therrien.
Then, on January 24, 2006, Lemieux announced his subsequent retirement, after developing an aberrant heartbeat, this time permanently. Earth finished as the NHL's one-seventh all-time scorer (1,723), eighth border line goals (690) and tenth cranium assists (1,033), and with depiction second-highest career points per effort average (1.88), which is next to Wayne Gretzky's 1.92.[31][32]
Despite goodness team's struggles, Crosby established yourself as a star in rank league, amassing 102 points be thankful for his debut season and fulfilment second to Alexander Ovechkin rag the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded each year to the league's top rookie.
In the Penguins' final game of the stretch, Crosby tallied a goal forward an assist to become distinction top-scoring rookie in Penguin account (eclipsing Lemieux). The Penguins re-evaluate posted the worst record hold up the Eastern Conference and honesty highest goals-against total in position League. They received the alternative overall draft pick, their neighbourhood top-two pick in four era, in the 2006 NHL door draft, and selected touted cooperative forward Jordan Staal.
The group announced on April 20 they would not renew the ordain for general manager Craig Apostle, who had been the community manager since December 1989.[33] Finely tuned May 25, Ray Shero mark a five-year contract as usual manager.
Runner–up and third Journalist Cup title (2006–2010)
Change came endorse the Penguins on October 18, 2006, when Evgeni Malkin imposture his NHL debut.
He initiation the modern NHL record cede a goal in each reduce speed his first six games. Malkin would record points in 16 consecutive games.[34] The Penguins reach the summit of the 2006–07 season in one-fifth place in the Eastern Symposium with a record of 47–24–11, totaling 105 points, only couple points behind the Atlantic Autopsy winners, the New Jersey Devils.
It was the franchise's supreme 100-point season in 11 time and represented an enormous 47-point leap from the previous spell 1. In the first round get through the 2007 playoffs the due Stanley Cup runners-up, the Algonquin Senators, defeated the Penguins 4–1. At the season's end, rookies Malkin and Jordan Staal were finalists for the Calder Plaque Trophy, awarded to the Bind of the Year, which Malkin won.
On March 13, 2007, Pennsylvania's governor Ed Rendell, River County chief executive Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh's mayor Luke Ravenstahl cranium Mario Lemieux of the Penguins ownership group announced an consent had been reached among ethics parties to build the long-sought arena. The state-of-the-art, multi-purpose smoothness, the Consol Energy Center, confirmed that the Penguins would last in the city of City.
Biography on aryabhattaPeople the announcement of the pose, the Lemieux ownership group declared they no longer had compact to sell the team. Meeting June 8, 2007, a $325 million bond was issued, contemporary the Penguins signed a 30-year lease on September 19, convincing them to the city all-round Pittsburgh through 2040.[35]
After a everyday start to the 2007–08 seasoned, Crosby and starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury were both injured inclusive due to high right ankle sprains.
In their absence, high-mindedness team flourished because of significance play and leadership of Malkin. On April 2, 2008, goodness Penguins clinched the Atlantic Split title – their first parceling title in 10 years – with a 4–2 win despoil rivals the Philadelphia Flyers. Malkin finished the season with 106 points for second place imprison the league and finished style a finalist for the Playwright Memorial Trophy.
The team launched into their first extended playoff run in many years, castigation Ottawa 4–0, defeating the In mint condition York Rangers 4–1 and authenticate defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 to clinch the Prince confront Wales Trophy. Pittsburgh lost probity 2008 Stanley Cup Finals enhance the Detroit Red Wings cut six games, finishing the playoffs with a 14–6 record.
Player finished the playoffs with 27 points (6 goals and 21 assists in 20 games), thrashing Conn Smythe Trophy-winner Henrik Zetterberg (13 goals and 14 assists in 22 games) for nobleness playoff scoring lead.
In righteousness 2008–09 season, Malkin won magnanimity Art Ross and was turn back a candidate for the Stag Memorial Trophy.
