Ranking the Best All-Stars in Pittsburgh Penguins History

The Pittsburgh Penguins have boasted some of the National Hockey League’s most prominent names in their 48-year history, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Pens have been well represented in the league’s annual All-Star Game.

This season, the Penguins were hoping to send three players to Columbus, Ohio, for the 60th NHL All-Star Game; however, forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will miss the event due to injury. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, a replacement, will be the only member in attendance representing the black and gold. 

In honor of the upcoming All-Star Game, let’s take a look at five of the Penguins’ most outstanding All-Stars to have ever set foot in the Golden Triangle.

5. Ron Francis (1995-1996)

Denis Brodeur/Getty Images

Francis (10)

In 23 seasons, eight of which were spent with the Penguins, center Ron Francis had one of the most storied NHL careers of all time. In those eight campaigns, the current Carolina Hurricanes general manager won two Stanley Cups, a Selke Trophy and the now-defunct NHL Plus/Minus Award.

Francis was selected to four All-Star Games in his career, but he only represented the Penguins once back in 1996. That year, Francis tallied 119 points (27 goals, 92 assists) in 77 games, which, statistically speaking, was his most outstanding NHL season ever.

Francis retired following the 2003-04 season after a one-year stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. The ex-Penguin, Leaf, Hartford Whaler/Carolina Hurricane would finish his career having played in over 1,700 games and scoring just under 1,800 points.

4. Sidney Crosby (2006-2007)

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has now been selected to five All-Star Games at only 27 years of age. However, despite his overwhelming success in the league, Crosby has only been able to play in one single All-Star Game (2007) after missing the others (’08, ’09, ’11 and now '15) due to injury.

Of those four years, 2007 seems to stand out the most for Crosby, but then again, every year stands out for this guy. However, since we're looking at All-Star years, in just his second NHL season, Sid tallied 120 points (36 goals, 84 assists).

It would have been exciting to see The Kid back in an All-Star Game working alongside some of the top-tier players in the world after we missed him the past three times, but unfortunately, we'll have to wait one more year. 

3. Paul Coffey (1988-1989)

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Only second to Ray Bourque on the all-time list for points, assists and goals among defensemen, Paul Coffey is one of the top blueliners to ever play professional hockey.

The three-time Norris Trophy winner was a 14-time All-Star from 1982-1997 with the Penguins, Whalers, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers. As a member of the Penguins from 1987-1992, the now-52-year-old was an All-Star in each of those five seasons.

In the 1988-89 season, his second with the Pens, Coffey was a force to be reckoned with. He tallied 195 penalty minutes and 113 points, 30 of which were goals. Coffey was so talented in his heyday that he is arguably the best defenseman who has ever laced up a pair of skates for each of the storied franchises he played for.

2. Jaromir Jagr (1995-1996)

Ted Mathias/Associated Press

When Jaromir Jagr retires (whenever that may be), he will forever be remembered as a Penguin, despite the controversial way he left the organization. Winning two Stanley Cups, five Art Ross Trophies and a Hart Memorial Trophy as a Penguin are just a few reasons fans can't stay mad at him forever. 

As a nine-time All-Star with the Penguins and 12-time All-Star in his career, there are quite a few extraordinary seasons that we can look at, but the 1995-96 season really stands outs. Jagr had 149 points (62 goals, 87 assists) that year. That's right: 149 points. Insane.

While there may still be some bad blood between the Steel City and the native Czech, you can’t look past what he did for this team.

1. Mario Lemieux (1988-89)

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Mario Lemieux is not only the face of the Penguins but arguably the face of the NHL alongside Wayne Gretzky. Lemieux, the current co-owner/chairman of the organization, spent 17 seasons in the NHL, all with the Pens.

Lemieux was elected to 10 All-Star Games, and it’s safe to say the 1988-89 season was his greatest effort after scoring a whopping 199 points and 85 goals during that campaign. 

Lemieux is one of the top two hockey players to ever play the sport, so there is no reason why he shouldn’t have earned the top spot on this list. Off the ice, he’s an all-star as well. By setting up the Mario Lemieux Foundation, an organization to help raise funds for cancer research, he truly is one of the greatest names in sports history.