1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins season
Despite the absence of Mario Lemieux, the 1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins season started the off strong, by winning their first seven games. They remained undefeated in their first 13 games, going 12–0–1. However, after such a red-hot start to the season, the Penguins had a lukewarm record in their final 35 games, going 17–16–2. Jaromir Jagr won the Art Ross Trophy for most points, captain Ron Francis led the league in assists and plus/minus, and goaltender Ken Wregget led the league in wins. In a 7–3 Penguins' win over the Florida Panthers on February 7, Joe Mullen recorded an assist and became the first American-born NHL player to reach 1,000 points. Nine days later, Luc Robitaille scored four goals in a 5–2 Penguins win over the Hartford Whalers.
Off-season
Regular season
The Penguins had the highest shooting percentage in the NHL during the regular season, scoring 181 goals on just 1,400 shots.Playoffs
Despite finding themselves in a three-games-to-one series deficit against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, the Penguins won Game 5 at home in overtime, 6–5, via Luc Robitaille's goal at 4:30 of the first overtime period. Peter Bondra, Dale Hunter, Jaromir Jagr and Kevin Stevens each scored twice in the game. Pittsburgh went on to win Game 6 in Washington, 7–1, and then closed out the series at home with a 3–0 victory in Game 7. It was the second time in four years that the Penguins had come back to defeat the Capitals after being down three games to one. The Penguins faced the New Jersey Devils in the second round, and won the opening game, 3–2. With only 1:15 remaining in Game 2, Jaromir Jagr tied the game at 2–2. The game seemed certain to head to overtime until a breakaway-goal by Devils captain Scott Stevens with just 29 seconds remaining. Claude Lemieux added an empty-net goal and the Devils tied the series with a 4–2 win. In the final three games of the series, the Penguins managed to score only three goals and were ultimately eliminated at home in Game 5, 4–1.Final standings
Schedule and results
Suspensions
Injuries
Player statistics
;Skaters;Goaltenders
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Transactions
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season:Trades
July 29, 1994 | To Los Angeles Kings ---- Rick Tocchet 1995 2nd round pick | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Luc Robitaille |
February 16, 1995 | To Tampa Bay Lightning ---- future considerations | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Wendell Young |
April 7, 1995 | To Toronto Maple Leafs ---- Grant Jennings | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Drake Berehowsky |
April 7, 1995 | To Winnipeg Jets ---- Greg Brown | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- cash |
April 7, 1995 | To Ottawa Senators ---- Martin Straka | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Norm Maciver Troy Murray |
Free agents
Signings
Other
Name | Date | Details |
Allen Pedersen | September 20, 1994 | Released |
Doug Brown | January 18, 1995 | Lost in waiver draft |
Chris Joseph | January 18, 1995 | Claimed in waiver draft |
Francois Leroux | January 18, 1995 | Claimed in waiver draft |
Mike Hudson | January 18, 1995 | Claimed in waiver draft |
Wayne McBean | January 18, 1995 | Claimed in waiver draft |
Micah Aivazoff | January 18, 1995 | Claimed in waiver draft |
Micah Aivazoff | January 18, 1995 | Lost in waiver draft |
Roster
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
1 | 24 | Chris Wells | Center | Seattle Thunderbirds | |
2 | 50 | Richard Park | Right Wing | Belleville Bulls | |
3 | 57 | Sven Butenschon | Defense | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
3 | 73 | Greg Crozier | Left Wing | Lawrence Academy | |
3 | 76 | Alexei Krivchenkov | Defense | CSKA Moscow | |
4 | 102 | Tom O'Connor | Defense | Springfield Olympics | |
5 | 128 | Clint Johnson | Left Wing | East High School | |
6 | 154 | Valentin Morozov | Center | CSKA Moscow | |
7 | 161 | Serge Aubin | Center | Granby Bisons | |
7 | 180 | Drew Palmer | Defense | Seattle Thunderbirds | |
8 | 206 | Boris Zelenko | Left Wing | CSKA Moscow | |
9 | 232 | Jason Godbout | Defense | Hill-Murray School | |
10 | 258 | Mikhail Kazakevich | Center | Torpedo Yaroslavl | |
11 | 284 | Brian Leitza | Goaltender | Sioux City Musketeers |
;Draft notes
- The Hartford Whalers' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a March 10, 1992, trade that sent Frank Pietrangelo to the Whalers in exchange for a seventh-round pick and this pick.
- The Boston Bruins' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of an October 8, 1993, trade that sent Paul Stanton to the Bruins in exchange for this pick.
- The Hartford Whalers' seventh-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a March 10, 1992, trade that sent Frank Pietrangelo to the Whalers in exchange for a third-round pick and this pick.
Farm teams