1989–90 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1989–90
Year:	1989
Team:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Conferencerank:	9th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	32–40–8
Homerecord:	22–15–3
Roadrecord:	10–25–5
Goalsfor:	318
Goalsagainst:	359
Goalsleader:	Mario Lemieux (45)
Assistsleader:	Mario Lemieux (78)
Pointsleader:	Mario Lemieux (123)
Pimleader:	Kevin Stevens (171)
Winsleader:	Wendell Young (16)
Gaaleader:	Wendell Young (4.17)

The 1989–90 Pittsburgh Penguins season saw the Penguins finish fifth in the Patrick Division and not qualify for the playoffs.

The last remaining active member of the 1989–90 Pittsburgh Penguins was Mark Recchi, who retired after the 2010–11 season, right after winning the Stanley Cup as a member of the Boston Bruins.

Regular season

The Penguins allowed the most short-handed goals during the regular season, with 21.^[1]

All-Star Game

The 41st National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, on January 21, 1990. The game saw the team of all-stars from the Wales conference defeat the Campbell conference all-stars 12–7. Mario Lemieux was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- style="background:#fcf;"| 1 || Oct 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Boston Bruins || 0–1–0 || 0|- style="background:#ffc;"| 2 || Oct 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || New Jersey Devils || 0–1–1 || 1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || Oct 10 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1–1 || 3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 || Oct 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1–1 || 5|- style="background:#fcf;"| 5 || Oct 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || New York Rangers || 2–2–1 || 5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 || Oct 17 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2–1 || 7|- style="background:#fcf;"| 7 || Oct 18 || St. Louis Blues || 9–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3–1 || 7|- style="background:#fcf;"| 8 || Oct 21 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4–1 || 7|- style="background:#fcf;"| 9 || Oct 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5–1 || 7|- style="background:#ffc;"| 10 || Oct 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–5–2 || 8|- style="background:#fcf;"| 11 || Oct 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–6–2 || 8|- style="background:#fcf;"| 12 || Oct 31 || Los Angeles Kings || 8–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7–2 || 8|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || Nov 2 || New York Islanders || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–7–2 || 10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14 || Nov 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Edmonton Oilers || 5–7–2 || 12|- style="background:#fcf;"| 15 || Nov 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–8–2 || 12|- style="background:#fcf;"| 16 || Nov 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Chicago Blackhawks || 5–9–2 || 12|- style="background:#fcf;"| 17 || Nov 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–8 || St. Louis Blues || 5–10–2 || 12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 18 || Nov 14 || New York Rangers || 0–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–10–2 || 14|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19 || Nov 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–10–2 || 16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20 || Nov 18 || New York Islanders || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–10–2 || 18|- style="background:#fcf;"| 21 || Nov 22 || New Jersey Devils || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–11–2 || 18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22 || Nov 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || Washington Capitals || 9–11–2 || 20|- style="background:#fcf;"| 23 || Nov 25 || Washington Capitals || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–12–2 || 20|- style="background:#fcf;"| 24 || Nov 28 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–13–2 || 20|- style="background:#fcf;"| 25 || Nov 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || 9–14–2 || 20|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 26 || Dec 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–14–2 || 22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 27 || Dec 6 || Washington Capitals || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 11–14–2 || 24|- style="background:#cfc;"| 28 || Dec 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || New Jersey Devils || 12–14–2 || 26|- style="background:#fcf;"| 29 || Dec 9 || Chicago Blackhawks || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 12–15–2 || 26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30 || Dec 12 || Boston Bruins || 5–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 13–15–2 || 28|- style="background:#ffc;"| 31 || Dec 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Minnesota North Stars || 13–15–3 || 29|- style="background:#fcf;"| 32 || Dec 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Calgary Flames || 13–16–3 || 29|- style="background:#fcf;"| 33 || Dec 19 || Hartford Whalers || 8–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 13–17–3 || 29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 34 || Dec 21 || Washington Capitals || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–17–3 || 31|- style="background:#fcf;"| 35 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–8 || New York Islanders || 14–18–3 || 31|- style="background:#fcf;"| 36 || Dec 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Washington