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When looking back through Pittsburgh Penguins’ history, there are so many moments that ended up changing the course of the franchise and of NHL history. 

Such was the case 26 years ago on Sept. 1, 1999.

Leading up to that fateful day, the Penguins were in a bad spot financially. They were more than $90 million in debt and had just filed for bankruptcy in November of 1998. It was looking more and more like the Penguins would need to be relocated outside of Pittsburgh.

Then, the man who had previously been a franchise icon on the ice stepped up to become the team’s hero off of it, too. 

Earlier in 1999, Mario Lemieux had already started a process to purchase the Penguins from then-owners Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg. At the time, the team owed Lemieux $32.5 million in deferred salary during what was his first retirement, which began in 1997 after a long battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

The plan? Lemieux took $20 million of that deferred salary to invest into an ownership stake in the team, as his ultimate goal was to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh under a new ownership group that included him in the mix. He took $5 million more out of that toward operating expenses, and he completely deferred the remaining $7.5 million altogether. 

The result? Lemieux got billionaire investor Ron Burkle in on the purchase as well, and he and Burkle bought the team from Baldwin and Belzberg for $107 million. The team’s debts were paid off by 2005, and Lemieux and Burkle officially saved the Penguins from relocation and kept the already-storied franchise in Pittsburgh.

Fenway, Lemieux Or Hoffmann, Penguins Are In Good ShapeOne of the most intriguing - and unexpected - NHL stories of the summer has been coming out of Pittsburgh.

Sept. 1, 1999 holds such a significant place in Pittsburgh’s history for a lot of reasons. For one, it was one of the closest times the team ever came to relocation - the issue re-emerged in 2007 when the team faced liquidation and, allegedly, got pretty close to moving to Kansas City - and Lemieux and company saved the team from the eventuality of that fate.

It also cemented the indelible tether between Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Of course, Lemieux since sold the Penguins to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in December of 2021, and - despite rumored interest in re-purchasing the team from FSG - is now only a minority shareholder in the organization.

But his legacy is still all over it. 

Prior to owning the team, Lemieux - drafted first overall by the Penguins in 1984 - led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 and was the face of the franchise, even beyond his first retirement. Health setbacks caused him to miss significant time, and he did make a brief NHL comeback that stretched from December 2000 to January 2006 - and he got to pass the torch and play alongside new franchise icon Sidney Crosby for a brief time before hanging up his skates for good.

Is This The Right Time For Lemieux To Buy Back Penguins?There is one name that will forever be synonymous with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He saved the franchise on multiple occasions. He’s one of the greatest players in NHL history. And he mentored and helped shape one of his fellow greatest players in NHL history in Sidney Crosby. 

Throughout his all-too-short playing career, Lemieux amassed 690 goals and 1,723 points in 915 NHL games. His on-ice performance would have been enough to cement his place as both the greatest Penguin of all time and one of the greatest - arguably, the greatest - NHL players of all time. 

But the fact that his love for Pittsburgh and the Penguins didn’t stop at his playing days speaks to how much inevitability is associated with Lemieux and the franchise. He singlehandedly took the mantle to save the team in 1999, and he did it with a little more help again in 2007. He won three more Stanley Cups as an owner in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He became a mentor, a friend, and - for a little while - a landlord to Crosby, who has followed in Lemieux’s footsteps by sticking it out with the Penguins through some tough times. 

In fact, Lemieux’s decision to purchase the Penguins in 1999 changed the entire culture of the franchise. It prioritized a winning culture and gave other all-time great players in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang the example and the motivation to remain loyal to the team that drafted them. 

That culture was even special enough to set the stage for an eventual reunion between Jaromir Jagr - another Penguins’ and NHL all-time great - and the Penguins despite a tumultuous end to Jagr’s time in Pittsburgh as a player. 

With the 1999 purchase, Lemieux not only made the Pittsburgh Penguins his personal business. He also created a culture of family, and that is something that has gone hand-in-hand with the organization and its players, coaches, and staff ever since. 

