Pittsburgh Penguins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pittsburgh Penguins
Conference	Eastern
Division	Metropolitan
Founded	1967
History	Pittsburgh Penguins 1967–present
Home arena	PPG Paints Arena
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Colors	Black, Pittsburgh gold, white
Media	SportsNet Pittsburgh The X (105.9 FM) ESPN Pittsburgh (970 AM) Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network
Owner(s)	Fenway Sports Group Mario Lemieux (minority)
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' Trophies	1 (1992–93)
Division championships	9 (1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2020–21)

The Pittsburgh Penguins, often called the Pens, are a professional ice hockey team from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Their home games are played at PPG Paints Arena, which used to be called Consol Energy Center. Before that, they played at the Civic Arena, also known as "the Igloo."

The Penguins started in 1967 as an expansion team. They have won the Stanley Cup five times: in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017. This makes them one of the most successful teams outside of the "Original Six" NHL teams. Winning in 2016 and 2017 made them the first team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in the modern salary cap era. Many famous players, including co-owner Mario Lemieux, have played for the Penguins and are now in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

History of the Penguins

Early Years and Challenges (1967–1984)

Before the Penguins, Pittsburgh had other hockey teams like the NHL's Pittsburgh Pirates and the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets. In 1965, a state senator named Jack McGregor worked hard to bring an NHL team back to Pittsburgh. He gathered local investors, including H. J. Heinz Company heir H. J. Heinz III and Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney.

On February 8, 1966, the National Hockey League chose Pittsburgh as an expansion city for the 1967–68 season. The team paid $2.5 million to join. The Civic Arena was made bigger to fit the NHL's rules.

A contest was held to name the team, and "Penguins" won out of 26,000 entries. This name was inspired because the team would play in the "Igloo," which was the nickname for the Civic Arena. The first logo showed a penguin in front of a triangle, representing Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle." The first Penguins team had some older stars and minor league players. Their first game was on October 11, 1967, against the Montreal Canadiens. They became the first expansion team to beat an Original Six team, defeating the Chicago Black Hawks 4–2.

Playoff Success and a Sad Loss (1969–1974)

In the 1969 draft, the Penguins picked Michel Briere, a very talented player. He quickly became a star, helping Pittsburgh reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1928 Pirates. They swept the Oakland Seals in the quarterfinals. Sadly, just days after their playoff success, Briere was in a car crash and passed away a year later. His number 21 jersey was never used again and was officially retired in 2001.

The team made the playoffs again in 1972 but were swept by the Chicago Black Hawks. In 1975, the Penguins faced serious financial problems and almost had to leave Pittsburgh. However, a group led by former coach Wren Blair helped save the team, and it was eventually bought by Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr..

New Colors and Tough Play (1974–1982)

In the mid-1970s, the Penguins had strong offensive players like the "Century Line" of Syl Apps Jr., Lowell MacDonald, and Jean Pronovost. They almost reached the Stanley Cup semi-finals in 1975 but lost after being up 3–0 in the series.

In January 1980, the Penguins changed their team colors from blue and white to black and gold. This was done to match Pittsburgh's other sports teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates (baseball) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (football), and the City of Pittsburgh's official colors. The Boston Bruins protested, saying they owned black and gold, but the NHL agreed that Pittsburgh could use them. The Penguins wore their new black and gold uniforms for the first time on January 30, 1980.

The Mario Lemieux Era (1984–2005)

Mario Lemieux Arrives (1984–1989)

The Penguins had the worst record in the league for two seasons in a row (1982–83 and 1983–84). This was a good thing because it meant they had the chance to draft Mario Lemieux, one of the most talented players ever, in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. The team purposely finished last to get him. Lemieux made an immediate impact, scoring on his very first shot in his first NHL game!

Even with Lemieux, the team struggled for a few more years. In the late 1980s, the Penguins added more great players like defenseman Paul Coffey and young talents like Kevin Stevens and Rob Brown. They also got a top goalie, Tom Barrasso. In 1989, Pittsburgh finally made the playoffs, with Lemieux leading the league in scoring.

Winning Back-to-Back Stanley Cups (1989–1997)

In 1990, Lemieux had a back injury, but the team kept getting stronger. They signed Bryan Trottier and traded for Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, Ron Francis, and Ulf Samuelsson. A huge addition was drafting Jaromir Jagr in 1990. Jagr became another superstar for the Penguins.

This strong team led to the Penguins winning their first Stanley Cup in 1991, beating the Minnesota North Stars. They won the final game 8–0, which was a huge victory! The next season, their coach Bob Johnson passed away from cancer, and Scotty Bowman took over. Under Bowman, they swept the Chicago Blackhawks to win their second straight Stanley Cup in 1992.