Capitals || 14–19–3 || 31|- style="background:#cfc;"| 37 || Dec 27 || New York Rangers || 4–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 15–19–3 || 33|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38 || Dec 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || New York Rangers || 16–19–3 || 35|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 39 || Jan 2 || Boston Bruins || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 16–20–3 || 35|- style="background:#cfc;"| 40 || Jan 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 17–20–3 || 37|- style="background:#cfc;"| 41 || Jan 6 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 18–20–3 || 39|- style="background:#cfc;"| 42 || Jan 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–5 || New York Rangers || 19–20–3 || 41|- style="background:#fcf;"| 43 || Jan 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || New Jersey Devils || 19–21–3 || 41|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44 || Jan 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Washington Capitals || 20–21–3 || 43|- style="background:#cfc;"| 45 || Jan 16 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–21–3 || 45|- style="background:#ffc;"| 46 || Jan 18 || New York Rangers || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–21–4 || 46|- style="background:#fcf;"| 47 || Jan 23 || New Jersey Devils || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–22–4 || 46|- style="background:#cfc;"| 48 || Jan 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Detroit Red Wings || 22–22–4 || 48|- style="background:#fcf;"| 49 || Jan 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–9 || New York Islanders || 22–23–4 || 48|- style="background:#fcf;"| 50 || Jan 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–7 || Buffalo Sabres || 22–24–4 || 48|- style="background:#fcf;"| 51 || Jan 30 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 22–25–4 || 48|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 52 || Feb 2 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–25–4 || 50|- style="background:#fcf;"| 53 || Feb 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 23–26–4 || 50|- style="background:#fcf;"| 54 || Feb 6 || New York Islanders || 8–7 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–27–4 || 50|- style="background:#cfc;"| 55 || Feb 8 || Washington Capitals || 5–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 24–27–4 || 52|- style="background:#cfc;"| 56 || Feb 10 || Los Angeles Kings || 6–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 25–27–4 || 54|- style="background:#cfc;"| 57 || Feb 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Philadelphia Flyers || 26–27–4 || 56|- style="background:#cfc;"| 58 || Feb 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || New York Rangers || 27–27–4 || 58|- style="background:#ffc;"| 59 || Feb 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 27–27–5 || 59|- style="background:#fcf;"| 60 || Feb 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Chicago Blackhawks || 27–28–5 || 59|- style="background:#cfc;"| 61 || Feb 20 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 28–28–5 || 61|- style="background:#cfc;"| 62 || Feb 22 || New York Islanders || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–28–5 || 63|- style="background:#fcf;"| 63 || Feb 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–11 || Montreal Canadiens || 29–29–5 || 63|- style="background:#fcf;"| 64 || Feb 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 29–30–5 || 63|- style="background:#cfc;"| 65 || Feb 28 || New Jersey Devils || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 30–30–5 || 65|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 66 || Mar 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 || New Jersey Devils || 30–31–5 || 65|- style="background:#cfc;"| 67 || Mar 4 || Minnesota North Stars || 6–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–31–5 || 67|- style="background:#fcf;"| 68 || Mar 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || Edmonton Oilers || 31–32–5 || 67|- style="background:#fcf;"| 69 || Mar 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Calgary Flames || 31–33–5 || 67|- style="background:#fcf;"| 70 || Mar 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Los Angeles Kings || 31–34–5 || 67|- style="background:#fcf;"| 71 || Mar 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Vancouver Canucks || 31–35–5 || 67|- style="background:#cfc;"| 72 || Mar 15 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–35–5 || 69|- style="background:#fcf;"| 73 || Mar 17 || Minnesota North Stars || 6–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–36–5 || 69|- style="background:#ffc;"| 74 || Mar 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || New York Islanders || 32–36–6 || 70|- style="background:#fcf;"| 75 || Mar 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 32–37–6 || 70|- style="background:#ffc;"| 76 || Mar 24 || Calgary Flames || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–37–7 || 71|- style="background:#fcf;"| 77 || Mar 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Hartford Whalers || 32–38–7 || 71|- style="background:#ffc;"| 78 || Mar 27 || Hartford Whalers || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–38–8 || 72|- style="background:#fcf;"| 79 || Mar 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || St. Louis Blues || 32–39–8 || 72|- style="background:#fcf;"| 80 || Mar 31 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–40–8 || 72|-|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins missed the playoffs, despite qualifying the previous year.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season^[2]