No matter what happens in the Penguins’ future - and whether his name is listed as an owner in any capacity or not - Mario Lemieux left his mark on the Penguins’ franchise and will be forever remembered and revered for his hand in making Pittsburgh a hockey town for good.

And that doesn’t figure to change anytime soon.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins made some changes to their defense during the offseason, specifically on the left side. They let Matt Grzelcyk and P.O. Joseph go after their one-year contracts expired on July 1 and brought in Parker Wotherspoon on a two-year contract, Caleb Jones on a two-year contract, and Alexander Alexeyev on a one-year contract. 

Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas identified the left side of the defense as a primary concern heading into the offseason, and he began to address it, at least in part, with these signings. Wotherspoon will definitely play after having a solid season with the Boston Bruins last year, while Jones and Alexeyev will compete for spots on the left side with Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, Owen Pickering, etc. Fans have to remember that there won't be a quick fix with the blue line, and it'll likely take multiple offseasons for Dubas to assemble the defensive group he wants. 

As for Alexeyev, he comes over from the Washington Capitals after spending the last several years with the organization. He was the 31st overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and spent time in both the AHL and NHL before the Capitals moved on from him after the season. 

He played in eight NHL regular-season games last season, compiling no goals or points, but did have some decent underlying numbers. He played a little over 123 minutes at 5v5, and when he was on the ice, the Capitals had 58% of the expected goals, 54.5% of the scoring chances, and 55.5% of the high-danger chances. Nobody knows if those numbers would hold over a full season, but they're at least intriguing. 

Alexeyev also played in all 10 of the Capitals' playoff games this past season since their blue line was a bit banged up, and he produced some mixed results. His expected goals percentage was 54% and his high-danger chance percentage was at 58%, while his scoring chance percentage was at 47.8%.

In 2023-24, he played in 39 games for the Caps, logging just over 509 minutes of 5v5 ice-time. His expected goal percentage was 49.7%, while his scoring chance percentage and high-danger percentage were at 51.2% and 51.5% respectively. The latter two numbers aren't bad, but certainly not as good as this year's numbers in his eight-game regular-season sample. 

He has played in 80 NHL games, scoring one goal and accumulating eight points, and has also appeared in 145 AHL games, tallying six goals and 52 points. He made his debut with the AHL's Hershey Bears during the 2019-20 season and compiled three goals and 21 points in 58 games. 

Alexeyev has size (6'4), which Dubas and Co. have been wanting to add to their lineup for this year. The Penguins got pushed around in front of their net quite a lot last season and want that to change for the 2025-26 season. Alexeyev can skate fairly well for someone who is 6'4 and 229 pounds, but could stand to be more physical along the boards. He also has offensive capabilities, but needs to utilize them more effectively. 

He hasn't been given a lot of runway to show what he can do at the NHL level, but that could change, especially if he can beat out the competition for a full-time spot. He's also heading into a contract year and will be a restricted free agent next year, so he'll want to show out as much as he can. 

On This Day In Penguins' History: Lemieux's Purchase Of Penguins ApprovedWhen looking back through Pittsburgh Penguins’ history, there are so many moments that ended up changing the course of the franchise and of NHL history. 

If he can't, it's no scratch off the Penguins' backs since they only signed him for one year, and he is set to make only $775,000 at the NHL level. He'd also provide solid depth at the AHL level if he doesn't make the NHL team, as Dubas and his staff aim to continue building the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the future. 

 However, with training camp coming towards the end of the month, Alexeyev's main focus will be making the squad and helping the Penguins improve. This is a Penguins team that wants to be a lot better in their own zone this year, having conceded too many scoring chances and goals last season. It was one of several reasons why they missed the playoffs for a third-straight year. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick). 

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The Athletic ranked all 32 NHL prospect pipelines, placing the New Jersey Devils 12th overall.

