2000–01 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The season Mario Lemieux came out of retirement as the NHL's first owner-player.
The 2000–01 season was the Pittsburgh Penguins' 34th in the NHL. Ivan Hlinka took over as head coach from Herb Brooks, who stayed with the club as a scout, and the season opened with two games against the Nashville Predators in Japan. Its defining moment came in December, when team owner Mario Lemieux came out of retirement as a player.
Quick Facts
- League
- NHL
- Season
- 2000–01
- Team
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Record
- 42–28–9–3
- Conference
- Eastern
- Division
- Atlantic
- Coach
- Ivan Hlinka
- Captain
- Jaromir Jagr
Facts from the source article.
Background
Lemieux announced his comeback on December 9, 2000, and returned on December 27 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first owner-player in NHL history. Before the game his number 66 banner was lowered from the rafters of Mellon Arena; he then scored a goal and set up two more, one on his first shift, in a 5–0 Penguins win. Pittsburgh was 15–14–6–1 before his return and 27–14–3–2 after it, finishing 42–28–9–3 and third in the Atlantic Division to make the playoffs.
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