Editing Pittsburgh Penguins (section)

===Early years (1967–1984)===
Prior to the arrival of the Penguins, Pittsburgh had been the home of the NHL's [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]] from 1925 to 1930 and of the [[American Hockey League]]'s [[Pittsburgh Hornets]] franchise from 1936 to 1967 (with a short break from 1956 to 1961). In the spring of 1965, [[Jack McGregor]], a [[state senator]] from [[Kittanning, Pennsylvania]], began lobbying campaign contributors and community leaders to bring an NHL franchise back to Pittsburgh. The group focused on leveraging the NHL as an [[urban renewal]] tool for Pittsburgh. The senator formed a group of local investors that included [[H. J. Heinz Company]] heir [[H. John Heinz III|H. J. Heinz III]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]' owner [[Art Rooney]] and the [[Mellon family]]'s [[Richard Mellon Scaife]]. The [[1967 NHL expansion|projected league expansion]] depended on securing votes from the [[Original Six|then-current NHL owners]]; to ensure Pittsburgh would be selected as one of the expansion cities, McGregor enlisted Rooney to petition votes from [[James D. Norris]], owner of the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] and his brother [[Bruce Norris (ice hockey)|Bruce Norris]], owner of the [[Detroit Red Wings]]. The effort was successful, and on February 8, 1966, the [[National Hockey League]] awarded an [[expansion team]] to Pittsburgh for the [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68 season]]. The Penguins paid $2.5 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2.6|1967|r=1}}}} million today) for their entry and $750,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|0.75|1967|r=1}}}} million today) more for start-up costs. The [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]]'s capacity was boosted from 10,732 to 12,500 to meet the NHL requirements for expansion. The Penguins also paid an indemnification bill to settle with the Detroit Red Wings, which owned the Pittsburgh Hornets franchise. The investor group named McGregor president and chief executive officer, and he represented Pittsburgh on the NHL's Board of Governors.<ref name="Steel City Legend">{{cite web| url=http://pittsburghhockey.net/penguins| title=Steel City Legend: Sen. Jack McGregor| publisher=Pittsburgh Hockey.net| access-date=May 1, 2012| archive-date=June 30, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630073752/http://pittsburghhockey.net/penguins| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="History2016">{{cite web |title=Timeline: The History of the Pittsburgh Penguins |url=https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/timeline-the-history-of-the-pittsburgh-penguins/ |work=pittsburghmagazine.com |year=2016 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204065415/https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/timeline-the-history-of-the-pittsburgh-penguins/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Pittsburgh-pennsylvania-mellon-arena-2007.jpg|left|thumb|alt= Photograph of the Civic Arena | The [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]]'s capacity was increased to meet NHL requirements for a franchise. The arena served as the Penguins' home arena from 1967 to 2010.]]
A contest was held where 700 of 26,000 entries picked "Penguins" as the team's nickname, sharing its nickname with the [[Youngstown State Penguins|athletic department]] of the newly named [[Youngstown State University]] in nearby [[Youngstown, Ohio]]. (Youngstown is part of the Penguins' territorial rights to this day, though they did briefly share them with the [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]] in the mid-1970s.) Mark Peters had the winning entry (which was inspired because the team was to play in the "Igloo", the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Arena),<ref name="PenguinsHistoryNHLcom">{{cite web|last=Stainkamp|first=Michael|title=A brief history: Pittsburgh Penguins|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/a-brief-history-pittsburgh-penguins/c-536264|website=National Hockey League|date=August 25, 2010|access-date=April 23, 2016|archive-date=June 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602105423/https://www.nhl.com/news/a-brief-history-pittsburgh-penguins/c-536264|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Why the name Pittsburgh Penguins?|url=http://www.letsgopens.com/pensname.php|website=LetsGoPens.com|date=September 19, 2002|access-date=April 23, 2016|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235138/http://www.letsgopens.com/pensname.php|url-status=live}}</ref> a logo was chosen that had a penguin in front of a triangle, which symbolized the "[[Golden Triangle (Pittsburgh)|Golden Triangle]]" of downtown Pittsburgh.<ref name="PenguinsHistoryNHLcom" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Uniform History|url=http://penguins.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=56510|publisher=Pittsburgh Penguins|access-date=April 23, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428172730/http://penguins.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=56510|archive-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref> The Penguins' first general manager, [[Jack Riley (ice hockey, born 1919)|Jack Riley]], opened the first pre-season camp for the franchise in [[Brantford, Ontario]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Penguins Start Training Sessions|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L8pRAAAAIBAJ&dq=pittsburgh%20penguins&pg=1504%2C2339093|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=September 14, 1967|access-date=November 19, 2020|archive-date=May 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527105440/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L8pRAAAAIBAJ&dq=pittsburgh+penguins&pg=1504%2C2339093|url-status=live}}</ref> on September 13, 1967, playing the franchise's first exhibition match in Brantford against the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] on September 23, 1967. Restrictive rules which kept most major talent with the existing "Original Six" teams hampered the Penguins, along with the rest of the expansion teams. Beyond aging sniper [[Andy Bathgate]], all-star defenseman [[Leo Boivin]] (who had begun his professional career with the Hornets) and [[New York Rangers]]' veteran [[Earl Ingarfield, Sr.|Earl Ingarfield]], a cast of former minor leaguers largely manned the first Penguins' team. Several players played for the Hornets the previous season: Bathgate, wingers [[Val Fonteyne]] and [[Ab McDonald]], and goaltenders [[Hank Bassen]] and [[Joe Daley (ice hockey)|Joe Daley]]. [[George Sullivan (ice hockey)|George Sullivan]] was named the head coach for the club's first two seasons, and McDonald was named the team's first captain.<ref name="History2010">{{cite web |title=A brief history: Pittsburgh Penguins |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/a-brief-history-pittsburgh-penguins/c-536264 |work=NHL.com |year=2010 |access-date=April 23, 2016 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602105423/https://www.nhl.com/news/a-brief-history-pittsburgh-penguins/c-536264 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 11, 1967, league president [[Clarence Campbell]] and McGregor jointly dropped the ceremonial first puck of the Penguins' opening home game against the [[Montreal Canadiens]].<ref name="Steel City Legend" /> On October 21, 1967, they became the first team from the expansion class to defeat an Original Six team, as they defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4–2. However, the Penguins went 27–34–13 and finished in fifth place in the West Division, missing the playoffs and ending with the third-worst record in the league. The team's best player proved to be longtime [[Cleveland Barons (1937–73)|Cleveland Barons]] AHL goaltender [[Les Binkley]], who recorded a 2.88 [[goals-against average]] and was second in the league with six shutouts. Defensive winger [[Ken Schinkel]] won the team's sole league honor, being named to represent the Penguins in the [[21st National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]]. Bathgate led the team in scoring with 59 points but retired at season's end. McDonald, who led the team in goals and was second in team scoring, was also gone at season's end, traded to the [[St. Louis Blues]] in exchange for center [[Lou Angotti]].<ref name="History2016" />