The Devils trailed behind: 11. Detroit Red Wings 10. Nashville Predators 9. New York Islanders 8. Columbus Blue Jackets 7. Philadelphia Flyers 6. Seattle Kraken 5. Montreal Canadiens 4. Anaheim Ducks 3. Utah Mammoth 2. Chicago Blackhawks 1. San Jose Sharks. 

Despite that, the Devils boast a strong group of prospects, several of whom are expected to make an impact this season.

First up is Anton Silayev, the defenseman selected 10th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He spent last season in the KHL with Torpedo, recording 12 points in 63 games.

Next is Arseniy Gritsyuk, one of the most anticipated players in training camp. After several years in the KHL, the 2019 fifth-round pick (129th overall) has come to North America and is ready to push for an NHL role. The forward is expected to be a valuable addition to the Devils.

Lenni Hämeenaho, a 20-year-old forward, is another name to watch. Drafted 58th overall in 2023, he has spent most of his career in Finland. While he will appear at training camp, the Devils are unlikely to rush him, preferring to give him more time to develop if needed.

On defense, Seamus Casey split last season between New Jersey and Utica. He logged 14 NHL games and 20 with the AHL’s Comets, and now looks to secure a more permanent spot with the team.

From Boston University come two additional prospects: Shane Lachance and Mikhail Yegorov.

Lachance, a forward, posted 30 points with the BU Terriers last season. Originally a sixth-round pick of Edmonton in 2021, he was acquired by New Jersey in a March 5, 2025, trade. He’ll aim to crack the roster alongside his college teammate.

Yegorov, a goaltender, made an immediate impact in the NCAA last season. While he’s unlikely to see NHL minutes this year, the tall netminder projects as an important part of the Devils’ future.

With a talented prospect pool in place, Devils fans should be optimistic about what lies ahead.

The St. Louis Blues had a successful 2024-25 season, as they got back into the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Dylan Holloway was a significant reason for the Blues' turnaround, as he broke out in a major way during his first season in St. Louis. 

Holloway proved that he is capable of being an impactful top-six forward in the NHL, as he posted new career highs with 26 goals, 37 assists, 63 points, 165 hits, and a plus-21 rating in 77 games. This was after he recorded nine goals and 18 points in 89 games during his two NHL season with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Clearly, the change of scenery benefited Holloway immensely. Yet, when noting that Holloway is still just 23 years old and only 166 games into his NHL career, he undoubtedly has the potential to continue to get better. In fact, with the way he scored this year, the possibility of him blossoming into a 40-goal scorer should not be ruled out. This will especially be the case if he gets the chance to play on a line with star playmaker Robert Thomas. 

If Holloway can hit a new level with his goal scoring next season while continuing to make an impact with his physicality, it would only make the Blues an even more challenging team for opponents to face off against. It will be interesting to see what kind of year Holloway has, but he should only get better as he continues to gain more experience. 

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We may never see another player quite like former Detroit Red Wings dynamic forward Pavel Datsyuk, a 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee who also recently bid goodbye to competitive hockey by hosting the “The Magic Game” in his hometown of Yekaterinburg.

The name of the event was a clear nod to the nickname affectionately given to him by Red Wings fans, the “Magic Man,” and it featured numerous past and present Russian NHL players. It concluded with a special lap by Datsyuk around the ice, waving goodbye during a roaring ovation from the crowd in attendance at UMMC Arena

FAREWELL MAGIC MAN 🙌
A final lap for Pavel Datsyuk. #TheMagicGame#LGRWpic.twitter.com/TFMdN2TERz

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 30, 2025

Last month, the Red Wings announced that Hall of Famer and former teammate Sergei Fedorov will be honored with his iconic No. 91 jersey being raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena before a January game in the upcoming 2025–26 season. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Datsyuk was asked whether he thought that his No. 13 he wore for his entire career in Detroit could be next on the list to be permanently retired, and in his typical fashion, he responded with humor. 

"I think there aren’t many players in North America who want to take number 13 anyway," he said. "After all, they don’t even count the 13th floor in buildings there." 

