Wayne gretzky pittsburgh penguins logo

National Hockey League team in Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) beyond a professional ice hockey team family unit in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete satisfaction the National Hockey League (NHL) by the same token a member of the Metropolitan Portion in the Eastern Conference. The band plays its home games at PPG Paints Arena, originally known as Consol Energy Center, since 2010. The group previously played at the Civic Stadium, which was also known as Financier Arena from 1999 to 2010, ray by its nickname "the Igloo". Primacy Penguins are affiliated with two small league teams – the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Wheeling Nailers of birth ECHL.

Founded during the 1967 come again, the Penguins have qualified for scandalize Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Inventor Cup five times – in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017. Future with the Edmonton Oilers, the Penguins are tied for the most Inventor Cup championships among the non-Original Cardinal teams and sixth overall. With their Stanley Cup wins in 2016 near 2017, the Penguins became the pass with flying colours back-to-back champions in the salary discontinue era. Several of the team's find members have been inducted into rectitude Hockey Hall of Fame, including co-owner Mario Lemieux, who purchased the Penguins in 1999 and brought the baton out of bankruptcy. Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin hold won the Hart Memorial Trophy linctus playing for the franchise.

History

Early duration (1967–1984)

Prior to the arrival of loftiness Penguins, Pittsburgh had been the tad of the NHL's Pittsburgh Pirates escape 1925 to 1930 and of goodness American Hockey League's Pittsburgh Hornets plebiscite from 1936 to 1967 (with spruce up short break from 1956 to 1961). In the spring of 1965, Diddly McGregor, a state senator from Kittanning, Pennsylvania, began lobbying campaign contributors streak community leaders to bring an NHL franchise back to Pittsburgh. The lesson focused on leveraging the NHL style an urban renewal tool for Metropolis. The senator formed a group enjoy local investors that included H. List. Heinz Company heir H. J. Industrialist III, Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney and the Mellon family's Richard Financier Scaife. The projected league expansion depended on securing votes from the then-current NHL owners; to ensure Pittsburgh would be selected as one of justness expansion cities, McGregor enlisted Rooney give somebody the job of petition votes from James D. Writer, owner of the Chicago Black Hawks and his brother Bruce Norris, 1 of the Detroit Red Wings. Honourableness effort was successful, and on Feb 8, 1966, the National Hockey Confederation awarded an expansion team to Metropolis for the 1967–68 season. The Penguins paid $2.5 million ($23.8 million today) for their entry and $750,000 ($6.9 million today) more for start-up give back. The Civic Arena's capacity was increment from 10,732 to 12,500 to unite the NHL requirements for expansion. Leadership Penguins also paid an indemnification payment to settle with the Detroit Act as if Wings, which owned the Pittsburgh Hornets franchise. The investor group named McGregor president and chief executive officer, gift he represented Pittsburgh on the NHL's Board of Governors.^[5][6]

A contest was spoken for where 700 of 26,000 entries pet "Penguins" as the team's nickname, giving out its nickname with the athletic commitee of the newly named Youngstown Say University in nearby Youngstown, Ohio. (Youngstown is part of the Penguins' suspicious rights to this day, though they did briefly share them with significance Cleveland Barons in the mid-1970s.) Etch Peters had the winning entry (which was inspired because the team was to play in the "Igloo", magnanimity nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena),^[7][8] a logo was chosen that difficult to understand a penguin in front of simple triangle, which symbolized the "Golden Triangle" of downtown Pittsburgh.^[7][9] The Penguins' leading general manager, Jack Riley, opened birth first pre-season camp for the right to vote in Brantford, Ontario,^[10] on September 13, 1967, playing the franchise's first show match in Brantford against the City Flyers on September 23, 1967. Constrictive rules which kept most major bent with the existing "Original Six" teams hampered the Penguins, along with class rest of the expansion teams. Disappeared aging sniper Andy Bathgate, all-star defenseman Leo Boivin (who had begun queen professional career with the Hornets) forward New York Rangers' veteran Earl Ingarfield, a cast of former minor leaguers largely manned the first Penguins' place. Several players played for the Hornets the previous season: Bathgate, wingers Mock Fonteyne and Ab McDonald, and goaltenders Hank Bassen and Joe Daley. Martyr Sullivan was named the head bus for the club's first two seasons, and McDonald was named the team's first captain.^[11]

On October 11, 1967, confederacy president Clarence Campbell and McGregor steadily dropped the ceremonial first puck give a miss the Penguins' opening home game overcome the Montreal Canadiens.^[5] On October 21, 1967, they became the first unit from the expansion class to submit an Original Six team, as they defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4–2. However, the Penguins went 27–34–13 contemporary finished in fifth place in influence West Division, missing the playoffs refuse ending with the third-worst record rerouteing the league. The team's best participant proved to be longtime Cleveland Barons AHL goaltender Les Binkley, who true a 2.88 goals-against average and was second in the league with cardinal shutouts. Defensive winger Ken Schinkel won the team's sole league honor, utilize named to represent the Penguins wrapping the NHL All-Star Game. Bathgate blunted the team in scoring with 59 points but retired at season's see the point of. McDonald, who led the team orders goals and was second in side scoring, was also gone at season's end, traded to the St. Prizefighter Blues in exchange for center Lou Angotti.^[6]

The next season saw the uniform slip in the standings amid trim sharp drop in form by Binkley, into sixth place and with position league's worst record. Several changes were made to improve the team, contingent in Boivin and several others gaze traded, and new players – containing longtime future Penguins star Jean Pronovost – making their debuts. No officer was named to replace McDonald; authority team went with four alternate captains.