Player
	59	45	78	123		78
	80	29	74	103		95
	72	32	60	92		138
	80	33	47	80		102
	76	29	41	70		171
	74	30	37	67	6	44
	76	22	17	39		108
	78	20	19	39	3	109
^†	37	14	18	32		22
	51	6	25	31		37
^‡	41	9	20	29		22
	67	11	16	27		168
^†	38	4	18	22		29
	75	3	13	16		154
	61	5	11	16		54
	61	3	12	15	11	71
	62	4	10	14		56
^‡	41	5	9	14		51
	30	4	7	11	0	49
	54	3	7	10	3	44
	69	1	8	9	6	125
	19	1	5	6		43
	56	3	1	4		125
	37	1	2	3	0	123
	10	0	3	3	3	0
^†	10	1	1	2		25
	14	0	1	1	1	40
^‡	6	0	0	0	0	2
^†	6	0	0	0		13
Total		318	560	878	—	2,098

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[3]

Player
	43	2318:16	16	20	3	161	4.17	1263	0.873	1	0	4	8
	21	1066:26	8	6	2	77	4.33	580	0.867	0	0	0	2
	24	1294:19	7	12	3	101	4.68	746	0.865	0	0	0	8
^†	3	166:06	1	2	0	14	5.06	89	0.843	0	0	1	2
Total		4845:07	32	40	8	353	4.37	2678	0.868	1	0	5	20

^†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, All-Star Game MVP ^[4]
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 800 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–3 win over Vancouver on January 4.
• Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for goals (345). He broke the previous records of 316 held by Jean Pronovost.
• Paul Coffey established a franchise record for goals (74) by a defenseman. He broke the previous records of 66 held by both Ron Stackhouse and Randy Carlyle.
• Rod Buskas set a franchise record for penalty minutes (959). He had led the category since the previous season.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1989–90 season:^[5]

Trades

September 14, 1989	To New York Rangers----Lee Giffin	To Pittsburgh Penguins----future considerations
October 24, 1989	To Vancouver Canucks----Rod Buskas	To Pittsburgh Penguins----1990 6th round pick
January 8, 1990	To Vancouver Canucks----Dave Capuano Andrew McBain Dan Quinn	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Rod Buskas Barry Pederson Tony Tanti
February 26, 1990	To Vancouver Canucks----cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Doug Smith
March 6, 1990	To Edmonton Oilers----future considerations	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Brian Wilks
March 6, 1990	To Chicago Blackhawks----future considerations	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Alain Chevrier

Free agents

Player	Acquired from	Lost to	Date
			June 28, 1989
			June 30, 1989
			September 6, 1989
			October 9, 1989
			March 2, 1990

Signings

Player	Date	Contract terms
	June 27, 1989	Multi-year contract
	June 27, 1989	Multi-year contract
	June 27, 1989	Multi-year contract
	June 30, 1989	Multi-year contract
	August 1, 1989	5 year/$10 million
	September 14, 1989	2 years
	June 5, 1990	Multi-year contract
	June 5, 1990	Multi-year contract

Other

Name	Date	Details
	July 29, 1989	Hired as strength and conditioning coach
	December 5, 1989	Fired as head coach
	December 5, 1989	Fired as GM
	December 5, 1989	Hired as head coach/GM
	January 24, 1990	Hired as goaltending coach
	June 12, 1990	Replaced as head coach (remained as GM)
	June 12, 1990	Hired as head coach
	June 12, 1990	Hired as Director of development and recruitment
	June 15, 1990	Supplemental draft pick
	June 15, 1990	Supplemental draft pick

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks. Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.^[6]

Round		Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	16		D		Regina Pats (WHL)
2	37		D		Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
3	58	John Brill	R		Grand Rapids H.S. (Minn.)
4	79		D		Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
5	100	Tom Nevers	C		Edina H.S. (Minn.)
6	121	Michael Markovich	D		U. of Denver (NCAA)
6	126		R		Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
7	142	Patrick Schafhauser	D		Hill-Murray H.S. (Minn.)
8	163		C		Victoria Cougars (WHL)
9	184		D		Victoria Cougars (WHL)
10	205	Greg Hagen	R		Hill-Murray H.S. (Minn.)
11	226	Scott Farrell	D		Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
12	247	Jason Smart	C		Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
	21	John DePourcq	C		Ferris State University (CCHA)

Draft notes^[7]

• The Calgary Flames' sixth-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a January 9, 1989, trade that sent Steve Guenette to the Flames in exchange for this pick.

References

• Penguins on Hockey Database

1. Web site: 1989-90 NHL Summary.
2. Web site: 1989–1990 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
3. Web site: 1989–1990 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
4. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 219, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario,
5. Web site: Hockey Transactions Search Results. ProSportsTransactions.
6. Web site: NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results. NHL.com.
7. Web site: 1989 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions. Pro Sports Transactions.