In 1993, Mario Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. Despite this, he returned to play just two months later and still won his fourth scoring title! The team had its best regular season ever, winning an NHL-record 17 games in a row. However, they were surprisingly eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Islanders.

The Penguins remained a strong team throughout the 1990s with new stars like Alexei Kovalev and Martin Straka. They made it to the conference finals in 1996 but lost in a tough seven-game series.

Lemieux's Retirement and Return (1997–2001)

On April 6, 1997, Mario Lemieux announced his retirement due to health issues. He was so respected that he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame the same year, without the usual three-year waiting period. His departure led to more financial troubles for the team.

The Penguins faced bankruptcy again in 1998. Lemieux stepped in with a unique plan: he converted the money the team owed him into ownership, becoming the team's main owner. He promised to keep the team in Pittsburgh, saving the franchise for the second time.

Then, on December 8, 2000, Lemieux shocked everyone by announcing he would return to play for the Penguins! He became the first player-owner in NHL history. He helped lead the team deep into the 2001 playoffs, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

Rebuilding the Team (2001–2005)

After the 2001 season, the Penguins had to trade star player Jaromir Jagr to save money. They missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years in 2002. In the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Penguins picked goalie Marc-Andre Fleury first overall.

The 2003–04 season was tough, with Lemieux injured and low attendance. The team finished with the worst record in the NHL. This allowed them to pick second overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, where they selected Evgeni Malkin, another future superstar. However, a dispute kept Malkin from playing in Pittsburgh right away.

The Penguins were still struggling financially, and their arena, the Civic Arena, was very old. Lemieux considered moving the team to Kansas City. A lockout cancelled the entire 2004–05 NHL season.

The Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin Era (2005–Present)

Sidney Crosby Arrives (2005–2006)

When the lockout ended in 2005, the NHL held a special draft lottery. The Penguins won the first overall pick, which was used to draft Sidney Crosby, a highly anticipated young player. Crosby had even trained with Mario Lemieux that summer! His arrival brought huge excitement back to Pittsburgh hockey.

Crosby's presence immediately boosted attendance, but wins didn't come right away. The team changed coaches, and on January 24, 2006, Mario Lemieux announced his second and final retirement. Crosby quickly became a league star, scoring 102 points in his first season. The Penguins still had the worst record in the Eastern Conference, but this meant they got the second overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, where they selected Jordan Staal.

Becoming Stanley Cup Champions Again (2006–2010)

On October 18, 2006, Evgeni Malkin finally made his NHL debut and scored a goal in his first six games, setting a modern NHL record! The Penguins had a great 2006–07 season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. Malkin won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie.

On March 13, 2007, an agreement was reached to build a new arena, the Consol Energy Center, ensuring the Penguins would stay in Pittsburgh.

In the 2007–08 season, Crosby and Fleury were injured, but Malkin stepped up and led the team to win their division. They had a great playoff run, beating the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers to reach the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games.

In the 2008–09 season, Malkin won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer. The team improved after Dan Bylsma became head coach. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers and then won a thrilling seven-game series against the Washington Capitals. They then swept the Carolina Hurricanes to reach the Stanley Cup Finals again, facing the Detroit Red Wings. This time, the Penguins won in seven games, with Maxime Talbot scoring two goals in the final game. Malkin was named the playoff MVP.

New Arena and Injuries (2010–2015)

The 2010–11 season was the Penguins' first in the new Consol Energy Center. The season was marked by injuries to Crosby (concussion) and Malkin (knee). The team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2011–12 season, Malkin led the league in scoring and won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's MVP. Despite high hopes, the Penguins lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.

The lockout-shortened 2012–13 season saw the Penguins finish first in the Eastern Conference. They beat the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators but were swept by the Boston Bruins in the Conference Finals. In 2014, the Penguins won their division but lost to the New York Rangers in the playoffs. This led to changes in management and coaching. In 2015, the team acquired star winger Phil Kessel.

Back-to-Back Stanley Cups (2015–2017)

With Kessel, the Penguins had high hopes for the 2015–16 season. After a slow start, they changed coaches to Mike Sullivan and made some trades. The team improved greatly and made the playoffs.

In the 2016 playoffs, the Penguins defeated the Rangers, Capitals, and Lightning to reach the Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks. On June 12, 2016, the Penguins won their fourth Stanley Cup! Captain Sidney Crosby was named the playoff MVP.