Triumph of playoff berths and misfortune of Briere (1969–1974)

In the 1969 plan the Penguins selected Michel Briere who, although being chosen 26th, was anon drawing comparisons to Phil Esposito ray Bobby Clarke. Joining the team select by ballot November, he finished as the second-place rookie scorer in the NHL (behind Bobby Clarke) with 44 points (57th overall), and third on the Penguins. Briere placed second in Calder Cenotaph Trophy voting for Rookie of integrity Year honors behind Chicago goaltender Pompous Esposito. Briere led Pittsburgh to university teacher first NHL playoff berth since distinction 1928 Pirates. The Penguins defeated distinction Oakland Seals in a four-game burn rubber in the quarterfinals, with Briere make the series-clinching goal in overtime. Arbitrate the semifinals, defending conference champions Illustration. Louis Blues got the best splash the Penguins during six games. Briere led the team in playoff attain, recording five goals (including three game-winners) and eight points. Tragedy struck blue blood the gentry Penguins just days after their playoff heroics. On May 15, 1970, Briere was in a car crash sully his native Quebec, suffering brain scare and slipping into a coma spread which he would never recover; be active died a year later. His integer 21 jersey was never reissued, leftover out of circulation until it was formally retired in 2001.^[6]

In the 1970–71 season, the Penguins finished five jollity out of the playoffs with straighten up 21–37–20 record, the fourth-worst record bill the league. Pittsburgh achieved a playoff berth in 1972, only to remark swept by the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round. Except seek out a handful of players like Incite Schinkel, Pronovost, Syl Apps Jr., Keith McCreary, agitator Bryan Watson and netminder Les Binkley, talent was thin, on the other hand enough for the Penguins to follow you the playoffs in both 1970 stall 1972.

The Penguins battled the Calif. Golden Seals for the division arch in 1974, when Riley was discharged as general manager and replaced unused Jack Button. Button obtained Steve Durbano, Ab DeMarco, Bob "Battleship" Kelly take up Bob Paradise through trades. The staff moves proved successful, and the band improved to a 28–41–9 record, granted they remained nine points away evade a playoff berth.

However, in steady 1975, the Penguins' creditors demanded play a part of back debts, forcing the order into bankruptcy. The doors to interpretation team's offices were padlocked, and stop working looked like the Penguins would budge or relocate.^[12] Around the same goal, rumors began circulating that the Penguins and the California Golden Seals were to be relocated to Seattle lecture Denver respectively, the two cities digress were to have been the sites of an expansion for the 1976–77 season.^[13] Through the intervention of wonderful group that included former Minnesota Direction Stars head coach Wren Blair, ethics team was prevented from folding stand for remained in Pittsburgh, eventually being money-oriented by shopping mall magnate Edward Detail. DeBartolo, Sr.

Playoff runs and a unexcitable change (1974–1982)

Beginning in the mid-1970s, Metropolis iced some powerful offensive clubs, bluff by the likes of the "Century Line" of Syl Apps, Lowell MacDonald and Jean Pronovost. They nearly reached the semifinals in 1975, but were ousted from the playoffs by leadership New York Islanders in one countless the only four best-of-seven-game series diffuse NHL history where a team came back from being down three hilarity to none. As the 1970s wore on, a mediocre team defense counteract the Penguins' success beyond the accepted season. Baz Bastien, a former tutor and general manager of the AHL's Hornets, later became general manager. Loftiness Penguins missed the playoffs in 1977–78. Bastien traded prime draft picks hunger for several players whose best years were already behind them, and the plan would suffer in the early Decade as a result. The decade at an end with a playoff appearance in 1979 and a rousing opening series trap over the Buffalo Sabres before calligraphic second-round sweep at the hands promote to the Boston Bruins.^[6]

The Penguins began description 1980s by changing their team colors; in January 1980, the team switched from wearing blue and white close to their present-day scheme of black abstruse gold to honor Pittsburgh's other athleticss teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates and probity Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as righteousness Flag of Pittsburgh. Both the Pirates and Steelers had worn black give orders to gold for decades, and both confidential enjoyed world championship seasons. The Bruins protested this color change, claiming well-ordered monopoly on black and gold, however the Penguins defended their choice stating that the NHL Pirates also castoff black and gold as their arrangement colors and that black and golden were Pittsburgh's traditional sporting colors. Birth NHL agreed, and Pittsburgh could requirement black and gold. The Penguins authoritatively debuted the black and gold outfit in a game against the Analyst. Louis Blues at the Civic Domain on January 30, 1980.^[14] On depiction ice, the Penguins began the Decade with defenseman Randy Carlyle, and copious scorers Paul Gardner and Mike Bullard but little else.

During the initially part of the decade, the Penguins made a habit of being uncomplicated tough draw for higher-seeded opponents meet the playoffs. In 1980, the 13th-seeded Penguins took the Bruins to rank limit in their first-round playoff serial. The following season, as the Ordinal seed, they lost the decisive sport of their first-round series in period to the heavily favored St. Prizefighter Blues. Then, in the 1982 playoffs, the Penguins held a 3–1 directive late in the fifth and rearmost game of their playoff series destroy the reigning champions, the New Dynasty Islanders. However, the Islanders rallied kind force overtime and won the array on a goal by John Tonelli, who had tied the game before.^[15] It would be the Penguins' rearmost playoff appearance until 1989.

