Pittsburgh Penguins History: Long shots for the Hall

A few Pittsburgh Penguins that are long shots to make the Hall of Fame.

With the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee poised to select and then announce the 2020 induction class on Jun. 24, 2020, we thought it would be fun to reflect on the time a few of the eligible players spent with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

These players may be long shots to get the nod to the hall, but anything is possible in the world of professional hockey and the Pittsburgh Penguins could always use more representation in the hockey Hall of Fame.

Stephane Richer

Richer scored 421 goals and 819 points in 1054 games over 17 seasons with Montreal, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. Richer also collected two Stanley Cups during his career, 1986 with Montreal and again in 1995 with New Jersey.

Richer signed with the Penguins on Oct. 2, 2001, and scored 13 goals and 25 points in 58 games.

Richer’s best game with the Penguins was in a 4-1 win on Dec. 6, 2001, vs. Boston, where Richer scored two goals and earned a secondary assist on Milan Kraft’s game-winning goal (GWG).

Richer’s time with the Penguins ended on Mar. 19, 2002, when he was traded to New Jersey for a draft pick.

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John Leclair

LeClair appeared in 967 games over the course of his 16-year career and scored 406 goals and 819 points with Montreal, Philidelphia, and Pittsburgh.

Leclair signed with the Penguins on Aug. 15, 2005, and played 94 games over two seasons and scored 24 goals and 58 points, prior to his release from the club on Dec. 14, 2006.

During his time Penguins, Leclair scored three points on four occasions and two points on eight occasions.

His best game with Pittsburgh was in an 8-1 victory over Washington on Jan. 25, 2006.

Leclair scored two goals and three points, and the game also included a short-handed goal scored by Ryan Malone on a penalty shot.

Bill Guerin

Guerin scored 429 goals and 856 points in 1263 games over 18 seasons with New Jersey, Edmonton, Dallas, Boston, New York (Islanders), Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Jose. Guerin also won two Stanley Cups, the first was with New Jersey in 1995 and the second was with Pittsburgh in 2009.

Guerin was traded to the Penguins on Mar 4. 2009 and scored 26 goals and 57 points in 95 games from 2008-2010.

Guerin’s best game with the Penguins occurred on Apr. 17, 2009 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals vs, Philidelphia.

Guerin scored two goals, including the GWG in overtime.

Gilles Meloche 

Meloche played 788 games over 18 years with Chicago, California, Cleveland, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh, and earned a record of 270-351-130 with 20 shutouts and a goals-against-average of 3.65.

Meloche was traded to the Penguins on Sept. 11, 1985, from Edmonton, and played 104 games with Pittsburgh from 1985-88 and earned a record of 34-43-17, with a goals-against-average of 3.66.

Meloche’s best game with the Penguins occurred on Feb. 8, 1987, in a 2-1 win over New Jersey, where Meloche made 28 saves on 29 shots.