Pittsburgh Penguins Top Five Lists
Playoff hockey around the household has been at times a battle of nerves, as one of my favourite teams, the New Jersey Devils, have faced off against my stepdad's favourite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, a few times recently. Well, recently meaning the last time the Penguins actually made the playoffs that is, which was wayyyyyyy back in the 2000 - 01 season, when they made the Eastern Conference Finals & lost to the Devils.
This season is looking to be one of enormous potential for the Penguins franchise, as winning the Sidney Crosby Draft Lottery & the ratification of the new CBA has resulted in many players formerly unaffordable by Pittsburgh lured back to the Steel City. With the additions of Sergei Gonchar, Mark Recchi, John LeClair, & many others, as well as the return of a healthy Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh looks set to not only make the playoffs, but go a long way in them this season. However, saying that in September is a far cry from them being there in May. Hopefully they make fischyference19 "squee" all season long.
For more information on the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins, click here
Top Five All Time Penalty Minute Leaders - prior to 2005-06 season
5. Paul Baxter (1980 - 83) - 202 GP - 851 PIM
4. Bryan Watson (1968 - 74) - 304 GP - 871 PIM
3. Rod Buskas (1982 - 90) - 431 GP - 959 PIM
2. Troy Loney (1983 - 93) - 532 GP - 980 PIM
1. Kevin Stevens (1987 - 95, 2000 - 02) - 522 GP - 1048 PIM
Top Five All Time Captains
5. Ron Schock (1973 - 77)
4. Randy Carlyle (1981 - 84) - Captain of some truly horrible Penguins teams, but didn't let it destroy his game
3. Jaromir Jagr (1998 - 2001) - with the absences of Mario Lemieux & Ron Francis, there was really no one else for the job
2. Ron Francis (1994 - 95, 1997 - 98) - probably would have been Captain for much longer stretches if not for Mario Lemieux, more than likely regarded as Captain A1
1. Mario Lemieux (1987 - 94, 1995 - 97, 2001 - present) - if not for Mario, the team would probably have been relocated, not to mention never have been a two-time Stanley Cup winner
Top Five All Time Head Coaches
5. Johnny Wilson (1977 - 80)
4. Kevin Constantine (1997 - 2000) - strict taskmaster coached team to regular season success, but didn't advance past the 2nd round of the playoffs once in three seasons
3. Ed Johnston (1980 - 83, 1993 - 97) - never leading the Penguins to Stanley Cup victory, but almost always iced a competitive team
2. Scotty Bowman (1991 - 93) - coached team to second Stanley Cup victory, taking over after the death of "Badger" Bob Johnson, although the team could've been coached by Gordon Bombay & probably have still won the Stanley Cup after their inspirational leader died
1. "Badger" Bob Johnson (1990 - 92) - coached team to first Stanley Cup victory in 1991, with the team repeating as Champions the following season after his death
Top Five All Time Seasons
5. 1995-96 (49-29-4) 102 PTS, statistically their second-best season to date, lost in Eastern Conference Finals to the hard-working Florida Panthers
4. 2000-01 (42-28-9-3) 96 PTS, buoyed by the return of Hall of Famer & owner Mario Lemieux, milked his return as long as they could, finally falling in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils; last time the Penguins made the playoffs
3. 1992-93 (56-21-7) 119 PTS, statistically their best season to date, lost in second round of the playoffs to the surprising (& overachieving) New York Islanders, ruining their chances at threepeating as Stanley Cup Champions
2. 1990-91 (41-33-6) 88 PTS, won their division & made the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time, defeating the Minnesota North Stars to claim their first Cup victory
1. 1991-92 (39-32-9) 87 PTS, overcame death of Head Coach "Badger" Bob Johnson to make the playoffs & repeat as Stanley Cup Champions over the Chicago Blackhawks
Top Five All Time Points Leaders - prior to 2005-06 season
5. Jean Pronovost (1968 - 78) - 753 GP - 316 G - 287 A - 603 PTS Right Wing