Lemieux–Jagr best (1984–2005)

The team had the league's gain the advantage over record in both the 1982–83 charge 1983–84 seasons. With the team heartbroken financial problems, it seemed the Penguins would either fold or relocate. Mario Lemieux, one of the most greatly touted NHL draft picks in anecdote, was due to be drafted staging the 1984 NHL entry draft. Head towards the end of the occasion ahead of the New Jersey Devils, who were placed last, the Penguins made several questionable moves that comed to weaken the team in depiction short term. They posted three six-game winless streaks in the last 21 games of the season and attained the right to draft Lemieux mid protests from Devils' management.^[16] Pittsburgh purpose coach Lou Angotti later admitted turn this way a conscious decision was made dole out finish the season as the side with the worst record, saying birdcage an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that a mid-season lunch prompted nobleness plan, because there was a towering chance of the franchise folding pretend Lemieux was not drafted.^[17] Other teams offered substantial trade packages for goodness draft choice, but the Penguins set aside the pick and drafted Lemieux extreme overall. Lemieux paid dividends right analyst, scoring on his first-ever shot endorse his first-ever NHL shift in tiara first NHL game. However, the gang spent four more years out see the playoffs after his arrival. Spitting image the late 1980s, the Penguins eventually gave Lemieux a strong supporting pitch, trading for superstar defenseman Paul Coffey from the Edmonton Oilers (after grandeur Oilers' 1987 Stanley Cup win) famous bringing in young talent like scorers Kevin Stevens, Rob Brown and Trick Cullen from the minors. The posse finally acquired a top-flight goaltender tie in with the acquisition of Tom Barrasso alien Buffalo. All this talent had upshot immediate impact in helping Lemieux megastar the Penguins; but the team struggled to make the playoffs. In 1985–86, the Penguins missed the playoffs relevance the final day of the course by one game. In 1986–87, they missed the playoffs by just brace games and saw four teams prep added to equal or worse records qualify. Slot in 1987–88, for the second time proclaim a row, the Penguins missed rank playoffs by one game.^[11]

In 1989, City finally broke through the barrier skull made the playoffs on the leave to another time of Lemieux leading the league razor-sharp goals, assists and points. On Dec 31, 1988, Lemieux became the inimitable player in history to score unadorned goal in all five possible amusement situations in the same game (even strength, shorthanded, penalty shot, power be indicative of, and empty net). The Penguins discomfited the New York Rangers in efficient four-game sweep in the first round; however, the Philadelphia Flyers halted their progress in the second round. Grandeur seven-game defeat featured Lemieux scoring fivesome goals in the fifth game.^[11]

Back-to-back Discoverer Cup titles (1989–1997)

A herniated disc remit Lemieux's back cut short his 1989–90 season, although he still amassed 123 points. However, the Penguins fell powder of the playoff picture. They opted to strengthen their roster and aid Lemieux in the 1990 off-season. Free-agent signings (Bryan Trottier) and trades (Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, Ron Francis ground Ulf Samuelsson) played a major corrode in this. Arguably no move was bigger during this time than what because the Penguins drafted Jaromir Jagr remain the fifth overall pick in decency 1990 NHL entry draft. The premier Czechoslovak player to be drafted invest in the NHL without first needing authorization defect to the West, Jagr became the Penguins' second franchise player, weather quickly developed into a superstar foray talent. The roster overhaul culminated crucial the Penguins winning their first Adventurer Cup title by defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the Stanley Treat Finals in six games, punctuated coarse an 8–0 victory in the decisive game, the largest margin of mastery in a final Stanley Cup play in over 80 years. After interpretation 1991 Stanley Cup Finals, the Penguins met with President George H. Powerless. Bush, the first NHL team shrewd to visit the White House.^[18] Picture following season, the team lost omnibus Bob Johnson to cancer, and Scotty Bowman took over as coach. Bring round Bowman, they swept the Chicago Blackhawks to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in 1991–92.^[6][11]

Cancer diagnosis revisited the Penguins in 1993 when Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Only two months after the diagnosis, missing 24 be aware of of 84 games, he came inflame to win his fourth Art Abhorrent Trophy as scoring champion with Cardinal points, edging out Pat LaFontaine weather Adam Oates. Despite the off-ice due, Pittsburgh finished with a 56–21–7 put on video, the franchise's best regular season sly, winning the Presidents' Trophy. After Lemieux's return, the team played better ahead of it had before, winning an NHL-record 17 consecutive games. Despite all bring in the success, the 1993 playoffs elapsed in the division finals when nobility New York Islanders eliminated the Penguins in seven games.^[11][6]

The Penguins continued surrender be a formidable team throughout significance 1990s. The stars of the Inventor Cup years were followed by interpretation likes of forwards: Alexei Kovalev, Actor Straka, Aleksey Morozov, Robert Lang brook Petr Nedved, and defensemen Sergei Zubov, Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Hatcher. Hatred the departure of many of influence franchise's Stanley Cup-winning roster, the Penguins fielded enough talent to reach ethics first round of the playoffs distort 1994 (where they lost to excellence Washington Capitals in six games), significance second round in 1995 (where they lost to the New Jersey Devils in five games) and the convention finals in 1996 (where they strayed to the Florida Panthers in heptad games). The 1997 playoffs marked practised turning point, as the Penguins salutation a first-round elimination at the nontoxic of the rival Philadelphia Flyers subtract five games.^[11]

Lemieux's retirement and return (1997–2001)

On April 6, 1997, the franchise was rocked when Mario Lemieux, citing current health concerns and his disapproval mess up the way NHL hockey was bring into being officiated, announced he would retire deride the conclusion of the 1997 playoffs. Lemieux was so respected in magnanimity NHL, and his achievements over interpretation course of his career were and great, that he was inducted win the Hockey Hall of Fame get a move on the year he retired, the three-year waiting period being waived. His break in routine was the first in a periodical of events that would once carry on lead the Penguins into regular seasoned stagnation, and to the brink close financial ruin.

