The Penguins obtained the first-overall pick in 1984, and selected Mario Lemieux from the Laval Voisins of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Lemieux won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in 1985. He went on to win six Art Ross trophies as the NHL's leading scorer, captained the team to Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 following his first retirement. He later came back to play in another five seasons for the Penguins, and in 1999, became chairman and co-owner of the team. As owner, Lemieux negotiated an agreement to construct a new arena, the Consol Energy Center, ensuring the team's future in Pittsburgh. After the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup victory, Lemieux became the first person to win a Stanley Cup as both a player and an owner.[1]
In 1990, the Penguins drafted CzechoslovakianJaromír Jágr with the fifth overall pick. Following the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Jagr was the first Czechoslovak to attend the NHL Draft with the government's permission, becoming the first drafted without having to defect to the West.[2][3] Jagr was also the first European drafted in the first round by the Penguins after selecting only Canadians in their first 23 years. He was the first of four consecutive first round Europeans, and eight in ten years from 1990 to 1999. That draft was also notable in being the first time that less than half of Pittsburgh's picks were used on players born in Canada and the first time that a majority of their selections did not hail from Canada (6 players came from the United States, 4 from Canada).
Artem Kopot, an up-and-coming Russian defenseman with the Soviet under-18 team who had also played 28 games with his hometown Traktor Chelyabinsk in 1991–92, was the first Russian player to be drafted by the Penguins, selected in the sixth round, 139th overall, of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Less than a month after being selected by the Penguins and five days before his 20th birthday, Kopot was involved in a fatal one-car accident in his hometown of Chelyabinsk. Kopot was the only person in the vehicle.[4]
Brooks Orpik was the first American drafted by the Penguins in the first round when he was selected in 2000 from Boston College. Along with Ryan Whitney in 2002 and Beau Bennett in 2010, the Penguins have only selected three Americans in the first round as of 2021.
The Penguins traded for the first overall pick for 2003, which they used to select goaltenderMarc-Andre Fleury. Fleury was the third goaltender selected first overall behind Michel Plasse and Rick DiPietro.[5] Pittsburgh's first-round selection, second overall, in 2004, Evgeni Malkin, was the Penguins' second Calder Trophy winner.[6] The Penguins earned another first overall selection in 2005 and selected Sidney Crosby in what was nicknamed the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes."[7]
Denis Herron was the first goaltender drafted by Pittsburgh to become a full-time NHL player.Blair Chapman was Pittsburgh's highest selection since their inaugural year. While he did play in the NHL, he never lived up to his draft position.Mario Lemieux was Pittsburgh's first selection in 1984 and has been called the 'best player ever drafted'.
For once, we control our own destiny. The impact that Lemieux is going to have on our franchise is something we need. It won't just be the Pittsburgh Penguins; it will be Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
—ED JOHNSTON, General Manager of the Penguins in 1984.[8]
Jim Paek is the first played drafted by Pittsburgh to have been born in Asia. He moved to Canada when he was 1 year old.Mark Recchi is likely the best player drafted by Pittsburgh outside of the first round, being elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.Jaromir Jagr became the Penguins first non-Canadian first-round pick in 1990.Patrick Lalime found success as a rookie for the Penguins, however, a contract dispute led to him being demoted and later traded.Ryan Malone was the first person born and raised in Pittsburgh to play for the Penguins. He's the son of former Penguin player and draft pick Greg Malone.In 2000, Brooks Orpik became the first American drafted in the first-round by the Penguins.Marc-Andre Fleury was the first-overall pick in 2003.The Penguins selected Sidney Crosby first-overall in 2005.
This is huge for the franchise to be able to get a player of his caliber.
—MARIO LEMIEUX, Player and owner of the Penguins after the Penguins won the draft lottery to select Sidney Crosby in 2005
Note: Statistics listed include totals from all teams in the National Hockey League.
Note: Stats current to the conclusion of the 2023–24 season.