The Penguins started their 50th anniversary season as defending champions. They won their division and faced the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2017 playoffs, winning in five games. They then beat the Washington Capitals in a tough seven-game series. In the Conference Finals, they defeated the Ottawa Senators in seven games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals against the Nashville Predators. The Penguins won the series in six games, becoming the first team since 1998 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Playoff Streak (2017–2023)

Before the 2017–18 season, the Penguins lost longtime goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the expansion draft. They still made the playoffs but lost to the Washington Capitals. In the next season, they were swept by the New York Islanders in the first round. The 2020 playoffs were shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Penguins lost in the qualifying round.

In 2021, Ron Hextall became the new general manager. The Penguins won their division, extending their playoff streak to 15 seasons, the longest active streak in North American sports at the time. However, they lost in the first round to the New York Islanders.

In 2021, Fenway Sports Group bought a controlling share of the Penguins. In the 2022 playoffs, the Penguins lost to the New York Rangers in seven games, even after leading the series 3–1.

The 2022–23 season saw Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang play their 1,000th NHL games. However, the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since Sidney Crosby's rookie season, ending a 16-season playoff streak.

The Kyle Dubas Era (2023–Present)

In June 2023, Kyle Dubas became the team's new president of hockey operations. In August, the Penguins traded for star defenseman Erik Karlsson. In February 2024, the team retired Jaromir Jagr's number 68 jersey. Despite a late push, the Penguins missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Team Culture

Fanbase

The Penguins didn't always have a huge fanbase. In their early years, attendance was low. However, when Mario Lemieux joined, interest grew. The arrival of Sidney Crosby further boosted their popularity.

Today, the Penguins are one of the most popular NHL teams, especially among American teams not part of the "Original Six." They are often seen as the second most popular sports team in Pittsburgh, after the Steelers.

Rivalries

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia Flyers

This is considered one of the best rivalries in the NHL. The rivalry started in 1967 because both teams are from Pennsylvania and play in the same division. The Flyers have a better overall record against the Penguins. They have met seven times in the playoffs, with the Flyers winning four series and the Penguins winning three.

Pittsburgh vs. Washington Capitals

The Penguins and Capitals have faced each other 11 times in the playoffs. The Penguins have won nine of these matchups, often on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. They have played decisive Game 7s in 1992, 1995, 2009, and 2017. This rivalry was also featured in the 2011 NHL Winter Classic outdoor game.

Team Information

Team Colors and Jerseys

When the Penguins started in 1967, their colors were dark blue, light blue, and white. Their logo showed a penguin playing hockey. In 1980, the team changed to black and gold to match Pittsburgh's other sports teams. The Boston Bruins protested, but the Penguins showed that black and gold were Pittsburgh's traditional colors, and the NHL agreed.

The Penguins wore the black and gold "skating penguin" uniform for many years. In 1992, they introduced a new "flying penguin" logo, also known as "Robopenguin," and new uniforms. In 2000, they brought back the "skating penguin" logo but with a different shade of gold called "Vegas gold."

Since 2003, the Penguins have worn their black jerseys at home. They have also worn special throwback jerseys, including a powder blue one from their early years and a black one from the Mario Lemieux era. In 2014, they brought back the "Pittsburgh gold" color. For their 50th anniversary season in 2016–17, they added a special patch to their uniforms. They also wore a unique gold uniform for the 2017 NHL Stadium Series.

Media Coverage

Radio and TV

The Penguins' radio home is WXDX-FM, and their television home is SportsNet Pittsburgh. Their radio network includes 34 stations across four states.

Broadcasters

Mike Lange was a play-by-play announcer for the team for many years, starting in 1974. He became the main TV announcer in 1979 and later returned to radio. Other notable broadcasters include Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey. Currently, Josh Getzoff is the TV play-by-play announcer, and Phil Bourque is the radio color commentator.

Penguins games are shown on SportsNet Pittsburgh, and sometimes on national networks like ESPN, ABC, and TNT in the U.S., and Sportsnet and CBC in Canada.

In-Game Announcers

Ryan Mill is the public address announcer for the Penguins. Jeff Jimerson has been the team's official anthem singer since 1991.

Arenas

The Penguins played at the Civic Arena for over 45 seasons. In 2010, they moved to the modern PPG Paints Arena.

Since 2015, the Penguins have used the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township as their main practice facility. This complex also includes a sports medicine center.

Like most NHL arenas, the Penguins use a goal horn when they score. Their current horn was introduced in 2005 when Sidney Crosby joined the team.

Minor League Teams

The Penguins have two minor league teams:

• The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins play in the AHL.
• The Wheeling Nailers play in the ECHL.