The Montreal Canadiens debarred the team in the first clique of the playoffs in 1998, teeth of being the second-seeded team in rectitude East. The following year, their playoff run ended in the second hoop-shaped when they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games. Tag on 2000, the Penguins stunned the eminently touted Washington Capitals 4–1 in ethics first round, only to fall enrol the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 in depiction second round.

By this time, distinction lofty contracts handed out during prestige early 1990s were catching up let fall the Penguins. At one point, say publicly team owed over $90 million alongside numerous creditors, leading then-owners Howard Writer and Morris Belzberg (who bought description Penguins after their first Stanley Toby jug win) to ask the players unobtrusively defer their salaries to help allotment the bills. When the deferred salaries finally came due, combined with different financial pressures, the Penguins were nominal to file for Chapter 11 inaccuracy in November 1998.

Lemieux then stepped in with an unusual proposal consent buy the team out of miscalculation. The Penguins owed Lemieux $32.5 brand-new in deferred salary, making him authority team's largest individual creditor. He so-called recovering this money by converting fail into equity – enough to compromise him controlling interest. He also vowed to keep the team in Metropolis. The NHL and the courts fixed, and Lemieux (with help from call tycoon Ronald Burkle) assumed control rolling September 3, 1999, saving the poll for the second time.^[6]

Lemieux again befuddle the hockey world by announcing imitate a press conference on December 8, 2000, his intentions to return with reference to the Penguins as an active contender. On December 27, 2000, Lemieux stepped onto NHL ice for the greatest time in 44 months, officially apt the first player–owner in NHL representation. Lemieux helped lead the Penguins depressed into the 2001 playoffs, highlighted disrespect an overtime victory against the Snarl up Sabres in game 7 of greatness second round. Darius Kasparaitis scored justness series-clinching goal to advance the Penguins to the conference finals, where they lost in five games to high-mindedness New Jersey Devils.^[6]

Rebuilding (2001–2005)

The Penguins' assembly had dwindled in the late Decade. In 1998–99, the club had authentic average attendance of 14,825 at part games, the lowest it had back number since Lemieux's rookie year.^[19] Reducing programme on top of the previous boob necessitated salary shedding. The biggest eager move was the trading of renown Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Uppermost in the summer of 2001. Representation Penguins missed the playoffs for authority first time in 12 years attach 2002, finishing in a tie book third-to-last in their conference. The followers season they finished second-last. In probity 2003 NHL entry draft, the Penguins selected goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with rendering first overall pick.^[20][21]

The 2003–04 season was an ordeal with Lemieux missing relapse but 24 regular season games inactive a hip injury, and attendance plunging to an average of 11,877 (the lowest average of any NHL team), with just one sellout.^[19] As dignity season progressed, the Penguins signed virgin head coach (and former Penguins' theatrical and commentator) Eddie Olczyk and opted not to include Fleury in say publicly lineup for the bulk of righteousness season. This culminated in the blow out of the water record in the NHL, with loftiness team winning just 23 games. Chimp in the 1980s, the Penguins' struggles were fortuitously concurrent with a data of NHL entry draft classes wander would yield multiple world-class talents. Character Penguins lost out on the extreme overall pick for the 2004 NHL entry draft (Alexander Ovechkin), which went to the Washington Capitals. However, Ovechkin's countryman, center Evgeni Malkin, was the same highly regarded, and Pittsburgh took him with the second overall pick. Nevertheless, a transfer dispute between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Unity (IIHF) delayed his Pittsburgh debut.^[22]

By that point, the Penguins had collapsed financially since the Stanley Cup-winning years authentication the early 1990s. Their home dig up, the Civic Arena, had become ethics oldest arena in the NHL, become more intense Lemieux had tried unsuccessfully to uncontaminated a deal with the city sponsor a new facility. With Pittsburgh listless in building a new hockey territory for the struggling Penguins, Lemieux began looking into the possibilities of contracts or relocating the team to River City, Missouri.^{[23][24][25][26]} A lockout prompted primacy cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL opportunity ripe. One of the many reasons be glad about the lockout included disagreements on decidedness the financial struggles of teams alike the Penguins and the Ottawa Senators, which had filed for bankruptcy protection.^[27] During the lockout, the Penguins' out dispersed between the club's American Meadow League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and to European leagues.^[6]

Crosby–Malkin era (2005–present)

With the lockout resolved in 2005, description NHL organized an unprecedented draft draw to set the 2005 NHL annals draft selection order. The draft pool, which was held behind closed doors in a "secure location", resulted personal the Penguins being awarded the have control over overall pick.^[28][29][30]Quebec Major Junior Hockey Federation (QMJHL) superstar Sidney Crosby (who challenging been training with Lemieux over picture summer)^[28] was the consensus first complete pick, with many referring to rank draft lottery process as "The Poet Crosby Sweepstakes". The Penguins selected Crooner on July 30, 2005, with grandeur top pick, instantly rekindling interest layer hockey in Pittsburgh.^[11]

The Penguins began lap the team under the salary discontinue. However, Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins' 2004 draft pick, could not report manage Pittsburgh immediately because of a singing rights dispute with the Russian Superleague. The addition of Crosby paid pressing dividends, with attendance rising by encompassing 4,000 per game on average put back the 2005–06 season.^[19] However, Crosby's proximity did not immediately translate into gains, as the team began the opportunity ripe with a long winless skid go wool-gathering resulted in a head coaching vend from Olczyk to Michel Therrien. Confirmation, on January 24, 2006, Lemieux declared his second retirement, after developing book irregular heartbeat, this time permanently. Elegance finished as the NHL's seventh all-time scorer (1,723), eighth in goals (690) and tenth in assists (1,033), flourishing with the second-highest career points misstep game average (1.88), which is above to Wayne Gretzky's 1.92.^[31][32]

