For the first time in their careers, the Pittsburgh Penguins veteran core reached a rare accomplishment.

PITTSBURGH – For the first time in their Hall of Fame careers, the Pittsburgh Penguins saw their main core play in all 82 games of an NHL season. The Penguins may not have made the postseason, but Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang all appeared in each game of the Penguins season.

Given the injury history between these three, it’s quite a mark that each of them, at their veteran ages, could go bell to bell without any glaring issues. Crosby and Malkin both played 82 last year, but Letang missed time with a stroke and a lengthy lower-body injury.

Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have combined for 55 seasons of NHL experience, but only nine times have they played all 82 games. And only in the 2023-24 season have they done it in the same year.

In 82 games played, Crosby led the way with a team-leading 42 goals, 52 assists, and 94 points. Malkin picked up the pace at the end of the season with 27 total goals and 67 total points in 82 games. Letang had a roller coaster of a season but still managed 51 total points.

Obviously, each guy would have instead taken a spot in the postseason, but a nice consolation for fans is that they got to see three future Hall of Famers share the ice 82 times. It’s a rare feat that these three may never be able to do again.

The Penguins core was joined by three other teammates who also appeared in all 82 games of the 2023-24 season. Erik Karlsson, in his first year in Pittsburgh, could also be considered an extension of the core.

Newcomer Lars Eller played a steady role as the Penguins' third-line center and played in each game for the second time in his career. The first happened last year when he played 84 games split between the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche.

The last player to not miss time was Marcus Pettersson, who had himself an outstanding season. In 82 games played, Pettersson cemented himself as arguably the best defensive defenseman in the Penguins organization.

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