1983–84 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1983–84 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the club's 17th season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins placed sixth in their division and last in the NHL for the second year in a row for the first time in franchise history and did not qualify for the playoffs for the second year in a row for the first time since the 1972–73 season and the 1973–74 season.

Offseason Eddie Johnston, who had been the interim general manager, was awarded the GM title in June. He named Lou Angotti to take over the coaching duties.McFarlane, p. 232

A controversy surrounding the end of the 1983–84 season was the apparent throwing of games by the Pittsburgh Penguins in order to secure Mario Lemieux as a draft pick. Angotti admitted the team deliberately tanked the season, though Johnston denied the claims.

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

| 1 || Oct 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 0–1–0 || 0

| 2 || Oct 8 || New York Rangers || 6–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–2–0 || 0

| 3 || Oct 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–7 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 0–3–0 || 0

| 4 || Oct 12 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–4–0 || 0

| 5 || Oct 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 1–4–0 || 2

| 6 || Oct 15 || Hartford Whalers || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–5–0 || 2

| 7 || Oct 18 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–6–0 || 2

| 8 || Oct 22 || Boston Bruins || 6–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–7–0 || 2

| 9 || Oct 25 || Washington Capitals || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–8–0 || 2

| 10 || Oct 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 2–8–0 || 4

| 11 || Oct 29 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 2–9–0 || 4

| 12 || Oct 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 3–9–0 || 6

| 13 || Nov 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Winnipeg Jets || Winnipeg Arena || 4–9–0 || 8

| 14 || Nov 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || Calgary Flames || Scotiabank Saddledome || 4–9–1 || 9

| 15 || Nov 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Edmonton Oilers || Northlands Coliseum || 4–10–1 || 9

| 16 || Nov 8 || Calgary Flames || 4–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–10–2 || 10

| 17 || Nov 11 || New York Islanders || 6–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–11–2 || 10

| 18 || Nov 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 5–11–2 || 12

| 19 || Nov 16 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–12–2 || 12

| 20 || Nov 19 || St. Louis Blues || 4–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–12–3 || 13

| 21 || Nov 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 5–13–3 || 13

| 22 || Nov 23 || New Jersey Devils || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–13–3 || 15

| 23 || Nov 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Detroit Red Wings || Joe Louis Arena || 6–14–3 || 15

| 24 || Nov 26 || Detroit Red Wings || 7–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–15–3 || 15

| 25 || Nov 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 6–16–3 || 15

| 26 || Dec 1 || Minnesota North Stars || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–17–3 || 15

| 27 || Dec 3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–18–3 || 15

| 28 || Dec 6 || Boston Bruins || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–19–3 || 15

| 29 || Dec 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–19–4 || 16

| 30 || Dec 13 || Hartford Whalers || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 7–19–4 || 18

| 31 || Dec 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 7–20–4 || 18

| 32 || Dec 17 || Los Angeles Kings || 6–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 7–21–4 || 18

| 33 || Dec 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 7–21–5 || 19

| 34 || Dec 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–11 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 7–22–5 || 19

| 35 || Dec 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 7–23–5 || 19

| 36 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–5 OT || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 8–23–5 || 21

| 37 || Dec 26 || New York Rangers || 4–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–23–5 || 23

| 38 || Dec 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–2 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 9–24–5 || 23

| 39 || Jan 3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 7–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–25–5 || 23

| 40 || Jan 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 9–26–5 || 23

| 41 || Jan 7 || New Jersey Devils || 7–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–27–5 || 23

| 42 || Jan 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–7 || Quebec Nordiques || Quebec Coliseum || 9–28–5 || 23

| 43 || Jan 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 9–29–5 || 23

| 44 || Jan 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 9–30–5 || 23

| 45 || Jan 18 || Winnipeg Jets || 5–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–31–5 || 23

| 46 || Jan 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 10–31–5 || 25

| 47 || Jan 21 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 10–32–5 || 25

| 48 || Jan 25 || New York Rangers || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 10–33–5 || 25

| 49 || Jan 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 10–34–5 || 25

| 50 || Jan 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 10–35–5 || 25

| 51 || Feb 1 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–35–5 || 27

| 52 || Feb 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 11–36–5 || 27

| 53 || Feb 5 || New York Islanders || 5–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–37–5 || 27

| 54 || Feb 8 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–38–5 || 27

| 55 || Feb 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–9 || Detroit Red Wings || Joe Louis Arena || 11–39–5 || 27

| 56 || Feb 11 || New Jersey Devils || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 12–39–5 || 29

| 57 || Feb 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || Quebec Nordiques || Quebec Coliseum || 12–40–5 || 29

| 58 || Feb 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–10 || Calgary Flames || Scotiabank Saddledome || 12–41–5 || 29