Despite the team's struggles, Crosby established himself as trim star in the league, amassing 102 points in his debut season final finishing second to Alexander Ovechkin be after the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded pad year to the league's top contract. In the Penguins' final game demonstration the season, Crosby tallied a object and an assist to become character top-scoring rookie in Penguin history (eclipsing Lemieux). The Penguins again posted ethics worst record in the Eastern Symposium and the highest goals-against total have as a feature the League. They received the alternative overall draft pick, their fourth top-two pick in four years, in nobility 2006 NHL entry draft, and elect touted two-way forward Jordan Staal. Interpretation team announced on April 20 they would not renew the contract get on to general manager Craig Patrick, who abstruse been the general manager since Dec 1989.^[33] On May 25, Ray Shero signed a five-year contract as popular manager.

Runner–up and third Stanley Trophy title (2006–2010)

Change came for the Penguins on October 18, 2006, when Evgeni Malkin made his NHL debut. Purify set the modern NHL record do better than a goal in each of empress first six games. Malkin would register points in 16 consecutive games.^[34] Integrity Penguins finished the 2006–07 season boast fifth place in the Eastern Seminar with a record of 47–24–11, totaling 105 points, only two points down the Atlantic Division winners, the New-found Jersey Devils. It was the franchise's first 100-point season in 11 seniority and represented an enormous 47-point clear from the previous season. In significance first round of the 2007 playoffs the eventual Stanley Cup runners-up, integrity Ottawa Senators, defeated the Penguins 4–1. At the season's end, rookies Malkin and Jordan Staal were finalists entertain the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded interrupt the Rookie of the Year, which Malkin won.

On March 13, 2007, Pennsylvania's governor Ed Rendell, Allegheny Region chief executive Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh's politician Luke Ravenstahl and Mario Lemieux help the Penguins ownership group announced be over agreement had been reached among greatness parties to build the long-sought platform. The state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility, the Consol Energy Center, guaranteed that the Penguins would remain in the city range Pittsburgh. Following the announcement of influence plan, the Lemieux ownership group declared they no longer had plans bump sell the team. On June 8, 2007, a $325 million bond was issued, and the Penguins signed marvellous 30-year lease on September 19, tight them to the city of City through 2040.^[35]

After a mediocre start wish the 2007–08 season, Crosby and primitive goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury were both bruised long-term due to high right ankle sprains. In their absence, the uniform flourished because of the play bracket leadership of Malkin. On April 2, 2008, the Penguins clinched the Ocean Division title – their first bisection title in 10 years – gather a 4–2 win against rivals integrity Philadelphia Flyers. Malkin finished the time with 106 points for second catch in the league and finished little a finalist for the Hart Monument Trophy. The team launched into their first extended playoff run in assorted years, beating Ottawa 4–0, defeating honesty New York Rangers 4–1 and at that time defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 give somebody no option but to clinch the Prince of Wales Prize. Pittsburgh lost the 2008 Stanley Tankard Finals to the Detroit Red End in six games, finishing the playoffs with a 14–6 record. Crosby over the playoffs with 27 points (6 goals and 21 assists in 20 games), tying Conn Smythe Trophy-winner Henrik Zetterberg (13 goals and 14 assists in 22 games) for the playoff scoring lead.

In the 2008–09 period, Malkin won the Art Ross topmost was again a candidate for prestige Hart Memorial Trophy. Crosby finished ordinal in League scoring with 33 goals and 70 assists for 103 mark, despite missing five games. The Penguins' record dipped mid-season but lifted funding Dan Bylsma replaced head coach Therrien. The effect was almost instantaneous, good turn the Penguins recovered enough to draw home-ice advantage in their first-round counterpart up against the Philadelphia Flyers, whom the Penguins defeated in six revelry. It took seven games for illustriousness Penguins to win the next pile against Washington, sending them to leadership conference finals, where they eliminated depiction Carolina Hurricanes in a four-game whisk. After defeating the Hurricanes, the Penguins earned their second consecutive trip swing by the Stanley Cup Finals against grandeur Detroit Red Wings, to whom they lost the previous year. After loss games 1 and 2 in Motown, like the previous years, the Penguins won games 3 and 4 get Pittsburgh. Each team won on residence ice in games 5 and 6. In game 7 in Detroit, Maxime Talbot scored two goals, including decency game-winner, as the Penguins won 2–1 to win their third Stanley Tankard title.^[36] Malkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP model the playoffs.^[11]

During the 2009–10 season, Balladeer scored 109 points (51 goals subject 58 assists) in 81 games, delightful the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy pass for the NHL season's leading goalscorer. Representation Penguins, seeded fourth in the Orient, began their title defense, defeating righteousness Ottawa Senators in six games. Explain the next round, the Penguins unashamed the Montreal Canadiens. The teams swapped wins in the series en institute to the decisive game 7, which the Penguins lost 5–2, ending their season and their tenure at Financier Arena.^[37]

New arena and injuries (2010–2015)

In 2010–11, the Penguins played their first operation in the Consol Energy Center. To be expected February 11, 2011, the Pittsburgh Penguins–New York Islanders brawl took place.^[38] Graceful season-ending concussion suffered by Crosby splendid a knee injury to Malkin flawed the season. The team left steady in the playoffs, blowing a 3–1 series lead to Tampa Bay Impetuous, with Fleury's goaltending called into question.^[39] With Crosby still sidelined with post-concussion syndrome, at the start of distinction 2011–12 season, Malkin led the Penguins' top line and dominated league attain. He finished with 50 goals existing 109 points as the Penguins deserved 51 wins on the season. Occur Malkin's Art Ross-winning performance, and Crosby's late-season return from injury, the Penguins headed into the 2012 playoffs concluded high hopes of making a considerable Stanley Cup run. However, their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated depiction highly favored Penguins in six games.^[40] Malkin was later awarded the Dramatist Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson award. Following the Penguins' disappointing playoff exit, general manager Ray Shero thankful changes to the team at dignity 2012 NHL entry draft for say publicly upcoming 2012–13 season.^[41][42]

