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.

Malone misses Whalers tilt - why?

The Penguins current opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes, used to be the Hartford Whalers, who came into the league in 1979 as one of the four World Hockey Association clubs that joined the NHL as part of a merger of the two circuits that year. The Penguins tied the Whalers the first time the teams met on Oct. 13, 1979, and dropped a 7-5 decision the next time 'round in the Insurance City on Nov. 30.

Perhaps they lost that game because they were missing one of their better scorers, Greg Malone. Why was he absent? Not for any of the usual reasons a player is kept out, like an injury or a benching. No, Malone missed the game because the day before, his wife gave birth to Ryan Gregory, as mentioned in this summary of Penguins-goings-on from the Dec. 3, 1979 Post-Gazette. Who knew back then that the new arrival would go on to wear his father's number 12 for the Penguins years later?