Gamers who rating 50 targets in a season are thought-about elite scorers. All through the league’s 106-year historical past, 102 distinctive gamers have mixed to achieve the 50-goal plateau 209 completely different occasions.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, whereas not becoming a member of the NHL till the enlargement wave of 1967, have 9 gamers who’ve mixed to achieve this plateau 16 occasions. Aside from the 2 seasons they performed within the Nineteen Sixties, the franchise has had a 50-goal scorer in every full decade they’ve been round.
Jean Pronovost: The First Penguin to Rating 50 Objectives
- Scored 52 targets within the 1975-76 season
The Penguins weren’t a mannequin of success over their first decade and a half of existence, however that didn’t cease them from having stars.
Though they didn’t draft Jean Pronovost, they favored what they noticed from him as a member of the Oklahoma Metropolis Blazers of the Central Skilled Hockey League and bought his NHL rights from the Boston Bruins in Might 1968 in change for a 1969 first-round draft choose and money.
Pronovost, a member of the “Century Line,” together with Lowell McDonald and Syl Apps Jr., turned the primary participant in Penguins historical past to document a 50-goal season on Mar. 24, 1976, when he scored throughout a 5-5 tie in opposition to the Bruins. In 80 video games, Pronovost scored 52 targets and crossed the 100-point plateau for the one time in his profession.
Earlier than the Bruins recreation he mentioned he didn’t really feel any stress to attain his fiftieth:
‘I simply need to play this recreation to win it,’ Pronovost mentioned. ‘I hope I can get the purpose tonight and get it over with, but when I don’t, I’m not going to ache. I can simply do it the following recreation.’
Whereas he solely reached these numbers as soon as, Pronovost was an affect participant. He scored 20 or extra targets 9 occasions, his rookie season is the one
Pronovost is taken into account one of many higher two-way forwards of his period. He possible would’ve been in rivalry for the Selke Trophy had it been launched sooner than the 1977-78 season, when he was 32 years outdated.
Pronovost’s time with the Penguins ended on Sep. 6, 1978, when he was despatched to the Atlanta Flames for Gregg Sheppard. On the time of his departure, he was the franchise chief in targets (316), factors (603), power-play targets (69) and video games performed (753). He nonetheless ranks within the prime 10 in all of those classes as of March 2019.
Pronovost retired from hockey after the 1981-82 season, following stints with the Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals, with 774 factors in 998 video games over 14 NHL seasons.
Pierre LaRouche
- Scored 53 targets through the 1975-76 season
He solely spent three seasons with the Penguins after being their first-round choose within the 1974 Draft, however Pierre LaRouche made his time rely.
He misplaced out on the Calder Trophy regardless of scoring a rookie-high 68 factors through the 1974-75 season, however he used it as motivation going ahead. Earlier than his sophomore season, LaRouche mentioned he’d rating 50 targets, and he made good on his prediction by recording a then-franchise document 53 targets and 111 factors in 76 video games through the 1975-76 season.
In the identical recreation that Pronovost turned the primary Penguin to attain 50, LaRouche turned the primary to document 100 factors. He then joined the 50-goal membership on Apr. 3, 1976, scoring twice within the Penguins’ 5-4 loss to the Capitals.
LaRouche performed another full season in Pittsburgh earlier than being traded together with the rights to Peter Marsh to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 29, 1977, in change for Pete Mahovlich and Peter Lee. Whereas Mahovlich tallied 114 factors in 117 video games and Lee topped the 50-point plateau twice in six seasons, the commerce was nonetheless a loss for the Penguins. LaRouche went on to assist the Canadiens win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1978 and 1979 and added his second profession 50-goal season in 1979-80.
In his time with the Penguins, LaRouche recorded 119 targets and 253 factors in 240 video games. He scored 25-plus targets in every season whereas showcasing a fast launch akin to different former Penguins, James Neal and Rick Kehoe. LaRouche scored 395 targets and 822 factors in 812 video games over his 14-season profession with the Penguins, Canadiens, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers.
Enjoyable reality: He set the QMJHL’s single-season factors document with 251 within the 1973-74 season solely to have Mario Lemieux break it a decade later when he recorded 282 factors through the 1983-84 season.