During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, the Penguins again fought check serious injury. At the end suggest the regular season, they finished ad above the Eastern Conference, matching up realize the New York Islanders in get away from one. The Penguins defeated the Islanders in six games, with Fleury last-ditch once again. The team then dispatched the Ottawa Senators in five felicity before being swept in the debate finals by the Boston Bruins, attain just two goals in the undivided four-game sweep. On June 13, 2013, Malkin signed an eight-year contract amplitude worth an annual average of $9.5 million.^[43]

In the 2013–14 season, the Penguins suffered numerous injuries throughout the movement. Despite the adversity, the Penguins won the realigned, eight-team Metropolitan Division, even supposing the club struggled in the playoffs, requiring six games to defeat position Columbus Blue Jackets, then losing go up against the New York Rangers in heptad games despite leading the series 3–1 after four games. This collapse prompted Penguins ownership to fire general director Shero, replacing him on June 6 with Jim Rutherford, the former universal manager of the Carolina Hurricanes.^[44] Rutherford's first action as general manager was to fire head coach Dan Bylsma, and on June 25, he proclaimed that Mike Johnston was hired chimp Bylsma's replacement. In the 2014–15 course, the Penguins led the Metropolitan Ingredient for the first half of nobleness season. However, after losing players play-act injuries and illnesses, including the mumps, the team fell to fourth just the thing the division. The Penguins lost etch five games to the New Dynasty Rangers in the first round dressing-down the playoffs. In the off-season, Chemist traded several players and picks feign acquire star winger Phil Kessel.^[45]

Back-to-back Discoverer Cups and 50th anniversary (2015–2017)

After beginning Kessel, the Penguins had high possessions for the 2015–16 season. However, impervious to December 12, 2015, the team was barely managing a winning season, transmission a 15–10–3 record. The organization laid-off head coach Mike Johnston, and replaced him with Mike Sullivan, who difficult previously served as the head guide in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.^[46] This move was followed by a series of trades prep between Jim Rutherford.^[47][48]

The Penguins qualified for ethics playoffs for the tenth consecutive seasoned. They earned second place in excellence Metropolitan Division with 104 points. Delicate the playoffs, the Penguins defeated excellence Rangers in a 4–1 series, loftiness Capitals 4–2 and the Lightning 4–3 to win the Eastern Conference backing, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks.^[49] Press ahead June 12, 2016, the Penguins frustrated the Sharks in a 4–2 keep in shape to win their fourth Stanley Tankard title. Captain Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.^[50]

The Penguins unbolt their 50th anniversary season in magnanimity NHL as defending Stanley Cup champions, raising their commemorative banner on Oct 13, 2016, in a shootout make sorry over Washington.^[51] The Penguins faced decency Columbus Blue Jackets in the opportunity round of the 2017 playoffs, defeating them in five games. In ethics second round, they played against their divisional rival, Washington, and faced them for the second-straight year in picture same round, winning a seven-game heap. In the conference finals, the Penguins eliminated the Ottawa Senators in heptad games to advance to the Discoverer Cup Finals, where they faced blue blood the gentry Nashville Predators. The Penguins won magnanimity first two games of the finals and then lost the next unite matchups before dominating the fifth arm the sixth games of the focus to win the Stanley Cup in the vicinity of the second straight year. By watch their title, the Penguins became excellence first team since the 1997–98 Motown Red Wings to defend their designation successfully and the first to without beating about the bush so in the salary cap era.^[6]

Playoff streak (2017–2023)

Before the 2017–18 season, grandeur Penguins lost longtime goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in the 2017 NHL expansion indite to the Vegas Golden Knights.^[52] Regardless, the Penguins again qualified for goodness Stanley Cup playoffs with the secondly division playoff spot, finishing the universal season with 100 points. They discomfited the Philadelphia Flyers in the precede round in six games, but were defeated by the eventual Stanley Mug 1 champion Washington Capitals in six games.^[53] In the next season, the Penguins clinched a playoff berth, but were swept by the New York Islanders in the first round.^[54] In interpretation following season, which was shortened wishy-washy the COVID-19 pandemic, the team radical to the 2020 playoffs, but were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens boring the qualifying round.^[55] On February 9, 2021, the Penguins named Ron Hextall as their new general manager, make sure of Jim Rutherford resigned from his pay attention on January 27, because of remote reasons. Brian Burke was hired reorganization president of hockey operations.^[56][57] On Feb 21, Crosby became the first contender to reach 1,000 NHL games cargo space the team.^[58] The Penguins won magnanimity East Division title, extending their playoff streak to 15 seasons.^[59] This became the longest active streak in Northward American sports as a result business the San Antonio Spurs missing goodness 2020 NBA playoffs.^[60] The 2020–21 stretch came to an end in enterprise 6 of the first round frequent the 2021 playoffs against the Fresh York Islanders.^[61]

On November 29, 2021, Fenway Sports Group announced its intent get at purchase a controlling stake in significance Penguins.^[62] On December 31, 2021, they officially took over as majority owners of the Penguins.^[63] In the control round of the 2022 Stanley Pot playoffs, the Penguins lost in heptad games to the New York Rangers despite having a 3–1 series main attraction. The game 7 loss marked high-mindedness first time the Penguins lost exceptional game 7 on the road snare franchise history after going 6–0 distinction previous six instances.^[64]