Datsyuk’s career was defined by his dazzling stickhandling, which often left opponents looking completely outmatched.

During his time with the Red Wings, he won the Stanley Cup twice and helped lead the team to within one game of a second consecutive championship in 2009.

He also captured the Selke Trophy multiple times as the NHL’s best defensive forward and was a Hart Trophy finalist as the league’s Most Valuable Player during the 2008–09 season.

Despite his long list of accomplishments, Datsyuk admitted shortly after the announcement of Fedorov’s impending jersey retirement that he didn't think much about his own potential jersey retirement, and that he wouldn’t be bothered if another player eventually wore No. 13 for the Red Wings. 

“I’ve never really thought about it. Sometimes people ask me… Sometimes the thought crosses my mind, but nothing concrete," he said in early August. "If I went to every game and looked up at the rafters, that would be different. But what if someone takes number 13 now and plays really well? Then they’ll remember me even more often. So I’d be happy if someone played well wearing 13 in Detroit.”

It wouldn't be a surprise if Datsyuk makes an appearance at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 12 for Fedorov’s jersey retirement ceremony, which will likely feature several of his former teammates who now work within the organization, including Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper, and Kirk Maltby. 

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Five years ago today, the Vancouver Canucks started goaltender Thatcher Demko in his first career playoff game — an elimination game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Demko came in for an injured Jacob Markström who had started every game in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs up until that point. By this point in time, Vancouver was down 3–1 in the series, with Demko’s playoff debut being a high-stakes elimination game. Reasonably so, many were apprehensive about starting Demko, a relatively new goalie, with the series on the line. Though, as fans soon learned, there was very little to worry about. 

Before Markström’s injury, the Golden Knights had asserted their dominance over a Canucks team that hadn’t made the postseason since 2015. They kicked the series off with a commanding 5–0 win. While Vancouver took Game 2 in a solid 5–2 effort, Vegas quickly came away with the series lead by winning 3–0 in Game 3, and 5–3 in Game 4. Golden Knights goaltender at the time, Robin Lehner, showed his stuff by registering two shutouts in the first four games of the series. However, as great as Lehner was, part of this was also due to Vancouver’s lack of quality chances. 

With their playoff hopes on the line, Vancouver’s roster shakeup in Game 5 came in the form of Demko’s start. Prior to this, Demko had only played in a total of 37 NHL games. During the 2019–20 season, he put up a 3.06 GAA and .905 SV%, as well as a record of 13–10–2 in 25 starts. In 2017–18, Demko played in five playoff games with the Utica Comets of the AHL, posting a 2.69 GAA and .972 SV%. Tension was high among the fanbase, as they weren’t exactly sure what to expect from the goaltender in his playoff debut. 

Vegas was a high shot-volume team during the 2020 Playoffs — a trend they continued during Game 5 of the Pacific Division Finals — but that didn’t stop Demko from wowing fans across the entire league. The Golden Knights piled 10 shots on Demko in the first period, 18 in the second, and 15 in the third to finish the game with 43 shots on goal. Stunningly, Demko stopped all but one. 

The lone goal to go past Demko was a wrist shot from Shea Theodore that gave Vegas a 1–0 lead with five minutes left in the second period. Though, not looking to waste such a stellar performance from Demko, the Canucks tied it up less than a minute later off a deflection from Brock Boeser. A tally from Elias Pettersson at the beginning of the third period gave Vancouver the 2–1 lead — one that would hold once the buzzer sounded at the end of the game. 

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Four years after this performance, Demko was nominated for his first Vezina Trophy and finished in second place with a 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% in the 2023–24 season. While injuries have negatively impacted his playing time within the past year, Demko entered the 2025 off-season healthy, signing a three-year contract extension that will kick in after the 2025–26 season. With at least four more years of Demko as a member of the Canucks, time will tell whether Vancouver can make the postseason in a similar fashion to 2020 — this time with Demko as their starter. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.