Rick Kehoe
- Scored 55 targets through the 1980-81 season
When youthful Penguins followers consider constant manufacturing, they could consider Phil Kessel. When older followers consider it, they could consider Kehoe. Oddly, each have been acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs after tough offensive seasons, albeit 41 years aside.
Whereas he performed within the days when physicality trumped all, Kehoe’s 5-foot-11, 190-pound construct didn’t strike worry into the hearts of opponents. Nevertheless, his deadly shot did.
He failed to attain greater than 25 targets as soon as throughout his ten full seasons as a Penguin. He scored greater than 30 targets 5 occasions and have become a member of the 50-goal membership when he recorded 55 through the 1980-81 marketing campaign. That included career-high purpose totals at even power (35), on the facility play (20) and game-winners (5). He additionally gained the Girl Byng Trophy, the one award of his profession.
Kehoe’s purpose and level totals declined over the following three seasons because the Penguins had a youth motion. He was pressured to retire early within the 1984-85 season on the age of 33 after damaging the vertebrae in his neck, which threatened his high quality of life. He recorded 371 targets and 767 factors over 906 video games throughout his 14-season profession between the Leafs and Penguins.
After his retirement, Kehoe was named the Penguins’ Director of Professional Scouting. He was additionally an assistant coach on the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup champion groups. He briefly served because the staff’s head coach from the 2001-02 season by way of 2002-03, the place he compiled a 55-81-14-10 document over 160 video games.
Mike Bullard
- Scored 51 targets through the 1983-84 season
Lengthy earlier than the NHL stopped giving the worst staff within the NHL the primary general draft choose, the 1983-84 Penguins existed. Whereas it was apparent the staff was tanking for Lemieux, the top-rated prospect within the 1984 Draft, no person was going to confess it. Nevertheless, the technique labored because the Penguins went 16-58-6 for a franchise-worst 36 factors. They obtained the primary choose, drafted Lemieux and the remainder is historical past.
The season wasn’t all dangerous, nevertheless. Bullard scored his fiftieth purpose of the season through the Penguins’ 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Mar. 14, 1984, on the Nice Western Discussion board. He completed the season with 51 targets and 92 factors in 76 video games. Again in 2016, he recalled the day he obtained his fiftieth purpose to Steve Milton of the Hamilton Spectator:
‘I obtained my fiftieth purpose in L.A. with six video games left,’ Bullard mentioned. ‘I’m leaping up and down like loopy, and the individuals in L.A. have been saying, “What’s this man doing? His staff is the worst within the league,’ (from ‘Again in NHL Days, Caledonia coach Mike Bullard Scored 51 Objectives for “Tanking” Group’ — The Hamilton Spectator — 4/29/16).
It was the one 50-goal season of Bullard’s profession, however he wasn’t a one-off. He set the Penguins’ rookie document for targets with 36 in 1981-82 earlier than Lemieux surpassed him. Bullard additionally scored 30 or extra targets in 4 of his seven seasons in Pittsburgh and 185 whole in 382 video games earlier than being traded to the Flames for Dan Quinn in Nov. 1986.
Mario Lemieux:
- Scored 54 targets through the 1986-87 season
- Scored 70 targets through the 1987-88 season
- Scored 85 targets through the 1988-89 Season
- Scored 69 targets through the 1992-93 season
- Scored 69 targets through the 1995-96 season
- Scored 50 targets through the 1996-97 season
There’s so much to unpack right here.
Regardless of lacking 479 video games over his 17-season profession, Mario Lemieux is the best Penguin of all time and the most effective gamers in NHL historical past.
The Penguins’ co-owner was a purpose scorer, too. Lemieux’s 690 profession targets rank tenth in NHL historical past, and his .754 goals-per-game (G/GP) common ranks second all-time behind Mike Bossy’s .762 G/GP. He’s the one participant to attain 30 or extra power-play targets in a season and certainly one of two gamers to attain ten or extra shorthanded targets a number of occasions of their profession, Wayne Gretzky being the opposite.
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Lemieux scored 50 targets six occasions and was on tempo to do it one other 5 occasions had he performed the total season. Within the six campaigns when he surpassed 50, he scored 60 twice and is certainly one of solely three gamers with a number of 70-goal seasons and certainly one of three to attain 80 in a season. If the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy had existed throughout his prime seasons, he would’ve gained the award thrice and was on tempo to win it one other three.
