Pittsburgh Penguins
Five-time Stanley Cup champions, first back-to-back winners in the salary cap era.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, often called the Pens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They play in the National Hockey League’s Metropolitan Division within the Eastern Conference. Since 2010, their home games have been held at PPG Paints Arena; before that, they played at the Civic Arena, widely known as the Igloo. The team is affiliated with two minor league clubs: the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.
The Penguins were founded during the NHL’s 1967 expansion. They have reached the Stanley Cup Finals six times and won the championship five times—in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017. This ties them with the Edmonton Oilers for the most Stanley Cup titles among non-Original Six teams, and sixth overall. Their victories in 2016 and 2017 made them the first team to win back-to-back championships in the salary cap era. Several former Penguins have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including co-owner Mario Lemieux, who bought the team in 1999 and rescued it from bankruptcy. Lemieux, Jaromír Jágr, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin each won the Hart Memorial Trophy while playing for the franchise.
Before the Penguins arrived, Pittsburgh hosted the NHL’s Pittsburgh Pirates from 1925 to 1930 and the American Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Hornets from 1936 to 1967, with a pause from 1956 to 1961. In spring 1965, state senator Jack McGregor of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, began rallying campaign contributors and community leaders to bring an NHL team back to Pittsburgh, using the league as a tool for urban renewal. He formed a group of local investors, including H. J. Heinz III, Steelers owner Art Rooney, and Richard Mellon Scaife. To secure votes from existing NHL owners, McGregor had Rooney petition James D. Norris of the Chicago Black Hawks and Bruce Norris of the Detroit Red Wings. On February 8, 1966, the NHL awarded an expansion team to Pittsburgh for the 1967–68 season. The Penguins paid $2.5 million for entry and $750,000 more for start-up costs. The Civic Arena’s capacity was increased from 10,732 to 12,500 to meet league requirements, and the team paid an indemnity to settle with the Red Wings, who owned the Hornets franchise. McGregor was named president and CEO, representing Pittsburgh on the NHL’s Board of Governors.
- Founded
- 1967 expansion
- Stanley cup titles
- 5 (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, 2017)
- Home arena
- PPG Paints Arena (since 2010)
- Previous home arena
- Civic Arena (nicknamed 'the Igloo')
- Division
- Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference
- Minor league affiliates
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), Florida Everblades (ECHL)
- Notable hart trophy winners
- Mario Lemieux, Jaromír Jágr, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin
Lore & Background
Prior to the Penguins, Pittsburgh hosted the NHL's Pittsburgh Pirates (1925–1930) and the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets (1936–1967). In spring 1965, state senator Jack McGregor led a campaign to bring an NHL franchise back to Pittsburgh, forming a local investor group that included H. J. Heinz III, Art Rooney, and Richard Mellon Scaife. On February 8, 1966, the NHL awarded an expansion team to Pittsburgh for the 1967–68 season. The team paid $2.5 million for entry and $750,000 for start-up costs. A contest selected 'Penguins' as the nickname, inspired by the team's home arena, the 'Igloo'. The first general manager, Jack Riley, opened pre-season camp in Brantford, Ontario, on September 13, 1967. The team's first captain was Ab McDonald. The Penguins' early years were hampered by restrictive rules that kept major talent with the Original Six teams. In the 1969 draft, the team selected Michel Brière, who led Pittsburgh to its first NHL playoff berth since 1928. Brière died a year after a car crash in May 1970. In early 1975, the Penguins' creditors forced the team into bankruptcy, but through intervention by a group including former Minnesota North Stars head coach Wren Blair, the team remained in Pittsburgh and was eventually bought by shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr.
Reader's Guide
The Pittsburgh Penguins were founded during the NHL's 1967 expansion, one of six new teams that doubled the league's size. Their early history was marked by financial instability and tragedy, including the bankruptcy in 1975 and the death of promising rookie Michel Brière. The team's fortunes changed dramatically when co-owner Mario Lemieux purchased the club in 1999, bringing it out of bankruptcy. Lemieux, along with Jaromír Jágr, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin, have won the Hart Memorial Trophy while playing for the franchise. The Penguins have won five Stanley Cup championships, tying them with the Edmonton Oilers for the most among non-Original Six teams and ranking sixth overall. Their back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 made them the first team to achieve that feat in the salary cap era. The team has played at PPG Paints Arena since 2010, having previously called the Civic Arena—nicknamed 'the Igloo'—home. The Penguins maintain minor league affiliations with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.
Did You Know?
- The Penguins' nickname was chosen from 26,000 contest entries, with the winning entry inspired by the team's home arena, the 'Igloo'.
- Michel Brière, selected 26th in the 1969 draft, led the Penguins to their first playoff berth since 1928 but died a year after a car crash in 1970.
- Co-owner Mario Lemieux purchased the Penguins in 1999, bringing the club out of bankruptcy.
- The Penguins became the first back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in the salary cap era with wins in 2016 and 2017.
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