The [[1968–69 NHL season|next season]] saw the team slip in the standings amid a sharp drop in form by Binkley, into sixth place and with the league's worst record. Several changes were made to improve the team, resulting in Boivin and several others being traded, and new players – including longtime future Penguins star [[Jean Pronovost]] – making their debuts. No captain was named to replace McDonald; the team went with four alternate captains.

====Triumph of playoff berths and tragedy of Briere (1969–1974)====
[[File:Michel Briere Penguins.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|alt=Photograph of Michele Briere whose number was taken out of circulation following a fatal accident |[[Michel Brière|Michel Briere]]'s number was taken out of circulation after his career-ending accident in 1970. It was later formally retired in 2001.]]
In the [[1969 NHL amateur draft|1969 draft]] the Penguins selected [[Michel Brière|Michel Briere]] who, although being chosen 26th, was soon drawing comparisons to [[Phil Esposito]] and [[Bobby Clarke]]. Joining the team in November, he finished as the second-place rookie scorer in the NHL (behind Bobby Clarke) with 44 points (57th overall), and third on the Penguins. Briere placed second in [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] voting for Rookie of the Year honors behind Chicago goaltender [[Tony Esposito]]. Briere led Pittsburgh to its first NHL playoff berth since the 1928 Pirates. The Penguins defeated the [[Oakland Seals]] in a four-game sweep in the quarterfinals, with Briere scoring the series-clinching goal in overtime. In the semifinals, defending conference champions St. Louis Blues got the best of the Penguins during six games. Briere led the team in playoff scoring, recording five goals (including three game-winners) and eight points. Tragedy struck the Penguins just days after their playoff heroics. On May 15, 1970, Briere was in a car crash in his native [[Quebec]], suffering brain trauma and slipping into a coma from which he would never recover; he died a year later. His number 21 jersey was never reissued, remaining out of circulation until it was formally retired in 2001.<ref name="History2016" />

In the [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71 season]], the Penguins finished five games out of the playoffs with a 21–37–20 record, the fourth-worst record in the league. Pittsburgh achieved a playoff berth in [[1971–72 NHL season|1972]], only to be swept by the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round. Except for a handful of players like Ken Schinkel, Pronovost, [[Syl Apps Jr.]], [[Keith McCreary]], agitator [[Bryan Watson (ice hockey)|Bryan Watson]] and goaltender Les Binkley, talent was thin, but enough for the Penguins to reach the playoffs in both 1970 and 1972.