Lemieux turned a member of the 50-goal membership for the primary time through the 1986-87 season when he scored 54 targets in 63 video games. He additionally notched 53 assists, the one time he completed with extra targets than assists.
He entered the 70-goal membership through the 1987-88 season, scoring 70 in 77 video games, together with ten shorthanded markers, en path to successful his first profession Hart and Artwork Ross Trophies.
The
On Dec. 31, 1988, in opposition to the New Jersey Devils, Lemieux turned the primary and solely participant in NHL historical past to attain 5 targets in all 5 potential methods: even-strength, shorthanded, energy play, penalty shot and on an empty web. He joined the 50 targets in 50 video games membership lower than a month later, scoring his fiftieth purpose in his forty fourth recreation of the season (the Penguins’ forty sixth recreation) on the 1:18 mark of the primary interval in a 7-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 20, 1989.
Lemieux had a hand in 57.3 % of the Penguins’ targets, the best proportion in league historical past. He repeated because the league’s scoring champion however misplaced the Hart to Gretzky, who completed with 31 fewer factors.
Lemieux missed out on 50 targets over the following three seasons due to a persistent again drawback. He scored 45 in 59 video games through the 1989-90 season, which included a 46-game level streak when he had 103 factors regardless of being unable to tie his skates.
He returned to the 50-goal membership in 1992-93. He started the season with 39 targets and 104 factors in 40 video games, placing him on tempo to turn out to be the second participant in league historical past to document 200 factors in a season. These goals have been placed on maintain on Jan. 12, 1993, when the Penguins introduced he had been identified with Hodgkins Illness and can be out of the lineup as he started radiation remedy.
After his ultimate remedy on Mar. 2, Lemieux was within the Penguins’ lineup that night time in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers. He completed the sport with a purpose and an help and obtained a standing ovation from the Flyers trustworthy, one thing that had by no means occurred through the Penguins-Flyers rivalry.
Down 12 factors to Pat Lafontaine of the Buffalo Sabres within the scoring race on his return, Lemieux recorded 30 targets and 56 factors in his ultimate 20 video games to win the scoring title by, apparently, 12 factors. He additionally gained the Hart and Invoice Masterton Trophies together with the Lindsay.
For the season, he scored 69 targets in 60 video games which might’ve amounted to an NHL-record 96 targets had he performed in all 84 video games. The participant Lemieux beat for the Artwork Ross, Lafontaine, was in awe of Lemieux’s comeback:
He’s a kind of particular gamers who comes round as soon as in a blue moon. To cap off that season the best way he did and the best way he did it … unbelievable. Simply going by way of what he went by way of made it that rather more of a particular story for therefore many individuals. I’d have given up all my 148 factors that season if it meant beating Montreal within the playoffs, however I used to be pleased for Mario’s story and the way he confirmed the braveness to come back again in overcoming lymphoma and to know that was the inspiration for lots of people. It was a particular season for certain.
After taking a season and a half off as a result of again points and excessive fatigue from radiation therapies, Lemieux returned in 1995-96 as if nothing occurred. He led the Penguins to the Jap Convention Ultimate whereas scoring 69 targets and 161 factors in 70 video games and gained his fifth Artwork Ross and third Hart Trophy. Eddie Johnston, the Penguins’ head coach on the time, mentioned about Lemieux’s return: “I thank God for him every single day.”
Lemieux’s ultimate 50-goal season got here in 1996-97, his final earlier than his first retirement. He scored 50 in 76 video games and gained his ultimate scoring title with 122 factors. That season, Lemieux additionally scored his 600th profession purpose on an empty web at 19:04 of the third interval through the Penguins’ 6-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 4, 1997. He was the second-fastest participant to achieve the milestone, scoring his 600th purpose in his 719th profession recreation, one behind Gretzky’s 600 in 718 video games.
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After popping out of retirement on Dec. 27, 2000, Lemieux scored 35 targets in 43 video games over the rest of the 2000-01 season, a 68-goal tempo over 82 video games. Had he reached the 50-goal mark, he would’ve tied Johnny Bucyk as the oldest participant to take action.