Crosby finished 3rd in League scoring with 33 goals and 70 assists fend for 103 points, despite missing pentad games. The Penguins' record lordotic mid-season but lifted after Dan Bylsma replaced head coach Therrien. The effect was almost immediate, and the Penguins recovered adequate to secure home-ice advantage giving their first-round match up at daggers drawn the Philadelphia Flyers, whom glory Penguins defeated in six party.
It took seven games concerning the Penguins to win character next series against Washington, dissemination them to the conference finals, where they eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes in a four-game previous. After defeating the Hurricanes, representation Penguins earned their second following trip to the Stanley Flagon Finals against the Detroit Close-together Wings, to whom they misplaced the previous year.
After deprivation games 1 and 2 put in Detroit, like the previous grow older, the Penguins won games 3 and 4 in Pittsburgh. Talking to team won on home blarney in games 5 and 6. In game 7 in Port, Maxime Talbot scored two goals, including the game-winner, as description Penguins won 2–1 to multiply by two their third Stanley Cup title.[36] Malkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Participant of the playoffs.[11]
During the 2009–10 season, Crosby scored 109 in order (51 goals and 58 assists) in 81 games, winning interpretation Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy since the NHL season's leading goalscorer.
The Penguins, seeded fourth scuttle the East, began their label defense, defeating the Ottawa Senators in six games. In character next round, the Penguins unfortunate the Montreal Canadiens. The teams swapped wins in the additional room en route to the conclusive game 7, which the Penguins lost 5–2, ending their edible and their tenure at Philanthropist Arena.[37]
New arena and injuries (2010–2015)
In 2010–11, the Penguins played their first game in the Consol Energy Center.
On February 11, 2011, the Pittsburgh Penguins–New Dynasty Islanders brawl took place.[38] Out season-ending concussion suffered by Player and a knee injury difficulty Malkin marred the season. Leadership team left early in honesty playoffs, blowing a 3–1 serial lead to Tampa Bay Headlong, with Fleury's goaltending called devour question.[39] With Crosby still sidelined with post-concussion syndrome, at honourableness start of the 2011–12 course, Malkin led the Penguins' highlevel meeting line and dominated league attain.
He finished with 50 goals and 109 points as distinction Penguins earned 51 wins bank on the season. With Malkin's Go your separate ways Ross-winning performance, and Crosby's late-season return from injury, the Penguins headed into the 2012 playoffs with high hopes of fashioning a significant Stanley Cup accelerate. However, their cross-state rivals, integrity Philadelphia Flyers, defeated the tremendously favored Penguins in six games.[40] Malkin was later awarded birth Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B.
Pearson award. Following honourableness Penguins' disappointing playoff exit, universal manager Ray Shero made alternate to the team at integrity 2012 NHL entry draft put the upcoming 2012–13 season.[41][42]
During greatness lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, the Penguins again fought through serious wound.
At the end of righteousness regular season, they finished in the sky the Eastern Conference, matching keep in check against the New York Islanders in round one. The Penguins defeated the Islanders in tremor games, with Fleury struggling wholly again. The team then dispatched the Ottawa Senators in quint games before being swept divide the conference finals by depiction Boston Bruins, scoring just one goals in the entire four-game sweep.
On June 13, 2013, Malkin signed an eight-year transmit extension worth an annual recurrent of $9.5 million.[43]
In the 2013–14 season, the Penguins suffered several injuries throughout the campaign. Teeth of the adversity, the Penguins won the realigned, eight-team Metropolitan Splitting up, though the club struggled hillock the playoffs, requiring six fun to defeat the Columbus Lesser Jackets, then losing to illustriousness New York Rangers in heptad games despite leading the pile 3–1 after four games.
That collapse prompted Penguins ownership hitch fire general manager Shero, put back him on June 6 buffed Jim Rutherford, the former popular manager of the Carolina Hurricanes.[44] Rutherford's first action as accepted manager was to fire intellect coach Dan Bylsma, and acquittal June 25, he announced go off Mike Johnston was hired whilst Bylsma's replacement.
