Pittsburgh Penguins
Five-time Stanley Cup champions, founded in 1967.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has played its home games at PPG Paints Arena since 2010, and has previously played at the Civic Arena, which was better known by its nickname "the Igloo". The Penguins are affiliated with two minor league teams – the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. 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.
- Draft Year
- 2014
- NHL Debut Date
- October 8, 2019
- First NHL Goal Date
- October 12, 2019
- AHL First Professional Goal Date
- April 3, 2018
- Penguins Trade Date
- January 5, 2022
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Penguins were awarded to Pittsburgh on February 8, 1966, for the 1967–68 season. The team's nickname was chosen from a contest; the winning entry was inspired because the team was to play in the "Igloo", the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. The Penguins' first captain was Ab McDonald. Michel Briere, drafted in 1969, led the team to its first playoff berth in 1970 but suffered a career-ending car crash on May 15, 1970, and died a year later; his number 21 was never reissued and was formally retired in 2001.
In Their Own Story
Lafferty's tenure with the Penguins was defined by rapid development and immediate impact. After being selected in the 2014 draft out of Deerfield Academy, he balanced his hockey career with Division I golf at Brown, even qualifying for the 2015 Ivy League Men's Golf Championship as a freshman. His breakout junior season saw him lead Brown in scoring with 35 points in all 31 games played, ranking first on the team in assists, and earning Team MVP honors. Upon turning pro, Lafferty wasted no time, netting his first professional goal on April 3, 2018, against the Hershey Bears. By October 2019, he had made his NHL debut, contributing immediately with a goal and an assist in a win against Minnesota. His journey from a prep school star at Deerfield Academy—where he tallied 38 goals and 57 assists for a total of 95 points in 74 games—to an NHL contributor showcased his versatility. He remained with the organization until January 5, 2022, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Alexander Nylander.
Reader's Guide
The Penguins play at PPG Paints Arena. Their minor league affiliates are the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) and the Florida Everblades (ECHL). The team has won the Stanley Cup five times: 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017.
Did You Know?
- The Penguins are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the most Stanley Cup championships among non-Original Six teams.
- Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin have won the Hart Memorial Trophy while playing for the Penguins.
- The Civic Arena was nicknamed 'the Igloo'.
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