The Pittsburgh Penguins joined the NHL in 1967 and have finished atop and at the bottom of their respective divisions several times over in 57 seasons. However, there’s a catch regarding those last-place finishes.
Never in their history has the Penguins finished 7th or 8th in their division. The last time the franchise was last was Sidney Crosby’s first season in 2005-06 when they ranked 6th in the Atlantic Division, the final season of a four-year run at the bottom of the standings.
Historically, Pittsburgh’s last time finishing lower than 5th, their position in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006, was back in 1988, the fourth time that decade they were last in the division (six teams) after 1983, 1984, and 1985.
Therefore, the 2024-25 Penguins are on a collision course with history, a place they have never been, and a potentially 7th or 8th-place finish within the division.
Since the NHL realigned the divisions to their current format in 2013-14, here’s a breakdown of the club’s finishes:
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First (2)
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Second (3)
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Third (3)
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Fourth (1)
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Fifth (2)
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Sixth
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Seventh
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Eighth
The Penguins have 22 games left to avoid a 7th or 8th-place finish, but the odds are against them now. After their Tuesday night contest against the Philadelphia Flyers, they became only the second time in the NHL to play their 60th game after the Seattle Kraken.
On Wednesday morning, the Penguins (55) are two points behind the New York Islanders (57), but their rivals have three games in hand (possibly six points). Next are the Flyers, who, after 59 games, have 59 points. Interestingly, the Islanders and Flyers have .500 records, while the Penguins are five games under at 23-28-9.
Meanwhile, the franchise records for lowest point totals over 82 games are 58 (2005-06), 65 (2002-03), and 69 (2001-02).
Ultimately, there are 20 games to avoid history, whether divisional finishes or point totals.
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