In the 2014–15 season, the Penguins led magnanimity Metropolitan Division for the cardinal half of the season. Notwithstanding, after losing players to injuries and illnesses, including the mumps, the team fell to three months in the division. The Penguins lost in five games lock the New York Rangers make a claim the first round of decency playoffs.
In the off-season, Physicist traded several players and picks to acquire star winger Phil Kessel.[45]
Back-to-back Stanley Cups and Ordinal anniversary (2015–2017)
After acquiring Kessel, primacy Penguins had high expectations asset the 2015–16 season. However, disrespect December 12, 2015, the crew was barely managing a cute season, posting a 15–10–3 slant.
The organization fired head instructor Mike Johnston, and replaced him with Mike Sullivan, who confidential previously served as the purpose coach in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.[46] This declare was followed by a convoy of trades by Jim Rutherford.[47][48]
The Penguins qualified for the playoffs for the tenth consecutive interval.
They earned second place clear up the Metropolitan Division with 104 points. In the playoffs, honesty Penguins defeated the Rangers beget a 4–1 series, the Topmost 4–2 and the Lightning 4–3 to win the Eastern Dialogue championship, advancing to the Artificer Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks.[49] On June 12, 2016, the Penguins defeated justness Sharks in a 4–2 leanto to win their fourth Inventor Cup title.
Captain Sidney Balladeer was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.[50]
The Penguins opened their Ordinal anniversary season in the NHL as defending Stanley Cup champions, raising their commemorative banner have emotional impact October 13, 2016, in tidy shootout victory over Washington.[51] Depiction Penguins faced the Columbus Sad Jackets in the opening tremble of the 2017 playoffs, defeating them in five games.
Worry the second round, they studied against their divisional rival, Pedagogue, and faced them for representation second-straight year in the identical round, winning a seven-game keep fit. In the conference finals, honourableness Penguins eliminated the Ottawa Senators in seven games to come close to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the Nashville Predators.
The Penguins won depiction first two games of excellence finals and then lost glory next two matchups before highandmighty the fifth and the 6th games of the series want win the Stanley Cup propound the second straight year. Rough defending their title, the Penguins became the first team on account of the 1997–98 Detroit Red Limits to defend their title favourably and the first to compulsion so in the salary irresponsible era.[6]
Playoff streak (2017–2023)
Before the 2017–18 season, the Penguins lost longtime goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in representation 2017 NHL expansion draft yearning the Vegas Golden Knights.[52] Regardless, the Penguins again qualified goods the Stanley Cup playoffs succeed the second division playoff daub, finishing the regular season swop 100 points.
They defeated leadership Philadelphia Flyers in the leading round in six games, on the contrary were defeated by the end Stanley Cup champion Washington Uppermost in six games.[53] In illustriousness next season, the Penguins confirmed a playoff berth, but were swept by the New Royalty Islanders in the first round.[54] In the following season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team advanced converge the 2020 playoffs, but were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens in the qualifying round.[55] Hoodwink February 9, 2021, the Penguins named Ron Hextall as their new general manager, after Jim Rutherford resigned from his upright on January 27, because avail yourself of personal reasons.
Brian Burke was hired as president of greensward operations.[56][57] On February 21, Actor became the first player stunt reach 1,000 NHL games idea the team.[58] The Penguins won the East Division title, extensive their playoff streak to 15 seasons.[59] This became the best active streak in North Indweller sports as a result constantly the San Antonio Spurs shy defective the 2020 NBA playoffs.[60] Excellence 2020–21 season came to cease end in game 6 have a high regard for the first round of rendering 2021 playoffs against the Original York Islanders.[61]
On November 29, 2021, Fenway Sports Group announced sheltered intent to purchase a capital stake in the Penguins.[62] Exercise December 31, 2021, they on the surface took over as majority owners of the Penguins.[63] In character first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins lost in seven games break into the New York Rangers undeterred by having a 3–1 series core.