Season Records

Here are the Penguins' records for their last five seasons:

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, 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 first 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

Current Roster

Updated December 31, 2022

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
15		Archibald, JoshJosh Archibald	RW	R	32	2022	Regina, Saskatchewan
53		Blueger, TeddyTeddy Blueger	C	L	30	2012	Riga, Latvia
77		Carter, JeffJeff Carter	C/RW	R	40	2021	London, Ontario
87		Crosby, SidneySidney Crosby (C)	C	L	37	2005	Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
1		DeSmith, CaseyCasey DeSmith	G	L	33	2017	Rochester, New Hampshire
8		Dumoulin, BrianBrian Dumoulin	D	L	33	2012	Biddeford, Maine
52		Friedman, MarkMark Friedman	D	R	29	2021	Toronto, Ontario
59		Guentzel, JakeJake Guentzel	LW	L	30	2013	Omaha, Nebraska
43		Heinen, DantonDanton Heinen	W	L	29	2021	Langley, British Columbia
35		Jarry, TristanTristan Jarry	G	L	30	2013	Surrey, British Columbia
73		Joseph, Pierre-OlivierPierre-Olivier Joseph	D	L	25	2019	Laval, Quebec
42		Kapanen, KasperiKasperi Kapanen	RW	R	28	2020	Kuopio, Finland
58		Letang, KrisKris Letang (A)	D	R	38	2005	Montreal, Quebec
71		Malkin, EvgeniEvgeni Malkin (A)	C	L	38	2004	Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union
23		McGinn, BrockBrock McGinn	LW	L	31	2021	Fergus, Ontario
10		O'Connor, DrewDrew O'Connor	LW/C	L	27	2020	Chatham, New Jersey
28		Pettersson, MarcusMarcus Pettersson	D	L	29	2018	Skellefteå, Sweden
26		Petry, JeffJeff Petry	D	R	37	2022	Ann Arbor, Michigan
25		Poehling, RyanRyan Poehling	C	L	26	2022	Lakeville, Minnesota
67		Rakell, RickardRickard Rakell	W	R	32	2022	Sundbyberg, Sweden
2		Ruhwedel, ChadChad Ruhwedel	D	R	35	2016	San Diego, California
17		Rust, BryanBryan Rust	RW	R	33	2010	Pontiac, Michigan
44		Rutta, JanJan Rutta	D	R	34	2022	Písek, Czechoslovakia
24		Smith, TyTy Smith	D	L	25	2022	Lloydminster, Alberta
16		Zucker, JasonJason Zucker	LW	L	33	2020	Newport Beach, California

Honored Members

Retired Numbers

The Penguins have retired three jersey numbers to honor their greatest players. These numbers are no longer worn by any player on the team.

Pittsburgh Penguins Retired Numbers

No.	Player	Position	Career	Date Of Retirement
21	Michel Briere	C	1969–1970	January 5, 2001
66	Mario Lemieux	C	1984–1997 2000–2006	November 19, 1997
68	Jaromir Jagr	RW	1990–2001	February 18, 2024

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

Many players and important people from the Penguins organization have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This includes 15 former players and five "builders" (coaches, general managers).

Players

Builders

• Scotty Bowman
• Herb Brooks
• Bob Johnson
• Craig Patrick
• Jim Rutherford

Team Captains

Here are all the players who have served as team captain for the Penguins:

Team Records

These are the top-ten point-scorers in Penguins history.

•  *  – current Penguins player

Top Goaltenders

These are the top-ten goaltenders in Penguins history by wins.

•  *  – current Penguins player

Goaltenders

Player	GP	W	L	T	OT	GAA	SV%	SO
Marc-Andre Fleury	691	375	216	2	66	2.58	.912	44
Tom Barrasso	460	226	153	53	8	3.27	.896	22
Tristan Jarry*	257	136	85	–	25	2.70	.912	19
Matt Murray	199	117	53	–	19	2.67	.914	11
Ken Wregget	212	104	67	21	4	3.29	.898	6
Denis Herron	290	88	133	44	–	3.88	.879	6
Jean-Sebastien Aubin	168	63	72	11	10	2.92	.900	6
Les Binkley	196	58	94	34	–	3.12	.900	11
Gregory Millen	135	57	56	18	–	3.83	.874	4
Johan Hedberg	116	46	57	12	6	2.88	.901	7

Playoff Scoring Leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in Penguins playoff history.

•  *  – current Penguins player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

In the Community

The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation works to help youth and families through hockey education and charity.

Images for kids

• 

  The Penguins hosted the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field during the 2011 NHL Winter Classic.

See also

In Spanish: Pittsburgh Penguins para niños