1984–85 Pittsburgh Penguins season
1984–85 Pittsburgh Penguins | |
---|---|
Division | 6th Patrick |
Conference | 11th Wales |
1984–85 record | 24–51–5 |
Goals for | 276 |
Goals against | 385 |
Team information | |
General manager | Eddie Johnston |
Coach | Bob Berry |
Captain | Mike Bullard |
Alternate captains | None |
Arena | Pittsburgh Civic Arena |
Average attendance | 10,018 |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Mario Lemieux (43) |
Assists | Mario Lemieux (57) |
Points | Mario Lemieux (100) |
Penalty minutes | Gary Rissling (209) |
Wins | Denis Herron (10) |
Goals against average | Roberto Romano (4.42) |
The 1984–85 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's eighteenth in the National Hockey League. It marked the debut of Mario Lemieux for the Penguins.
Background
[edit]Lemieux debuted with the Penguins on October 11, 1984, in a game against the Boston Bruins; he scored a goal with his very first NHL shot during his first shift.[1] Later that season, Lemieux played in the NHL All-Star Game and became the first rookie to be named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.
Despite missing seven games during the season, Lemieux scored one hundred points and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the rookie of the year.
Offseason
[edit]Before the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Lemieux announced he wanted to play for whoever drafted him.[2] He and his agent were deadlocked with the Penguins and could not negotiate a contract. Because of this, when the Penguins called his name as the first overall draft pick, he did not shake general manager Eddie Johnston's hand or don the Penguins jersey, as is NHL tradition. He claimed he was upset about the contract negotiation, and said that "Pittsburgh doesn't want [him] bad enough."[3]
Even though the draft was held in Montreal, more than three thousand fans viewed the broadcast in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. In contrast, a typical Penguins game drew fewer than seven thousand fans.[4] Lemieux's actions upset many fans and led to accusations of arrogance and aloofness.[5]
After the draft, Johnston signed Lemieux to a two-year contract for $600,000, plus a $150,000 bonus for signing.[3] Although Lemieux wore the jersey #27 during his time with the Laval Voisins, he wanted to adopt Wayne Gretzky's #99 when he entered the NHL; however, his agent advised him to create his own identity. In response, Lemieux turned #99 upside down and landed on #66, which stayed with him throughout his career.
Regular season
[edit]Season standings
[edit]GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 53 | 20 | 7 | 348 | 241 | 113 |
Washington Capitals | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 322 | 240 | 101 |
New York Islanders | 80 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 345 | 312 | 86 |
New York Rangers | 80 | 26 | 44 | 10 | 295 | 345 | 62 |
New Jersey Devils | 80 | 22 | 48 | 10 | 264 | 346 | 54 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 24 | 51 | 5 | 276 | 385 | 53 |
[6]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Record vs. opponents
[edit]Patrick Division record vs. opponents
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vs. Wales Conference[edit]
Vs. Campbell Conference[edit]
|
Schedule and results
[edit]1984–85 Schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October: 5–4–0 (Home: 4–1–0 ; Road: 1–3–0), 10 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
November: 1–8–3 (Home: 0–4–3 ; Road: 1–4–0), 5 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December: 8–5–1 (Home: 6–1–0 ; Road: 2–4–1), 17 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 4–8–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 1–5–1), 9 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 2–10–0 (Home: 1–6–0 ; Road: 1–4–0), 4 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 4–12–0 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 1–9–0), 8 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 0–4–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 0–2–0), 0 Points
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie |
Playoffs
[edit]The Penguins failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year, and finished last in the Prince of Wales Conference with 53 points, the second-worst in the NHL.
Player statistics
[edit]- Skaters
|
|
- Goaltenders
Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denis Herron | 42 | 2193:00 | 10 | 22 | 3 | 170 | 4.65 | 1362 | 0.875 | 1 |
Roberto Romano | 31 | 1629:00 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 120 | 4.42 | 974 | 0.877 | 1 |
Michel Dion | 10 | 553:00 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 43 | 4.67 | 316 | 0.864 | 0 |
Brian Ford | 8 | 457:00 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 6.30 | 292 | 0.836 | 0 |
Total | 4832:00 | 24 | 51 | 5 | 381 | 4.73 | 2944 | 0.871 | 2 |
†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.
Awards and records
[edit]- Mario Lemieux established a new franchise rookie record for goals (43), assists (57) and points (100). He topped the previous highs held by Pierre Larouche (37 assists, 68 points) and Mike Bullard (36 goals).
- Rick Kehoe established a career franchise record for points (636). He had led the category since 1984.
- Mario Lemieux, Calder Memorial Trophy
- Mario Lemieux, NHL All-Rookie Team
- Warren Young, NHL All-Rookie Team
Transactions
[edit]The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1984–85 season:
Trades
[edit]October 15, 1984 | To Boston Bruins
1985 4th round pick |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Randy Hillier |
November 9, 1984 | To Montreal Canadiens
Ron Flockhart |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
John Chabot |
November 16, 1984 | To Hartford Whalers
Pat Boutette |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
rights to Ville Siren |
December 6, 1984 | To Quebec Nordiques
Tom Thornbury |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Brian Ford |
March 12, 1985 | To Washington Capitals
Mark Taylor |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Jim McGeough |
Additions and subtractions
[edit]
|
|
![]() |
Draft picks
[edit]The 1984 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 9, 1984, in Montreal.[10]
Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Mario Lemieux | Center | ![]() |
Laval Voisins (QMJHL) |
1 | 9 | Doug Bodger | Defense | ![]() |
Kamloops Junior Oilers (WHL) |
1 | 16 | Roger Belanger Jr. | Center | ![]() |
Kingston Canadians (OHL) |
4 | 64 | Mark Teevens | Right Wing | ![]() |
Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
5 | 85 | Arto Javanainen | Right Wing | ![]() |
Assat Pori (FNL) |
7 | 127 | Tom Ryan | Defense | ![]() |
Newton North H.S. (Massachusetts) |
9 | 169 | John Del Col | Left Wing | ![]() |
Toronto Marlboros (OHL) |
10 | 189 | Steve Hurt | Right Wing | ![]() |
Hill-Murray H.S. (Minn.) |
11 | 210 | Jim Steen | Center | ![]() |
Moorhead H.S. (Minn.) |
12 | 230 | Mark Ziliotto | Left Wing | ![]() |
Streetsville Jr. B (OHA) |
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "Mario Lemieux Retires". TSN. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ Christopher, Matt (December 1, 2002) [2002]. On the Ice With... Mario Lemieux. Little, Brown and Company. p. 3. ISBN 0-316-13799-5. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ a b Christopher, 23.
- ^ Christopher, 21.
- ^ Deacon, James (April 8, 1996). "Lemieux, Mario (profile)". Maclean's Magazine. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
- ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ "1984–1985 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- ^ "1984–1985 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.