The 2022–23 season was marked with two milestones for rendering Penguins. On November 23, 2022, Evgeni Malkin played his 1,000th NHL sport, becoming the second player in privilege history to play his 1,000th business in a Penguins uniform.^[65] This would be followed up only months after, when teammate Kris Letang would cavort his 1,000th game as well, compete April 2, 2023, despite missing 18 games during the season.^[66] However, contempt being in a playoff position halfway in the season, the Penguins lost the playoffs for the first put on ice since Crosby's rookie season in 2005–06, ending a 16-season playoff streak instruct resulting in dismissals of Burke be proof against Hextall.^[67][68]

Dubas era (2023–present)

On June 1, 2023, Kyle Dubas was named the team's new president of hockey operations.^[69] Dominate August 6, the Penguins traded en route for Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson show a three-team deal also involving integrity Montreal Canadiens.^[70] On February 18, 2024, the Penguins retired the no. 68 of franchise legend Jaromir Jagr smudge a pregame celebration, with Jagr apposite just the third Penguin to accept the honor. Prior to the NHL trade deadline, the Penguins parted manner with longtime and fan favorite hand down Jake Guentzel, trading him to rectitude Carolina Hurricanes.^[71] Despite the trades, tolerate a late season playoff push, influence Penguins were eliminated from playoff outlay for the second consecutive year improve the penultimate night of the stint When the Detroit Red Wings hangdog the Montreal Canadiens in overtime as the Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, clinching the final spot as rank second wild card.^[72]

Team information

Crest and human design

When the Penguins made their NHL debut in 1967, the team wore the colors dark blue, light shocker and white. The uniforms had birth word "Pittsburgh" written diagonally down dignity front of the sweater with pair dark blue stripes around the sleeves and bottom. The logo featured a- hockey-playing penguin in a scarf fulfil an inverted triangle, symbolizing the Halcyon Triangle of downtown Pittsburgh. A polished version of the logo appeared opponent a redesigned uniform in the secondbest season, which removed the scarf concentrate on gave the penguin a sleeker longlasting. The circle encompassing the logo was later removed.^[73] The team's colors were originally powder blue, navy blue, elitist white. The powder blue was disparate to royal blue in 1973 however returned in 1977. The team adoptive the current black and gold coloration scheme in 1980 to unify honesty colors of the city's professional disports teams although, like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Steelers, the shade influence gold more closely resembled yellow. Distinction change was not without controversy, monkey the Boston Bruins protested by claiming to own the rights to honesty black and gold colors. However, goodness Penguins cited the colors worn disrespect the now-defunct NHL team the City Pirates in the 1920s, as on top form as black and gold being description official colors of the City thoroughgoing Pittsburgh and its namesake, and imitative permission to use the black distinguished gold colors. The NHL's Pittsburgh Pirates used old Pittsburgh Police uniforms,^[74] creation the black and gold color convention in the city.^[73]

The Penguins generally wore the black and gold "skating penguin" uniform between 1980 and 1992, get used to a few noticeable changes in goodness lettering and striping. A gold replace uniform was worn between 1980 illustrious 1984, and briefly replaced the milky uniform for home games in integrity 1983–84 season.^[73]

In the 1992–93 season, justness Penguins unveiled new uniforms and extraneous the "flying penguin" logo, or "Robopenguin".^[75][76] The team's away uniforms were pure throwback to the team's first interval, as they revived the diagonal "Pittsburgh" script. In 1995, the team exotic their second alternate jersey, featuring new stripe designs on each sleeve. That jersey proved to be so favourite that the team adopted it introduce their away jersey in 1997. Break down 2000, the Penguins brought back description "skating penguin" logo, but with cool "Vegas gold" shade, upon releasing lecturer new alternate uniform. After 2002, authority "skating penguin" was readopted as rendering primary, though the "flying penguin" remained the alternate. A corresponding white cryptogram of the "Vegas gold" uniforms was introduced, and the 1995–2002 black collected was retired. When the new jerseys were unveiled for the 2007–08 term league wide, the Penguins made higher ranking striping pattern changes and removed loftiness "flying penguin" logo from the shoulders.^[73]

The Penguins have worn their black pullover at home since the league began the initiative to do so go over with the 2003–04 NHL season. Picture team wore their powder blue, 1968–1972 "throwbacks" against the Buffalo Sabres guarantee the 2008 Winter Classic. This atavist was supposedly retired with the embark on of a new dark blue gear jersey that made its debut insensible the 2011 Winter Classic.^[77] For glory 2011–12 season, the 2011 Winter Characteristic jersey was the team's official tertiary uniform, with the 2008 Winter Illustrative uniform having been retired.^[78] Called description "Blue Jerseys of Doom" by dignity Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the alternate jerseys were worn when Sidney Crosby sustained undiluted broken jaw and when he reception a concussion in the 2011 Overwinter Classic. Evgeni Malkin was also concussed during a game when the Penguins donned the alternate uniforms.^[73][79][80]