| 59 || Feb 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 13–41–5 || 31

| 60 || Feb 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Edmonton Oilers || Northlands Coliseum || 13–42–5 || 31

| 61 || Feb 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 9–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–43–5 || 31

| 62 || Feb 25 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–43–6 || 32

| 63 || Feb 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 13–44–6 || 32

| 64 || Feb 29 || Vancouver Canucks || 9–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–45–6 || 32

| 65 || Mar 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–9 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 13–46–6 || 32

| 66 || Mar 3 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–46–6 || 34

| 67 || Mar 5 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–47–6 || 34

| 68 || Mar 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 14–48–6 || 34

| 69 || Mar 8 || Quebec Nordiques || 8–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–49–6 || 34

| 70 || Mar 11 || New York Islanders || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–50–6 || 34

| 71 || Mar 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 14–51–6 || 34

| 72 || Mar 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–7 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 14–52–6 || 34

| 73 || Mar 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Hartford Whalers || XL Center || 15–52–6 || 36

| 74 || Mar 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–52–6 || 38

| 75 || Mar 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–13 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 16–53–6 || 38

| 76 || Mar 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–6 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 16–54–6 || 38

| 77 || Mar 25 || Washington Capitals || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–55–6 || 38

| 78 || Mar 28 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–56–6 || 38

| 79 || Mar 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 16–57–6 || 38

| 80 || Apr 1 || New York Islanders || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–58–6 || 38

Legend:

Player statistics Skaters

+ Regular season Player 76 51 41 92 57 67 22 35 57 20 † 59 24 31 55 24 57 18 27 45 8 † 68 27 18 45 40 73 14 26 40 142 50 18 20 38 9 76 5 25 30 59 † 53 11 17 28 8 ‡ 50 3 23 26 82 65 9 13 22 29 † 31 4 16 20 52 34 6 12 18 12 47 4 13 17 297 † 45 3 12 15 2 84 51 4 10 14 8 72 2 7 9 224 14 1 8 9 16 25 4 5 9 34 15 1 7 8 19 † 49 2 5 7 66 13 1 5 6 2 47 2 4 6 60 23 3 3 6 15 ‡ 24 2 4 6 62 26 3 2 5 12 16 0 5 5 6 24 2 3 5 33 29 1 3 4 37 11 2 2 4 2 4 11 1 3 4 0 4 8 1 2 3 0 ‡ 8 2 0 2 0 21 8 1 1 2 6 8 0 2 2 2 24 0 2 2 31 22 0 2 2 28 5 0 1 1 12 ‡ 5 0 1 1 6 ‡ 4 0 1 1 8 ‡ 5 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 8 13 0 0 0 9 3 0 0 0 0 Total 254 417 671 — 1,656

Goaltenders + Regular Season Player 38 2028:00 8 24 2 138 4.08 1200 0.885 1 18 1020:00 6 11 0 78 4.59 629 0.876 1 30 1553:00 2 19 4 138 5.33 937 0.853 0 4 240:00 0 4 0 24 6.00 142 0.831 0 Total 4841:00 16 58 6 378 4.68 2908 0.870 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 Rick Kehoe established a new franchise record for points with 634. He topped the previous record of 603 held by Jean Pronovost. Pat Boutette established a new franchise record for lowest plus-minus with –56. He topped the previous record of –51 held by Paul Baxter. fewest wins in team history (16) fewest points in team history (38)

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1983–84 season:

Trades

August 15, 1983 To Toronto Maple Leafs

Pat GrahamNick Ricci To Pittsburgh Penguins

Rocky SaganiukVincent Tremblay September 9, 1983 To Los Angeles Kings

Anders Hakansson To Pittsburgh Penguins

rights to Kevin Stevens September 30, 1983 To Hartford Whalers

Greg Malone To Pittsburgh Penguins

1985 3rd round pick October 15, 1983 To Los Angeles Kings

Marc Chorney To Pittsburgh Penguins

1985 6th round pick October 23, 1983 To Philadelphia Flyers

Rich Sutter1984 2nd round pick1984 3rd round pick To Pittsburgh Penguins

Andy BrickleyRon FlockhartMark Taylor1984 1st round pick1984 3rd round pick October 24, 1983 To Detroit Red Wings

Andre St. Laurent To Pittsburgh Penguins

future considerations December 5, 1983 To Edmonton Oilers

Kevin McClelland1984 6th round pick To Pittsburgh Penguins

Tom Roulston December 6, 1983 To Chicago Blackhawks

Randy Boyd To Pittsburgh Penguins

Greg Fox January 26, 1984 To Vancouver Canucks

1984 3rd round pick To Pittsburgh Penguins

Kevin McCarthy March 5, 1984 To Winnipeg Jets

Randy Carlyle To Pittsburgh Penguins

1984 1st round pickfuture considerations (Moe Mantha)

Additions and subtractions