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Pittsburgh Penguins

Founded:1967GM:Kyle Dubas
Owned By:Fenway Sports Group (John Henry), Ronald Burkle & Mario LemieuxCoach:Mike Sullivan
Home Rink:PPG Paints ArenaCaptain:Sidney Crosby
AHL Affiliate:Wilkes/Barre Scranton PenguinsECHL Affiliate:Wheeling Nailers

The Pittsburgh Penguins were founded in 1967 during the league’s expansion from six to twelve teams. The 1992–93 Penguins won the franchise’s first-ever Presidents’ Trophy for being the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. In addition to their eight division titles, they have qualified for six Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Stanley Cup five times – in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017. Along with the Edmonton Oilers, the Penguins are tied for the most Stanley Cup championships among non-Original Six teams and sixth overall. 

Deeper Dive

2023-24 Season Roster

Super Mario: One of the Greats

Equal parts exhilarating and devastating, sports are quite simply unpredictable. Ask the city of Pittsburgh. In 1995, Penguins fans experienced both emotions at the same time. Riding back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and looking like a team destined to three-peat, Mario Lemieux stepped to the podium at a sudden press conference to announce he had been diagnosed with a Nodular Lymphocytic form of Hodgkin’s disease. Read more…

Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Mario Lemieux. (Tony McCune/Wikimedia)

The Players

More Penguins History

Legacy of the Penguins’ Name and Mascots

Though it’s not the fiercest team name in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins moniker has become associated with greatness over the franchise’s 52-year existence. It’s hard to believe that one simple write-in naming contest could have changed the entire branding of the team, eliminating things like slick black-and-gold uniforms, a great arena nickname, and even a few lovable mascots. Read more…

Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nov. 10, 2018 (Courtesy Canadian Press)

Captains

  • Ab McDonald, 1967-1968
  • Earl Ingarfield, 1968-1969
  • Ron Schock, 1973-1977
  • Jean Pronovost, 1977-1978
  • Orest Kindrachuk, 1978-1981
  • Randy Carlyle, 1981-1984
  • Mike Bullard, 1984-1986
  • Terry Ruskowski, 1986-87
  • Dan Frawley, 1987
  • Mario Lemieux, 1987-1994, 1995-1997, 2001-2006
  • Ron Francis, 1995, 1997-1998
  • Jaromir Jagr, 1998-2001
  • Sidney Crosby, 2007-present

Head Coaching History

  • Red Sullivan, 1968-1969
  • Red Kelly, 1970-1973
  • Ken Schinkel, 1973-1977
  • Marc Boileau, 1974-1976
  • Johnny Wilson, 1978-1980
  • Eddie Johnston, 1981-1997
  • Lou Angotti, 1984
  • Bob Berry, 1985-1987
  • Pierre Creamer, 1988
  • Gene Ubriaco, 1989-1990
  • Craig Patrick, 1990-1997
  • Bob Johnson, 1991
  • Scotty Bowman, 1992-1993
  • Kevin Constantine, 1998-2000
  • Herb Brooks, 2000
  • Ivan Hlinka, 2001-2002
  • Rick Kehoe, 2002-2003
  • Eddie Olczyk, 2004-2006
  • Michel Therrien, 2006-2009
  • Dan Bylsma, 2009-2014
  • Mike Johnston, 2015-2016
  • Mike Sullivan, 2016-Present

Sources