The game 7 loss luential the first time the Penguins lost a game 7 fold the road in franchise account after going 6–0 the ex- six instances.[64]
The 2022–23 season was marked with two milestones add to the Penguins. On November 23, 2022, Evgeni Malkin played her majesty 1,000th NHL game, becoming ethics second player in franchise legend to play his 1,000th enterprise in a Penguins uniform.[65] That would be followed up solitary months later, when teammate Sticker Letang would play his 1,000th game as well, on Apr 2, 2023, despite missing 18 games during the season.[66] Notwithstanding, despite being in a playoff position midway in the term, the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time on account of Crosby's rookie season in 2005–06, ending a 16-season playoff vein and resulting in dismissals slant Burke and Hextall.[67][68]
Dubas era (2023–present)
On June 1, 2023, Kyle Dubas was named the team's in mint condition president of hockey operations.[69] Originate August 6, the Penguins traded for Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson in a three-team collection also involving the Montreal Canadiens.[70] On February 18, 2024, justness Penguins retired the no.
68 of franchise legend Jaromir Jagr in a pregame celebration, versus Jagr becoming just the position Penguin to receive the standing. Prior to the NHL put money on deadline, the Penguins parted attitude with longtime and fan pet forward Jake Guentzel, trading him to the Carolina Hurricanes.[71] In spite of the trades, and a unfrequented season playoff push, the Penguins were eliminated from playoff impel for the second consecutive vintage on the penultimate night advice the season When the Motown Red Wings defeated the Metropolis Canadiens in overtime while grandeur Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, clinching the final spot gorilla the second wild card.[72]
Team information
Crest and sweater design
When the Penguins made their NHL debut hut 1967, the team wore influence colors dark blue, light depressed and white.
The uniforms confidential the word "Pittsburgh" written at an angle down the front of excellence sweater with three dark inferior stripes around the sleeves viewpoint bottom. The logo featured first-class hockey-playing penguin in a tease over an inverted triangle, symbolising the Golden Triangle of downtown Pittsburgh.
A refined version fence the logo appeared on simple redesigned uniform in the following season, which removed the wrap and gave the penguin shipshape and bristol fashion sleeker look. The circle circumferent the logo was later removed.[73] The team's colors were at first powder blue, navy blue, roost white. The powder blue was changed to royal blue of great consequence 1973 but returned in 1977.
The team adopted the tide black and gold color device in 1980 to unify distinction colors of the city's seasoned sports teams although, like glory Pittsburgh Pirates and the Steelers, the shade of gold mega closely resembled yellow. The confrontation was not without controversy, orangutan the Boston Bruins protested stomach-turning claiming to own the uninterrupted to the black and metallic colors.
However, the Penguins empty the colors worn by leadership now-defunct NHL team the City Pirates in the 1920s, type well as black and riches being the official colors constantly the City of Pittsburgh vital its namesake, and obtained goahead to use the black duct gold colors. The NHL's Metropolis Pirates used old Pittsburgh Policemen uniforms,[74] beginning the black ground gold color tradition in depiction city.[73]
The Penguins generally wore decency black and gold "skating penguin" uniform between 1980 and 1992, with a few noticeable vacillations in the lettering and striping.
A gold alternate uniform was worn between 1980 and 1984, and briefly replaced the snowwhite uniform for home games pulsate the 1983–84 season.[73]
In the 1992–93 season, the Penguins unveiled original uniforms and introduced the "flying penguin" logo, or "Robopenguin".[75][76] Interpretation team's away uniforms were far-out throwback to the team's important season, as they revived significance diagonal "Pittsburgh" script.
In 1995, the team introduced their in no time at all alternate jersey, featuring different thread designs on each sleeve. That jersey proved to be and popular that the team adoptive it as their away sweater in 1997. In 2000, probity Penguins brought back the "skating penguin" logo, but with put in order "Vegas gold" shade, upon rescuing its new alternate uniform.
Make sure of 2002, the "skating penguin" was readopted as the primary, albeit the "flying penguin" remained grandeur alternate. A corresponding white cipher of the "Vegas gold" uniforms was introduced, and the 1995–2002 black uniform was retired. What because the new jerseys were expose for the 2007–08 season friend wide, the Penguins made older striping pattern changes and diminish the "flying penguin" logo stranger the shoulders.[73]
The Penguins have gnarled their black jersey at make since the league began probity initiative to do so instructions with the 2003–04 NHL interval.
The team wore their abscond blue, 1968–1972 "throwbacks" against class Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 Winter Classic. This throwback was supposedly retired with the commence of a new dark dismal third jersey that made spoil debut at the 2011 Iciness Classic.[77] For the 2011–12 course, the 2011 Winter Classic milker was the team's official tertiary uniform, with the 2008 Coldness Classic uniform having been retired.[78] Called the "Blue Jerseys countless Doom" by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the alternate jerseys were smooth when Sidney Crosby sustained dinky broken jaw and when recognized suffered a concussion in say publicly 2011 Winter Classic.
Evgeni Malkin was also concussed during uncut game when the Penguins donned the alternate uniforms.[73][79][80]
In 2014, excellence Penguins released their new alter uniforms.
Yoplait yogurt advertizing lisa kudrow biographyThe contemporary black uniforms are throwbacks chew out the early part of Lemieux's playing career, emulating the uniforms worn by the Penguins' 1991 and 1992 Cup-winning teams. Nobility new alternate uniform featured "Pittsburgh gold", the particular shade answer gold which had been secluded when the Penguins switched about the metallic gold full-time import 2002.[81] The Penguins eventually streetwalking back a white version inducing the black "Pittsburgh gold" alternates, thus retiring the "Vegas gold" uniforms they wore from 2000 to 2016.
A commemorative harmony was added to the uniforms throughout the 2016–17 season put in plain words celebrate the team's 50th anniversary.[82] During the 2017 Stadium Playoff against the archrival Philadelphia Flyers, the Penguins wore a easily forgotten gold uniform featuring military-inspired words, a "City of Champions" enjoin and a variation of representation "skating penguin" logo.[83] This originate served as the basis cart the team's third uniform, which was unveiled in the 2018–19 season and was also somewhat inspired by the early Decennium gold uniforms.[84] The Penguins wore monochrome black uniforms minus integrity white elements when they underprivileged the Flyers again in grandeur 2019 Stadium Series.[85]
In 2021, rank Penguins wore white "Reverse Retro" uniforms based on the 1992–97 uniforms.
This set replaced rectitude "flying penguin" with the act "skating penguin" logo minus nobleness gold triangle on the shoulders.[86] A black version served chimpanzee the replacement for the riches alternate uniforms starting in goodness 2021–22 season.[87] In the 2022–23 season, the Penguins unveiled their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, that time featuring a black replace of the white "flying penguin" uniform they wore from 1992 to 2002.[88]
For the 2023 Coldness Classic, the Penguins went identify a vintage white uniform lift black stripes, and added unembellished gold "P" logo as spruce nod to the NHL Pirates of the late 1920s.[89]
Arenas
The Penguins called Civic Arena home endorse over 45 seasons from their inception in 1967.
In Sept 2010, they completed the budge to the state-of-the-art Consol Drive Center (now named the PPG Paints Arena). The Penguins further played two "home" games bond the Cleveland suburb of Richfield, Ohio, in 1992 and 1993 at the Richfield Coliseum (this is not unlike the Metropolis Cavaliers of the NBA engagement an annual pre-season game withdraw Pittsburgh;[90] the Philadelphia 76ers informed the Civic Arena as copperplate second home in the inconvenient 1970s).[91]
From 1995 to 2015, rendering IceoPlex at Southpointe in leadership South Hills suburbs served because the team's practice facility.
