1993–94 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 1993–94 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 27th season in the National Hockey League.
Offseason
Regular season
The Penguins moved into the newly formed Northeast Division and won their third division crown in four seasons. This season marked the return to the Penguins and to the bench of head coach Eddie Johnston. Under EJ's guidance the Pens racked up a 101-point season, their second straight 100 point season and second in franchise history. The Northeast Division title earned them a second seed and a first round playoff date with the Washington Capitals. The Caps won the series in six games, which until 2018 was the only series victory that the Capitals had earned over the rival Penguins.Of note from the season:
The Penguins were not shut out in any of their 84 regular-season games.
Injuries limited Mario Lemieux to only 22 regular season games.
Rookie Markus Naslund made his NHL debut. Other rookies debuting for the Penguins were Chris Tamer, Greg Andrusak, Ed Patterson, Pat Neaton, Rob Dopson, Justin Duberman, and Ladislav Karabin.
Each team during the 1993-1994 season played two neutral site games. The Penguins played, and won, in Sacramento vs Buffalo and in Cleveland vs. Boston on Easter Sunday.
An offseason trade landed the Penguins Marty McSorely in exchange for Shawn McEachern. On February 16, the Pens and Kings made another trade, with McSorely and McEachern again involved: the Pens traded McSorely and Jim Paek to LA for Tomas Sandstrom and McEachern.
Other trades: Paul Stanton to Boston for 3rd round pick 1994; Jeff Daniels to Florida for Greg Hawgood; Mike Needham to Dallas for Jim McKenzie
RW Martin Straka had his first ever 30 goal season.
C Brian Trottier unretired for one season and acted in a player/coach role, playing 41 games for the team as officially part of their coaching staff.
G Roberto Romano made his return to the Penguins after toiling in Italy since the 1987-1988 season. Romano went 1-0-1 in his two appearances for the Penguins, his last games in the NHL.
Season standings
Schedule and results
Playoffs
Round 1 vs. Washington
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.
Awards and records
- Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 700 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–3 tie with San Jose on November 2.
- Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 1200 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–5 loss to Calgary on March 26.
Awards
Transactions
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1993–94 season:Trades
August 27, 1993 | To Los Angeles Kings: ---- Shawn McEachern | To Pittsburgh Penguins: ---- Marty McSorley |
October 8, 1993 | To Boston Bruins: ---- Paul Stanton | To Pittsburgh Penguins: ---- 1994 third round pick |
February 15, 1994 | To Los Angeles Kings: ---- Marty McSorley Jim Paek | To Pittsburgh Penguins: ---- Shawn McEachern Tomas Sandstrom |
March 19, 1994 | To Florida Panthers: ---- Jeff Daniels | To Pittsburgh Penguins: ---- Greg Hawgood |
March 21, 1994 | To Dallas Stars: ---- Mike Needham | To Pittsburgh Penguins: ---- Jim McKenzie |
Free agents
Waivers
Signings
Roster
Draft picks
The Penguins' selected eleven players at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.Round | Pick # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
1 | 26 | Stefan Bergqvist | Defense | Leksands IF | |
2 | 52 | Domenic Pittis | Center | Lethbridge Hurricanes | |
3 | 62 | Dave Roche | Left Wing | Peterborough Petes | |
4 | 104 | Jonas Andersson-Junkka | Defense | Kiruna | |
5 | 130 | Chris Kelleher | Defense | St. Sebastian's | |
6 | 156 | Patrick Lalime | Goaltender | Shawinigan Cataractes | |
7 | 182 | Sean Selmser | Left Wing | Red Deer Rebels | |
8 | 208 | Larry McMorran | Center | Seattle Thunderbirds | |
9 | 234 | Timothy Harberts | Center | Wayzata H.S. | |
10 | 260 | Leonid Toropchenko | Center | Springfield Indians | |
11 | 286 | Hans Jonsson | Defense | Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik |
;Draft notes
- The Philadelphia Flyers' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a February 19, 1992, trade that sent Mark Recchi, Brian Benning and a 1992 first-round pick to the Flyers in exchange for Kjell Samuelsson, Rick Tocchet, Ken Wregget and this pick.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the result of a March 22, 1993, trade that sent Peter Taglianetti to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
Farm teams
The Louisville Icehawks of the East Coast Hockey League finished fifth in the West Division with a 16-44-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They upset the Brabham Cup champion Knoxville Cherokees in the first round before being swept by the Birmingham Bulls in the second round.