Behind the scenes at the 1984 draft

Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of the Penguins choosing Mario Lemieux first overall in the 1984 Entry Draft. This piece from the Pittsburgh Press appearing on draft day details the Penguins' escalating contract offer to the still-unsigned Lemieux.

It was painful for Pens fans to see their new saviour
not donning the skating Penguin at the 1984 draft.
How much more humiliation could we take?!?

Even better is this lengthy look into the intrigue that surrounded Pens GM Eddie Johnston in the days leading up to the draft. The writer goes behind the scenes into the Montreal hotel rooms and onto the draft day floor at the Forum and reminds us of some of the near-trades that almost took place before and after Johnston called Mario's name (and sat there waiting in vain for a visit from the future superstar). Believe it or not, the Pens came within an extra throw-in player of acquiring future Capitals nemesis Dale Hunter.

EJ and the Whalers

Another interesting link between the Hurricanes/Whalers and the Penguins is one of the most recognizable faces in Pens history - none other than Eddie Johnston. EJ served as Pittsburgh's GM from 1983 to 1988, and head coach twice, from 1980 to 1983 and later from 1993 to 1997.

Aside from his drafting of Mario Lemieux in 1984, the biggest move he made as a GM in relation to the Penguins was when he was sitting in the Whalers' GM chair in 1991. In March of that year he traded two of the big names in the Penguins Stanley Cup runs to the Steel City: Ron Francis and Ulf Sameulsson. This article from the March 6, 1991 Post-Gazette has reactions from the two key recent arrivals (and defenseman Grant Jennings, another Whaler who came over in the trade and who helped bolster the Pens blueline) and a few of their new teammates.