2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the 48th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.
Off-season
On May 16, 2014, Penguins' co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle fired General Manager Ray Shero after the team captured the Metropolitan Division title, but failed to beat the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On June 6, 2014, the Penguins named Jim Rutherford as the new GM, and fired Head Coach Dan Bylsma. On June 25, 2014, over two weeks after new GM Rutherford fired Bylsma, the Penguins appointed Mike Johnston as their new head coach. They also proceeded to fire Tony Granato and Todd Reirden while hiring Rick Tocchet as an assistant coach to Johnston.On June 27, 2014, during the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Penguins traded right winger James Neal to the Nashville Predators in exchange for right winger Patric Hornqvist and restricted free agent Nick Spaling.
Pre-season
The Penguins released their 2014 pre-season schedule on June 18, 2014.Game log
Statistics
Updated as of October 2, 2014Note – Statistics compiled from Official Game/Event Summaries from NHL.com
Preseason statistics
| Player | ||||||
| 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
Regular season
Game log
Season standings
Detailed records
FinalInjuries
FinalSuspensions/fines
Playoffs
Game log
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the playoffs as the final Wild Card team.Injuries
FinalStatistics
Final StatsSkaters
- Team Total includes Skater Statistics, Goaltender Statistics and Bench Minor Penalties.
Goaltenders
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Team only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
Team
– Denotes league leader.Notable achievements
Awards
| Player | Award | Awarded |
| NHL Third Star of the Week | October 13, 2014 | |
| NHL Third Star of the Week | November 3, 2014 | |
| NHL Second Star of the Month | November 3, 2014 | |
| NHL Third Star of the Week | December 22, 2014 | |
| NHL All-Star game selection | January 10, 2015 | |
| NHL All-Star game selection | January 10, 2015 | |
| NHL All-Star game replacement selection | January 15, 2015 | |
| NHL Third Star of the Week | March 2, 2015 |
Team awards
Awarded week of April 5| Player | Award | Notes |
| Kris Letang | Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee | The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association votes for the Penguins' Masterton nominee. Each NHL team selects a Masterton candidate from which the overall winner is chosen. The Masterton candidate is nominated as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Sponsor: Trib Total Media |
| Derrick Pouliot | Rookie of the Year Award | Presented in memory of former Penguins forward Michel Briere to the player who makes a substantial contribution during his rookie season. Sponsor: Highmark |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | Player's Player Award | The players hold a vote at the end of the season for the player they feel exemplifies leadership for the team, both on and off the ice, a player dedicated to teamwork. Sponsor: American Eagle Outfitters |
| Paul Martin | Edward J. DeBartolo Award | The award recognizes the player who has donated a tremendous amount of time and effort during the season working on community and charity projects. Sponsor: Verizon Wireless |
| Kris Letang | Defensive Player of the Year | This award honors the defensive skills of an individual player on the team. Sponsor: PNC Wealth Management |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | Most Valuable Player | Based on the overall contribution the player makes to the team. Sponsor: CONSOL Energy |
Milestones
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| 1st career NHL win | October 9, 2014 | |
| 300th Career NHL Game | October 13, 2014 | |
| 500th Career NHL Assist | October 18, 2014 | |
| 400th Career NHL Point | October 25, 2014 | |
| 700th Career NHL Game | October 28, 2014 | |
| 400th Career NHL Assist | October 30, 2014 | |
| 30th Career NHL Shutout | October 30, 2014 | |
| 100th Career NHL Game | November 14, 2014 | |
| 900th Career NHL Game | November 22, 2014 | |
| C. Adams | 100th Career NHL Assist | November 24, 2014 |
| M. Fleury | 300th Career NHL Win | November 24, 2014 |
| S. Crosby | 800th Career NHL Point | November 26, 2014 |
| 1st Career NHL Game | December 2, 2014 | |
| C. Adams | 314th Consecutive Game | December 6, 2014 |
| 100th Career NHL Assist | December 8, 2014 | |
| 1st Career NHL Game | December 13, 2014 | |
| 1st Career NHL Game | December 13, 2014 | |
