The Penguins obtained the first-overall pick in 1984, and selected Mario Lemieux from the Laval Voisins of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
He went on to win six Art Ross trophies as the NHL's leading scorer, captained the team to Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 following his first retirement.
As owner, Lemieux negotiated an agreement to construct a new arena, the Consol Energy Center, ensuring the team's future in Pittsburgh.
Artem Kopot, an up-and-coming Russian defenseman with the Soviet under-18 team who had also played 28 games with his hometown Traktor Chelyabinsk in 1991–92, was the first Russian player to be drafted by the Penguins, selected in the sixth round, 139th overall, of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.
Less than a month after being selected by the Penguins and five days before his 20th birthday, Kopot was involved in a fatal one-car accident in his hometown of Chelyabinsk.
Note: Statistics listed include totals from all teams in the National Hockey League.
Leo Boivin
was already an 18-year NHL veteran when he was selected by Pittsburgh.
Denis Herron
was the first goaltender drafted by Pittsburgh to become a full-time NHL player.
Blair Chapman
was Pittsburgh's highest selection since their inaugural year. While he did play in the NHL, he never lived up to his draft position.
Mario Lemieux
was Pittsburgh's first selection in 1984 and has been called the 'best player ever drafted'.
Jim Paek
is the first played drafted by Pittsburgh to have been born in
Asia
. He moved to
Canada
when he was 1 year old.
Mark Recchi
is likely the best player drafted by Pittsburgh outside of the first round, being elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jaromir Jagr
became the Penguins first non-Canadian first-round pick in 1990.
Patrick Lalime
found success as a rookie for the Penguins, however, a contract dispute led to him being demoted and later traded.
Ryan Malone
was the first person born and raised in Pittsburgh to play for the Penguins. He's the son of former Penguin player and draft pick
Greg Malone
.
In 2000,
Brooks Orpik
became the first American drafted in the first-round by the Penguins.