The Penguins battled the [[California Golden Seals]] for the division cellar in [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]], when Riley was fired as general manager and replaced by [[Jack Button]]. Button obtained [[Steve Durbano]], [[Ab DeMarco, Jr.|Ab DeMarco]], [[J. Bob Kelly|Bob "Battleship" Kelly]] and [[Bob Paradise]] through trades. The personnel moves proved successful, and the team improved to a 28–41–9 record, although they remained nine points away from a playoff berth.

However, in early 1975, the Penguins' creditors demanded payment of back debts, forcing the team into [[bankruptcy]]. The doors to the team's offices were padlocked, and it looked like the Penguins would fold or relocate.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 14, 1998|title=Penguins File For Chapter 11|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/penguins-file-for-chapter-11/|website=[[CBS News]]|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725040405/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/penguins-file-for-chapter-11/|url-status=live}}</ref> Around the same time, rumors began circulating that the Penguins and the California Golden Seals were to be relocated to [[Seattle]] and [[Denver]] respectively, the two cities that were to have been the sites of an expansion for the [[1976–77 NHL season|1976–77 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lfRUAAAAIBAJ&dq=pittsburgh+penguins+seattle&pg=1128,1617031|title=Penguins like feel of home|date=January 23, 1975|work=[[The Leader-Post]]|via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> Through the intervention of a group that included former [[Minnesota North Stars]] head coach [[Wren Blair]], the team was prevented from folding and remained in Pittsburgh, eventually being bought by [[shopping mall]] magnate [[Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr.]]

====Playoff runs and a uniform change (1974–1982)====
[[File:Lowell MacDonald.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|alt=Photograph of Lowell MacDonald holding his hockey stick on the ice |During the mid-1970s, [[Lowell MacDonald]] was paired with [[Syl Apps Jr.]] and [[Jean Pronovost]], forming the "Century [[line (ice hockey)|Line]]". MacDonald played with the Penguins from 1970 to 1978.]]
Beginning in the mid-1970s, Pittsburgh iced some powerful offensive clubs, led by the likes of the "Century Line" of Syl Apps, [[Lowell MacDonald]] and Jean Pronovost. They nearly reached the semifinals in [[1974–75 NHL season|1975]], but were ousted from the playoffs by the [[New York Islanders]] in one of the only four best-of-seven-game series in NHL history where a team came back from being down three games to none. As the 1970s wore on, a mediocre team defense neutralized the Penguins' success beyond the regular season. [[Baz Bastien]], a former coach and general manager of the AHL's Hornets, later became general manager. The Penguins missed the playoffs in [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78]]. Bastien traded prime draft picks for several players whose best years were already behind them, and the team would suffer in the early 1980s as a result. The decade closed with a playoff appearance in 1979 and a rousing opening series win over the [[Buffalo Sabres]] before a second-round sweep at the hands of the [[Boston Bruins]].<ref name="History2016" />

The Penguins began the 1980s by changing their team colors; in January 1980, the team switched from wearing blue and white to their present-day scheme of black and gold to honor Pittsburgh's other sports teams, the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the [[Flag of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Flag of Pittsburgh]]. Both the Pirates and Steelers had worn black and gold for decades, and both had enjoyed world championship seasons. The Bruins protested this color change, claiming a monopoly on black and gold, but the Penguins defended their choice stating that the NHL Pirates also used black and gold as their team colors and that black and gold were Pittsburgh's traditional sporting colors. The NHL agreed, and Pittsburgh could use black and gold. The Penguins officially debuted the black and gold uniform in a game against the St. Louis Blues at the Civic Arena on January 30, 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic Dates |url=https://www.penguinschronicles.com/historic-dates.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=penguinschronicle.com |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508202612/https://www.penguinschronicles.com/historic-dates.html}}</ref> On the ice, the Penguins began the 1980s with defenseman [[Randy Carlyle]], and prolific scorers [[Paul Gardner (ice hockey)|Paul Gardner]] and [[Mike Bullard (ice hockey)|Mike Bullard]] but little else.

During the early part of the decade, the Penguins made a habit of being a tough draw for higher-seeded opponents in the playoffs. In 1980, the 13th-seeded Penguins took the Bruins to the limit in their first-round playoff series. The following season, as the 15th seed, they lost the decisive game of their first-round series in overtime to the heavily favored St. Louis Blues. Then, in the [[1982 Stanley Cup playoffs|1982 playoffs]], the Penguins held a 3–1 lead late in the fifth and final game of their playoff series against the reigning champions, the New York Islanders. However, the Islanders rallied to force overtime and won the series on a goal by [[John Tonelli]], who had tied the game before.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2017/04/24/penguins-islanders-1982-stanley-cup-playoffs | title=How the Isles dynasty survived some the Penguins | newspaper=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> It would be the Penguins' final playoff appearance until [[1989 Stanley Cup playoffs|1989]].