| B. Rust | 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | December 15, 2014 |
| 1st Career NHL Goal | December 15, 2014 | |
| 1st Career NHL Game | December 18, 2014 | |
| 1st Career NHL Game 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | December 20, 2014 | |
| D. Pouliot | 1st Career NHL Assist | December 22, 2014 |
| 1st Career NHL Game | December 23, 2014 | |
| B. Rust | 1st Career NHL Assist | January 2, 2015 |
| N. Spaling | 100th Career NHL Point | January 2, 2015 |
| 600th Career NHL Game | January 10, 2015 | |
| 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | January 12, 2015 | |
| 500th Career NHL Point | January 20, 2015 | |
| Z. Sill | 1st Career NHL Goal | January 21, 2015 |
| 200th Career NHL Assist | January 27, 2015 | |
| 100th Career NHL Game | January 28, 2015 | |
| C. Kunitz | 700th Career NHL Game | January 30, 2015 |
| 400th Career NHL Game | February 1, 2015 | |
| M. Fleury | 8th Shutout Game | February 6, 2015 |
| S. Crosby | 600th Career NHL Game | February 11, 2015 |
| 700th Career NHL Game | March 1, 2015 | |
| E. Malkin | 700th Career NHL Point | March 12, 2015 |
| 600th Career NHL Game | March 14, 2015 | |
| 400th Career NHL Game | March 21, 2015 | |
| S. Crosby | 300th Career NHL Goal | April 1, 2015 |
| R. Scuderi | 100th Career NHL Point | April 10, 2015 |
- Franchise Record
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| 1st Career Playoff Game | April 16, 2015 | |
| 1st Career Playoff Game | April 16, 2015 | |
| 1st Career Playoff Goal 1st Career Playoff Point | April 16, 2015 | |
| 1st Career Playoff Assist 1st Career Playoff Point | April 18, 2015 | |
| 1st Career Playoff Game | April 20, 2015 | |
| 100th Career Playoff Game | April 22, 2015 | |
| 100th Career Playoff Game | April 24, 2015 |
Roster
FinalTransactions
The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season:Trades
| June 27, 2014 | To Nashville Predators ---- James Neal | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Patric Hornqvist Nick Spaling |
| December 5, 2014 | To Arizona Coyotes ---- Philip Samuelsson | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Rob Klinkhammer conditional 5th-round pick in 2016 |
| January 2, 2015 | To Edmonton Oilers ---- Rob Klinkhammer 1st-round pick in 2015 | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- David Perron |
| January 27, 2015 | To St. Louis Blues ---- Marcel Goc | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Maxim Lapierre |
| February 25, 2015 | To Toronto Maple Leafs ---- Zach Sill 2nd-round pick in 2016 4th-round pick in 2015 | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Daniel Winnik |
| March 2, 2015 | To St. Louis Blues ---- Robert Bortuzzo 7th-round pick in 2016 | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Ian Cole |
| March 2, 2015 | To Anaheim Ducks ---- Simon Despres | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Ben Lovejoy |
Free agents
Waivers
Signings
Other
| Name | Date | Details |
| Gary Agnew | July 10, 2014 | Named as Assistant Coach |
| Mark Recchi | July 18, 2014 | Named as Player Development Coach |
| Jacques Martin | July 23, 2014 | Named as Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations |
| Daniel Carcillo | October 2, 2014 | Released |
| Jeff Zatkoff | October 4, 2014 | Waived |
| Tomas Vokoun | December 15, 2014 | Retirement |
;Notes
- – Two-way contract
- – Entry-level contract
Draft picks
| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 1 | 22 | Kasperi Kapanen | RW | KalPa | |
| 4 | 113 | Sam Lafferty | C/LW | Deerfield Academy | |
| 5 | 145 | Anthony Angello | C | Omaha Lancers | |
| 6 | 173 | Jaden Lindo | RW | Owen Sound Attack | |
| 7 | 203 | Jeff Taylor | D | Union College |
;Draft notes
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' second-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a March 25, 2013 trade that sent Douglas Murray to the Penguins in exchange for a 2013 second-round pick and this conditional pick.
- *Condition – Second-round pick if Penguins advance to third round of 2013 playoffs or if Murray re-signs with Penguins for 2013–14 season, else third-round pick. Converted to second-round pick when Penguins advanced to the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a March 5, 2014 trade that sent Lee Stempniak to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' fifth-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a March 5, 2014 trade that sent Marcel Goc to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
- The Anaheim Ducks fifth-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a February 6, 2013 trade that sent Ben Lovejoy to the Ducks in exchange for this pick.