Pittsburgh Penguins

Lore & Background

Founded during the 1967 expansion, the Penguins 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 the non-Original Six teams and sixth overall. With their Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017, the Penguins became the first back-to-back champions in the salary cap era. Several of the team's former members have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including co-owner Mario Lemieux, who purchased the Penguins in 1999 and brought the club out of bankruptcy. Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin have won the Hart Memorial Trophy while playing for the franchise.

Reader's Guide

The Penguins' early years (1967–1984) included their first playoff berth in 1970, led by rookie Michel Briere, who suffered a fatal car crash shortly after the playoffs. The team faced bankruptcy in the mid-1970s. The franchise's history includes playing at the Civic Arena from 1967 to 2010 before moving to PPG Paints Arena.

Did You Know?

• The Penguins' nickname was chosen from 26,000 entries in a contest; the winning entry was inspired by the team playing in the 'Igloo' (Civic Arena).
• Michel Briere's number 21 jersey was never reissued after his accident and was formally retired in 2001.