4. Ron Francis (1990 - 98) - 533 GP - 164 G - 449 A - 613 PTS Centre, won Lady Byng Trophy (most gentlemanly player) three times, Selke Trophy once (best defensive forward), two-time Stanley Cup Champion, & a future Hall of Famer
3. Rick Kehoe (1974 - 85) - 722 GP - 312 G - 324 A - 636 PTS Forward, won Lady Byng Trophy
2. Jaromir Jagr (1990 - 2001) - 806 GP - 439 G - 640 A - 1079 PTS Right Wing, won Art Ross Trophy five times (regular season points scoring champion), Lester B. Pearson Trophy twice (MVP as voted by players), Hart Trophy once (regular season MVP), a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, & a future Hall of Famer
1. Mario Lemieux (1984 - 97, 2000 - present) - 889 GP - 683 G - 1018 A - 1701 PTS Forward, won Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year), Lester B. Pearson Trophy four times, Art Ross Trophy six times, Conn Smythe Trophy twice (Playoff MVP), Hart Trophy three times, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, & the only current Hall of Famer playing in the NHL
Top Five Current Team Points Leaders - prior to 2005-06 season
5. Ryan Malone (2003 - present) - 81 - 22 G - 21 A - 43 PTS Left Wing, 135th All Time in Franchise Points Scoring
4. Rico Fata (2002 - present) - 100 - 21 G - 26 A - 47 PTS Right Wing, 127th All Time in Franchise Points Scoring
3. Dick Tarnstrom (2002 - present) - 141 GP - 23 G - 70 A - 93 PTS Defenceman, 74th All Time in Franchise Points Scoring
2. Mark Recchi (1988 - 92, signed for 2005 - 06 season) - 225 GP - 104 G - 148 A - 252 PTS Right Wing, 26th All Time in Franchise Points Scoring
1. Mario Lemieux (1984 - 97, 2000 - present) - 889 GP - 683 G - 1018 A - 1701 PTS Forward, 1st All Time in Franchise Points Scoring
Top Five All Time Goaltenders
5. Jean-Sebastien Aubin (1998 - 2004) - 168 GP - 63 Wins, under-appreciated goaltender that at times starred for a defenceless Penguins team
4. Wendell Young (1988 - 92, 1994 - 95) - 111 GP - 42 Wins, won two Stanley Cup Championships with the Penguins
3. Denis Herron (1973 - 75, 1976 - 79, 1982 - 86) - 290 GP - 88 Wins, goat.. err.. goaltender on some truly horrible Penguins teams
2. Ken Wregget (1991 - 98) - 212 GP - 104 Wins, backed up Tom Barrasso during the Penguins Stanley Cup season of 1991-92, always dependable
1. Tom Barrasso (1988 - 2000) - 460 GP - 226 Wins, backstopped Penguins to two straight Stanley Cup victories, franchise leader in Wins & Games Played for a goalie
The Skooch's Top Five All Time Penguins
5. Kevin Stevens (1987 - 95, 2000 - 02) - 522 GP - 260 G - 295 A - 555 PTS Left Wing, played better for the Penguins than he did any other team, coming back to them after his substance abuse problems, 6th All Time in Franchise Points Scoring, won two Stanley Cups with the Pens
4. Ron Francis (1990 - 98) - 533 GP - 164 G - 449 A - 613 PTS Centre, a steal of a trade from the Hartford Whalers, would have had a much more publicized career if not for playing on the relatively star-laden (at the time) Penguins teams that he did, won two Stanley Cups with the Pens
3. Tom Barrasso (1988 - 2000) - 460 GP - 226 Wins Goaltender, backstopped the Penguins to two straight Stanley Cup Championships, 1st All Time in Franchise Goaltender Wins, 15th All Time in Franchise Games
2. Jaromir Jagr (1990 - 2001) - 806 GP - 439 G - 640 A - 1079 PTS Right Wing, 2nd All Time in many franchise records, won two Stanley Cups with the Pens
1. Mario Lemieux (1984 - 97, 2000 - present) - 889 GP - 683 G - 1018 A - 1701 PTS Forward, when the Penguins drafted Mario Lemieux first overall, the franchise was taken off of life support, reinvigorated once again, eventually winning two Stanley Cups with Mario on their roster; eventually Super Mario would save the franchise again, forgiving certain payments for a stake in the ownership; returned from retirement to help lead an eventual rebuilding process for the once somewhat-proud franchise.
Previous NHL Top Fives by theskooch
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Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils