Should the Pittsburgh Penguins be considered one of the top franchises in hockey?

The term "blue blood" is most often used in sports to identify the top college basketball programs in the NCAA. Teams like Kentucky, Duke, UNC, Kansas, and Villanova are given that title due to their continuous success and prominence in the landscape of the sport. So, should the Pittsburgh Penguins be considered a blue blood for the NHL?

The Penguins were not one of the Original Six members of the NHL, all of which could and should be considered blue blood. The prominence of those six franchises transcends wins and losses, hence why the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings are still often featured on national television despite both finishing outside of playoff contention for the past six seasons.

So where do the Penguins stand in this conversation? One of a few Non-Original Six franchises that could be considered a blue blood. 

The Penguins and Edmonton Oilers are dead even for the most Stanley Cups (five) of any Non-Original Six team. They have also showcased some of the best talents the NHL has had to offer since drafting Mario Lemieux in 1984. Prominent players like Jaromir Jagr, Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, and more all spent several years leading the Penguins franchise to success.

Thanks to that star power and the massive interest from the Pittsburgh market in hockey, the Penguins have become one of the most important franchises in the NHL, hence why the Penguins rank near the top of the list of teams with the most nationally televised games every year and are often selected to participate in outdoor games and other tentpole league events.

Apart from the Penguins, there is a case for teams such as the Oilers, New York Islanders, and even the Philadelphia Flyers. But one thing is certain the Penguins should lead any list that begins after the NHL's original six.

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