After just a few extra seasons and a few extra well being points, Lemieux retired for good on Jan. 24, 2006, on the age of 40. In over 915 video games, Lemieux recorded 690 targets, 1,033 assists and 1,723 factors.
Kevin Stevens
- Scored 54 targets through the 1991-92 season
- Scored 55 targets through the 1992-93 season
The most effective trades the Penguins ever made was for Kevin Stevens, whom they acquired for Anders Hakansson on Sept. 9, 1983, three months after Stevens was chosen within the sixth spherical of the 1983 Draft by the Kings.
Hakansson recorded simply 61 factors in 191 video games with the Kings and was out of the league by 1986. Stevens, then again, went on to be one of the crucial feared energy forwards of the early Nineteen Nineties as a part of the Penguins’ powerhouse roster.
He put up spectacular numbers over his first few seasons with John Cullen and Mark Recchi, however Stevens really broke out after he joined Lemieux’s line. Enjoying with an all-time nice will assist, however Stevens was a particular expertise, they usually helped make one another higher; like Chris Kunitz and Jake Guentzel alongside Sidney Crosby many years later.
Stevens’ rise to stardom started through the 1991 Playoffs when he recorded 33 factors in 24 video games to assist the Penguins win their first of two consecutive Stanley Cups. Through the 1991-92 season, Stevens had his first 50-goal marketing campaign when he recorded 54 targets and 123 factors in 80 video games regardless of racking up 254 penalty minutes.
The subsequent season, Stevens once more was a member of the 50-goal membership, scoring a career-high 55 targets and 111 factors in 72 video games. He had a case to be named staff MVP that season as he was essential in conserving the Penguins afloat whereas Lemieux battled most cancers.
Lemieux was complimentary of his sidekick and believed he was among the many league’s greatest: “He developed into this beast who might skate, hit and shoot. He had all of the instruments to be one of the best left-winger, which I feel he was, for just a few years within the NHL,” Lemieux mentioned.
Stevens’ profession modified throughout Sport 7 of the Penguins’ second-round matchup with the New York Islanders in 1993. He went in for a success on Islanders defenseman Wealthy Pilon however was knocked unconscious through the collision as he fell face-first onto the ice. Stevens broke his orbital bone, nostril, cheek, misplaced some tooth and required surgical procedure to repair the harm to his face.
He returned the next season and nonetheless averaged some extent per recreation, however he wasn’t the identical participant. Whereas he remained productive for a number of seasons, the 1993 damage was the start of a 25-year battle with habit that destroyed his profession. A 2018 function by Sportsnet chronicles Stevens’ struggles and his restoration from habit.
Stevens by no means scored greater than 25 targets after his 41-goal, 88-point season, in 1993-94, nor did he document greater than 45 factors. On Aug. 2, 1995, he was traded to the Bruins for Glen Murray, Bryan Smolinski and a 1996 third-round choose.
Following stops with the Bruins, Kings, Rangers, Flyers and a second stint with the Penguins, Stevens retired from hockey after the 2001-02 season. In 874 profession video games, he scored 329 targets, 397 assists, and 726 factors.
Jaromir Jagr
- Scored 62 targets through the 1995-96 season
- Scored 52 targets through the 2000-01 season
Drafted fifth general in 1990, it took Jaromir Jagr just a few seasons to become the star followers got here to like over his 23-season profession. As soon as he did, he was one of the crucial dominant gamers in franchise historical past.
Jagr’s purpose totals hovered across the high-20s to low-30s over his first 5 seasons. If the lockout hadn’t delayed the start of the 1994-95 season, his 32 targets in 48 video games would’ve equaled 55 over a full season. Nonetheless, he was pressured to attend till the 1995-96 season, when he captured his fiftieth purpose of the season on Feb. 23, 1996, in opposition to the Whalers. He turned the primary Czech-born participant to attain 50 in a season within the course of and gave a blunt reply when requested in regards to the accomplishment after the sport.
There haven’t been that many Czechs which have performed the sport, (from Lemieux and Jagr Attain 50 Purpose Plateau — Los Angeles Instances — 2/23/96).
