Founded: 1967
Arena: Mellon Arena
Stanley Cups: 3
1991, 1992, 2009
Twice the Penguins franchise has been in danger of folding or moving, and twice it has risen again on the shoulders of a dominant NHL star.
After 17 seasons of mostly mediocre hockey, the Penguins turnaround began with the debut of Mario Lemieux in 1984. Lemieux was an immediate success, scoring 100 points in his first season. Within four years he would be named NHL MVP and challenge Wayne Gretzky for the title of hockey's greatest player.
With Lemieux leading a roster mixing youth and experience, including stars like Jaromir Jagr, Paul Coffey, and Ron Francis, Pittsburgh won back-to-back Stanley Cups. But as his health declined, the team would find success difficult to sustain.
By 2005, the team was rumored to be on the verge of bankruptcy, and Lemieux had taken an equity position in the franchise. A new turnaround began when Sidney Crosby was drafted. Crosby would lead a new generation of Penguins stars to the team's third championship.
Pittsburgh Penguins Retired Numbers:
21 Michel Briere
66 Mario Lemieux
Pittsburgh Penguins in the Hockey Hall of Fame:
Andrew James (Andy) Bathgate
Leo Joseph Boivin
Paul Douglas Coffey
Ron Francis
Miles Gilbert (Tim) Horton
Mario Lemieux
Joseph Mullen
Larry Thomas Murphy
Bryan John Trottier
