In the early 1990s, the Pittsburgh Penguins flourished, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in the Mario Lemieux Era. This 1992 story profiled the Pens' '90s dynasty.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled to be successful this year and in recent years. But in this cover story from The Hockey News’ June 26, 1992 edition – Vol. 45, Issue 37 – contributing writer Tom McMillan asked and answered the question, “Are the Penguins a dynasty?”.
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McMillan’s article was posted in the wake of Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, and it was clear at the time that the Pens were indeed the modern-day equivalent of a dynasty, even if they had to consistently change many parts of their lineup and management. Then-Pens GM Craig Patrick effectively stocked the shelves to keep his team competitive, and veterans on the team were unafraid of saying the ‘D’ word.
“I’ll be the first to say it…the dynasty is here in Pittsburgh,” winger Kevin Stevens told McMillan. “I love that word: Dynasty. If you win two Cups in a row, you deserve to be put on a pedestal.”
NHL icon Mario Lemieux was never one for bragging, but he also recognized what a special core group he had in the Steel City. And as someone who would eventually preside over a new generation of dominant Penguins as an owner of the franchise, Lemieux could see how much promise the future was in Pittsburgh.
“That’s a pretty strong word, ‘dynasty,’ but I like our chances the next few years,” Lemieux said. “I’d say the future is very bright.”
How right he was.
IS THIS A DYNASTY?
Vol. 45, No. 37, June 26, 1992
By Tom McMillan
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a new logo, a new identity and a new challenge.
The two-time Stanley Cup champions will try to win a third straight title next season, perhaps with their third coach in three years.
General manager Craig Patrick, who is already gearing up for “a long, hot summer of negotiating” with some of his free-agent players, must also decide who will coach hockey’s most powerful team in 1992-93. Will it be Scott Bowman, the living legend, the “interim” leader of this year’s champs? Or one of his assistants? Or maybe an outsider?
Patrick, as usual, isn’t saying.
“We haven’t discussed the coaching situation,” he said. “Scotty and I will sit down to talk about it. But there’s no timetable.”
Beyond the coaching situation, there will be many other obstacles to a “three-peat” in Pittsburgh, most notably the instability on the roster.
Because of free agency, possible retirements and the expansion draft, as many as six players who helped the Penguins capture the Cup may be gone by the start of training camp.
The free agents include Joe Mullen, Bryan Trottier, Phil Bourque, Paul Stanton and Gordie Roberts.
Jiri Hrdina is pondering retirement and two players will be plucked from the roster in the expansion draft with Tampa Bay and Ottawa.
But the consolation this year is it can’t be any worse than last year.
The Penguins lived through a trying summer after winning their first Cup last season.
Team favorite Randy Gilhen was taken in the expansion draft within a week of the championship. Kevin Stevens, Mark Recchi and Ron Francis, among others, became free agents in July. And popular coach Bob Johnson was stricken with brain cancer in August.
But much of the charm of Pittsburgh’s second Stanley Cup championship was the way the Penguins hurtled through the adversity, overcoming tragedy and turmoil.
They even reached a shaky peace with Bowman, who was often at odds with some players in the regular season. They may have established themselves as a team for the ages.
“I’ll be the first to say it…the dynasty is here in Pittsburgh,” Stevens said.
The Penguins’ nucleus is young enough and spectacular enough to make that kind of claim.
Mario Lemieux, the game’s greatest player, is just 26. Stevens, the NHL's second-leading scorer behind Lemieux, is 27. Tom Barrasso, the league’s top playoff goaltender, is 27. And blossoming superstar Jaromir Jagr is 20.
Their lineup also doesn’t include last year’s No. 1 draft pick, left winger Markus Naslund of Sweden - who may not play until 1993 because of military commitments.
Naslund is thought to be a terrific prospect.
Stevens, for his part, believes his teammates will respond to the dynasty talk.
“That’s why I’m making those statements,” he said. “I love that word: Dynasty. If you win two Cups in a row, you deserve to be put on a pedestal.”
Even with all the talent, the Penguins’ trump card may be Patrick, whose work as GM has been exceptional the past two seasons. Juggling egos and contacts, trading 100-point scorers for defensive stalwarts, adding character and toughness, he has thrived in the new-fangled NHL of the 1990s.
He now faces another demanding off-season but he responded to that last year brilliantly. Certainly no one is fretting at the Civic Arena.
“That’s a pretty strong word, dynasty but I like our chances the next few years,” Lemieux said, “I’d say the future is very bright.”
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