In 2015-16, Crosby and the Penguins got off to a slow start. ![]() In '92, during a stretch of just four wins in 18 games, the Pens would make more big moves to bring in the rugged Tocchet. In '91, that evaluation period led GM Craig Patrick to brazenly acquire Francis, antagonist Ulf Samuelsson and defenseman Grant Jennings. In 1991, Lemieux missed more than 50 games after undergoing surgery to fix a herniated disk, forcing other Penguins to elevate their play, much as Malkin's 19-game absence because of an elbow injury did in 2016. In 2004, the Pens snagged Malkin second overall thanks to a lousy record - which rolled over into a 2005 lottery win after the lockout, enabling them to draft Crosby. In 1990, they missed the playoffs by one game, leaving them with the fifth overall pick that was used to select Jagr. ![]() The Penguins finished Lemieux's draft year, 1984, with the league's worst record. Good timing for bad fortune and shrewd deals also contributed to the ascent of both championship squads. The contemporary Penguins boast Evgeni Malkin - who, like Francis and Trottier, is a first-line center slotted lower in the lineup. Joining them on the NHL's list of top 100 all-time players were Lemieux's teammates Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey and Bryan Trottier. Pittsburgh's firepower was hardly limited to Lemieux then or Sidney Crosby now. " was asked if he should trade away Mario Lemieux back in 1983 could you imagine that? These guys have been really patient with their stars, and that's why the Penguins have been the best franchise in hockey over the past 25 years." "The Penguins have always been intelligent with their star players," said Bob Errey, a left winger who played for the Penguins from 1984-93 and is now one of their TV analysts. It started with Mario Lemieux, the man who led Pittsburgh to its first two Cups and has been one of the team's owners since 1999. The Penguins have long sought, cultivated and valued marquee talent, a practice that has yielded four Stanley Cups and has the franchise two wins away from a fifth. That's what the superstars do, they calm everybody in the room." "It's almost a calming situation, knowing that when you get on the ice, you're going to do your part. ![]() "With both teams, there's not a panic when the stage is bigger," said Rick Tocchet, a winger for the '92 team and current Penguins assistant coach. There are plenty of parallels between their respective runs, including perseverance, star power and one consecrated figure who unites two generations of the franchise. The 2016-17 Penguins share more than just that twin title quest and the skating penguin on their chests with their hallowed predecessors from the '90s. Pittsburgh's current players - who face the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday - are trying to accomplish the same feat. ![]() In the past 25 years, only two franchises have won back-to-back Stanley Cups: the Detroit Red Wings in 19, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 19. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĬurrent Penguins share more than just a jersey with hallowed predecessors from the '90s
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