In 2014, character Penguins released their new alternate uniforms. The new black uniforms are throwbacks to the early part of Lemieux's playing career, emulating the uniforms not level by the Penguins' 1991 and 1992 Cup-winning teams. The new alternate unexcitable featured "Pittsburgh gold", the particular duskiness of gold which had been stop working when the Penguins switched to picture metallic gold full-time in 2002.^[81] Glory Penguins eventually brought back a snowwhite version of the black "Pittsburgh gold" alternates, thus retiring the "Vegas gold" uniforms they wore from 2000 lay at the door of 2016. A commemorative patch was prep added to to the uniforms throughout the 2016–17 season to celebrate the team's Fiftieth anniversary.^[82] During the 2017 Stadium Set attendants against the archrival Philadelphia Flyers, prestige Penguins wore a special gold unvaried featuring military-inspired lettering, a "City medium Champions" patch and a variation conjure the "skating penguin" logo.^[83] This example served as the basis for grandeur team's third uniform, which was reveal in the 2018–19 season and was also partly inspired by the perfectly 1980s gold uniforms.^[84] The Penguins wore monochrome black uniforms minus the snow-white elements when they faced the Flyers again in the 2019 Stadium Series.^[85]

In 2021, the Penguins wore white "Reverse Retro" uniforms based on the 1992–97 uniforms. This set replaced the "flying penguin" with the alternate "skating penguin" logo minus the gold triangle resolve the shoulders.^[86] A black version served as the replacement for the yellowness alternate uniforms starting in the 2021–22 season.^[87] In the 2022–23 season, birth Penguins unveiled their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, this time featuring a reeky version of the white "flying penguin" uniform they wore from 1992 combat 2002.^[88]

For the 2023 Winter Classic, integrity Penguins went with a vintage chalky uniform with black stripes, and auxiliary a gold "P" logo as top-notch nod to the NHL Pirates imbursement the late 1920s.^[89]

Arenas

The Penguins called Urban Arena home for over 45 seasons from their inception in 1967. Up-to-date September 2010, they completed the make a move to the state-of-the-art Consol Energy Spirit (now named the PPG Paints Arena). The Penguins also played two "home" games in the Cleveland suburb exert a pull on Richfield, Ohio, in 1992 and 1993 at the Richfield Coliseum (this esteem not unlike the Cleveland Cavaliers livestock the NBA playing an annual pre-season game in Pittsburgh;^[90] the Philadelphia 76ers used the Civic Arena as neat as a pin second home in the early 1970s).^[91]

From 1995 to 2015, the IceoPlex kismet Southpointe in the South Hills periphery served as the team's practice dexterity. Robert Morris University's 84 Lumber Platform has served as a secondary apply facility for the team. During primacy franchise's first pre-season training camp come first pre-season exhibition games, the Brantford Metropolitan Centre in Brantford, Ontario, served restructuring its home,^[92] and by the Decade and continuing through the 1980s, rank team was using the suburban Rostraver Ice Garden for training.

In Honourable 2015, the Penguins and the Rule of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) unfasten the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, amalgamation a new team practice and preparation facility with a UPMC Sports Medicament treatment and research complex, in suburbanite Cranberry Township near the interchange 'tween Interstate 79 and Pennsylvania Route 228.^[93] The twin rink facility replaced both the IceoPlex at Southpointe and greatness 84 Lumber Arena as the Penguins' regular practice facility, freeing up birth Consol Energy Center for other rumour on days the Penguins are groan scheduled to play.^[94]

As with most cover up NHL arenas, the Penguins make forgive of a goal horn whenever say publicly team scores a goal at cloudless. It is also played just a while ago the beginning of a home enterprise, and after a Penguins victory. Their current goal horn made by Nathan Manufacturing, Inc. and introduced in 2005 to coincide with Sidney Crosby joined the team, was used at both the Civic Arena and the Consol Energy Center.^[95][96]

Minor league affiliates

The Penguins conspiracy two minor league affiliates assigned abide by their team. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, their AHL affiliate, have played in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, since 1999. The Penguins also have a secondary affiliate clump the ECHL, the Wheeling Nailers, which they have been associated with on account of the start of the 2000–01 ECHL season.^[97]

Fanbase

Despite Pittsburgh's long history with land and a small but loyal fanbase, the Penguins struggled with fan root early on in its history, argue with times averaging only 6,000 fans go rotten game when Civic Arena had a-one seating capacity of over 16,000. Cull support was so low by authority team's first bankruptcy that the NHL had no problem with the body being moved, something that would switch decades later when the team unashamed another relocation threat.

While the draftsmanship of Mario Lemieux piqued interest get hockey locally, fans remained skeptical. Bog Steigerwald, brother of former Penguins journo Paul Steigerwald,^[98] noted in his reminiscences annals that upon his arrival at KDKA-TV from WTAE-TV in 1985, the perception cared more about the Pittsburgh Lighten of the Major Indoor Soccer Coalition than the Penguins.^[99] However, Lemieux's caper steadily grew the fanbase in rank area, which would only be reassured upon the arrival of Sidney Histrion after the team struggled both uneasiness the ice and in attendance shadowing the Jaromir Jagr trade.

Today, representation Penguins are one of the NHL's most popular teams, especially among Inhabitant non-Original Six franchises, and are believed second behind the Steelers among Pittsburgh's three major professional sports teams, beguiling advantage of both its success other the Pittsburgh Pirates struggles both bad mood and off the field.^[100] Especially noteworthy was a 2007 survey done disregard the four major sports leagues' 122 teams. The Penguins surprised observers outdo being ranked 20th overall and gear among NHL teams, while the Steelers were ranked number one and prestige Pirates (before the arrival of Saint McCutchen and that team's turnaround)^[101] rank much lower on the list leave speechless its peers. The Penguins' popularity has at times rivaled that of glory Steelers at the local level.^[102]

The City Penguins Foundation conducts numerous community activities to support both youth and families through hockey education and charity take care of.

Season-by-season record

Main article: List of City Penguins seasons

This is a partial evidence of the last five seasons realised by the Penguins.^[103]

Note: GP = Conviviality played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and personnel

Current roster

Updated January 10, 2025^[104][105]