Jagr turned the Penguins’ go-to man when Lemieux retired after the 1997 Playoffs. He responded by successful three consecutive scoring titles however was unable to crack the 50-goal plateau once more till Lemieux returned through the 2000-01 season. Jagr began
It turned out to be his ultimate season in Pittsburgh. Because of the Penguins’ monetary struggles and his public needs to be traded through the season, Jagr was shipped to the Capitals on July 11, 2001, in change for prospects Kris Beech, Michal Sivek and Ross Lupaschuk. It was a kind of trades that everyone knew can be a shedding one on the time, however it needed to occur. Ultimately, all of it turned out effectively as their continuing basement-dwelling allowed them to draft Crosby and Evgeni Malkin over the following half-decade.
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Together with a three-season stint within the KHL, Jagr managed to play 12 extra seasons with the Capitals, Rangers, Flyers, Dallas Stars, Bruins, Devils, Florida Panthers and Flames. The 47-year-old nonetheless performs skilled hockey within the Czech Republic, however his NHL profession is probably going completed after 766 targets and 1,921 factors in 1,733 video games over 24 seasons.
Sidney Crosby
- Scored 51 targets through the 2009-10 season
By the point he was 22 years outdated, Sidney Crosby already had a number of 100-point seasons, an Artwork Ross and Hart Trophy, a Ted Lindsay Award, a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold medal, so why not add a 50-goal season and a Rocket Richard Trophy to that listing?
He achieved each through the 2009-10 season, scoring a career-high 51 targets in 81 video games to turn out to be the co-scoring champion with Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Crosby scored his fiftieth purpose at 17:03 of the primary interval through the Penguins’ ultimate recreation of the season on April 11 in opposition to the Islanders. He then added his 51st of the season 55 seconds into the second interval. In whole, Crosby completed the sport with 5 factors and the season with 51 targets, 58 assists and 109 factors.
He turned the seventh participant in staff historical past to document 50 targets and 50 assists in the identical season, becoming a member of Pronovost, LaRouche, Stevens, Lemieux (six occasions) and Jagr (twice). He additionally joined the 500-career level membership simply three days earlier on April 8 in opposition to the identical Islanders.
The subsequent season, Crosby was on a robust run with 32 targets within the first 41 video games of the season and would’ve renewed his 50-goal membership membership had he not suffered two hits to the top in 5 days from the Capitals’ David Steckel and the Lightning’s Victor Hedman. The following concussions saved him out for all however eight video games over the following 14 months, elevating questions about his taking part in future.
Crosby saved taking part in and achieved just a few extra feats alongside the best way. He gained his second profession Rocket Richard Trophy with a 44-goal efficiency through the 2016-17 season when he additionally led the Penguins to their second of back-to-back Stanley Cups.
He joined the 500-goal membership on Feb. 15,
Evgeni Malkin
- Scored 50 targets through the 2011-12 season
Regardless of being irritating to observe at occasions, Evgeni Malkin is on the Mount Rushmore of Penguins together with Lemieux, Jagr
After struggling a torn ACL and MCL that prematurely ended his 2010-11 season, Malkin returned with the most effective seasons of his profession. He scored 50 targets and 109 factors en path to his second profession scoring title and first profession Hart Trophy and Lindsay award. He additionally added a single season, career-high three hat tips for good measure.
After scoring 47 targets in his sophomore season, Malkin’s purpose totals declined to 35, 28 and 15 in every of the three seasons main as much as his 50-goal marketing campaign.
Getting into the ultimate recreation of the season in opposition to the Flyers with 49 targets, Malkin obtained his fiftieth at 19:48 of the second interval, firing a wrister previous the blocker of Sergei Bobrovsky. Within the course of, he additionally turned the seventh Penguin to enter the 50/50 membership becoming a member of Pronovost, Stevens, LaRouche, Lemieux (six occasions), Jagr (twice) and Crosby.
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Enjoying with Crosby for his total profession has left Malkin as one of the crucial underrated gamers of all time. When he’s on the prime of his recreation, it’s almost unattainable to cease him, as we’ve seen throughout previous common seasons and playoff runs. It’s why the Penguins have gained three Stanley Cups within the final decade.
Via 1,063 profession video games, Malkin has 471 targets and 1,229 factors, which places him on the cusp of coming into the 500-goal membership as quickly as subsequent season.
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If there’s a franchise that’s been spoiled with expertise all through its existence, it’s the Penguins.
