Who lands on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time lineup?
Upon entering the NHL in 1967, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been blessed with world class players as we create the Penguins’ all-time lineup.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a rich history of producing some all-time great hockey players, from Mario Lemieux, to Sidney Crosby and Marc Andre-Fleury.
In this post, contributor Bryan Chechak gives his take on who would crack the Penguins’ all-time lineup if we were able to construct a team of players throughout franchise history.
-This team is being constructed under the precedence of players playing where they are usually slotted in the lineup-
Forward Lines
Sidney Crosby
Mario Lemieux
Jaromir Jagr
[4,860 combined points total]
This top line speaks for itself, and good luck to anyone attempting to take the puck off of these elite forwards.
Fans were able to see a glimpse of what Crosby and Lemieux can do on the same line during the early period of the 2005-06′ season.
Fans can only imagine what would have unfolded had Jagr been apart of that tandem.
Kevin Stevens
Evgeni Malkin
Alexei Kovalev
[2,757 combined points total]
The second line involves quite possibly the two most skilled Russians to ever hit NHL ice. Kevin Stevens at left wing is no slouch either.
This trio of stars has everything you need for a successful forward line. The bruising of Stevens, the game breaker mentality of Malkin, and the pure finesse of Kovalev.
Martin Straka
Jordan Staal
Phil Kessel
[2,050 combined points total]
If there was ever a representation of a clutch line, then this would be it. Short tenure is what these three have in common and during their stint they sure made it worth it.
Who could forget Straka’s heroics in the 2000-01′ post season? Matched by the relentlessness of Staal in both the 2008 post season and eventual 2009 Stanley Cup victory.
Or most recently Kessel, as a part of the fabled ‘HBK’ line, completely dominated opponents on their way to back-to-back cups in 2016 and 2017.
Maxime Talbot
Matt Cullen
Craig Adams
[1,095 combined points total]
One of many intricacies in hockey is that their needs to be a buy in from the full team, in order for everyone to succeed. Talbot, Cullen and Adams exhibited all of the traits it takes to be a solid fourth line in the NHL.
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Defensive Lines
Paul Coffey
Larry Murphy
[3,024 combined games played]
Much like the top forward line, you cannot go wrong with this pairing.
They are both inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame and they changed the way the defensive position is played today.
Kris Letang
Sergei Gonchar
[2,048 combined games played]
One is a speedy, agile puck mover and the other is a sage, heavy shot stalwart. Fortunately for Penguins’ fans, Letang and Gonchar would be on the ice together and when it happened, magic ensued.
Brooks Orpik
Rob Scuderi
[1,818 combined games played]
Nothing about Orpik and Scuderi’s game is pretty and that is what endeared them so much to Penguins’ fans and hockey fans everywhere.
Both men are examples of never giving up and investing in your health.
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Goaltenders
Marc-Andre Fleury
Where do you begin? After being drafted first overall in 2003, Fleury has lived up to the hype.
He has revolutionized what it means to be a butterfly goaltender and captured the hearts of Penguins’ fans everywhere when he delivered the Stanley Cup to the city of Pittsburgh in June of 2009.
Matt Murray
After careful consideration and at the risk of getting thrashed in the comments, Matt Murray wins the job as backup.
He is the first rookie in NHL history to win two Stanley Cups and in doing-so still being slated as the backup to Fleury in the 2016 and 2017 regular and post-seasons.
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We would love to hear who you would include in your Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time lineup. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below!