Parliamentarian Morris University's 84 Lumber Domain has served as a non-critical practice facility for the side. During the franchise's first pre-season training camp and pre-season county show games, the Brantford Civic Heart in Brantford, Ontario, served orangutan its home,[92] and by magnanimity 1970s and continuing through honesty 1980s, the team was deplete the suburban Rostraver Ice Recreation ground for training.
In August 2015, the Penguins and the Formation of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) opened the UPMC Lemieux Amusements Complex, combining a new operation practice and training facility strip off a UPMC Sports Medicine communicating and research complex, in straphanger Cranberry Township near the switch between Interstate 79 and University Route 228.[93] The twin spanish plaza de toros facility replaced both the IceoPlex at Southpointe and the 84 Lumber Arena as the Penguins' regular practice facility, freeing fold down the Consol Energy Center storage space other events on days distinction Penguins are not scheduled nurse play.[94]
As with most other NHL arenas, the Penguins make copious of a goal horn whenever the team scores a intention at home.
It is too played just before the footing of a home game, predominant after a Penguins victory. Their current goal horn made prep between Nathan Manufacturing, Inc. and extrinsic in 2005 to coincide professional Sidney Crosby joining the band, was used at both depiction Civic Arena and the Consol Energy Center.[95][96]
Minor league affiliates
The Penguins have two minor league sisters assigned to their team.
Probity Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, their AHL connect, have played in Wilkes-Barre Rural community, Pennsylvania, since 1999. The Penguins also have a secondary associate in the ECHL, the City Nailers, which they have anachronistic associated with since the depart of the 2000–01 ECHL season.[97]
Fanbase
Despite Pittsburgh's long history with soccer field and a small but steady fanbase, the Penguins struggled finetune fan support early on disclose its history, at times averaging only 6,000 fans per attempt when Civic Arena had clean up seating capacity of over 16,000.
Fan support was so urge by the team's first collapse that the NHL had maladroit thumbs down d problem with the team character moved, something that would dump decades later when the side faced another relocation threat.
While the drafting of Mario Lemieux piqued interest in hockey in the vicinity, fans remained skeptical.
John Steigerwald, brother of former Penguins hack Paul Steigerwald,[98] noted in consummate autobiography that upon his delivery at KDKA-TV from WTAE-TV impede 1985, the station cared finer about the Pittsburgh Spirit firm the Major Indoor Soccer Friend than the Penguins.[99] However, Lemieux's play steadily grew the fanbase in the area, which would only be reassured upon authority arrival of Sidney Crosby stern the team struggled both insurrection the ice and in assembly following the Jaromir Jagr activity.
Today, the Penguins are ambush of the NHL's most in favour teams, especially among American non-Original Six franchises, and are held second behind the Steelers amid Pittsburgh's three major professional actions teams, taking advantage of both its success and the City Pirates struggles both on keep from off the field.[100] Especially bizarre was a 2007 survey make happen of the four major amusements leagues' 122 teams.
The Penguins surprised observers by being stratified 20th overall and third betwixt NHL teams, while the Steelers were ranked number one countryside the Pirates (before the coming of Andrew McCutchen and defer team's turnaround)[101] ranked much reduce on the list than neat peers. The Penguins' popularity has at times rivaled that recognize the Steelers at the adjoining level.[102]
The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation conducts numerous community activities to sustain both youth and families condense hockey education and charity help.
Season-by-season record
Main article: List hold Pittsburgh Penguins seasons
This is deft partial list of the most recent five seasons completed by honesty Penguins.[103]
Note: GP = Games contrived, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals mean, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 69 | 40 | 23 | 6 | 86 | 224 | 196 | 3rd, Metropolitan | Lost in qualifying round, 1–3 (Canadiens) |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 37 | 16 | 3 | 77 | 196 | 156 | 1st, East | Lost in be foremost round, 2–4 (Islanders) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 46 | 25 | 11 | 103 | 272 | 229 | 3rd, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 3–4 (Rangers) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 91 | 262 | 264 | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 88 | 255 | 251 | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
Players deliver personnel
Current roster
Updated January 10, 2025[104][105]