It’s early August, which means the days are long and hot. Hockey fans will have little to do until September, when teams begin preparations for training camp.
With that in mind, most fans are desperately looking for ways to get their hockey fix. Realistically, YouTube and social media can only do so much, so some will find time to read while enjoying the weather.
Considering how successful the Pittsburgh Penguins being a franchise for 50 years, there is a lot of content published about the five-time Stanley Cup champions.
A quick search on Good readsthe most popular book tracking site on the Internet reveals 323 items in “Pittsburgh Penguins.”
Of course, if you scroll through the 17 pages of results, you’ll see a variety of media, including magazines and books.
To separate the best from the rest, here are the four best Penguin-based books with at least 39 reviews.
If These Walls Could Talk: Pittsburgh Penguins: Stories from the Ice, Locker Room and Press Box of the Pittsburgh Penguins
(4.19 stars)
Former Penguins defenseman Phil Bourque has a unique perspective on the team’s history. Whether wearing a black and gold jersey and hoisting the Stanley Cup in the early 1990s or covering the team as a broadcaster, Bourque has been a part of the organization for more than three decades.
Along with Josh Yohe, the two head to the locker room to give the public an idea of what it’s like to be part of an NHL team.
Published in 2019 and with 256 pages, this book has a story for every fan. Whether it’s Marc-André Fleury’s pranks, Mario Lemieux’s Stanley Cup parties, or life on the road, this would be a must-read for all fans.
Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rebirth
(4.14 stars)
Fans know that the Penguins almost moved several times and were rescued from bankruptcy by their former star. Pittsburgh’s NHL history is unique and no other professional sports organization has ever experienced it.
Author Andrew Conte takes fans and onlookers behind the scenes to show how the Penguins went from playing in the worn-out Mellon Arena to the state-of-the-art PPG Paints Arena while winning five Stanley Cup champions despite the financial odds stacked against them.
Fans who follow the franchise will be familiar with its history, which has made headlines over the decades, and all of the key players, whether it’s Howard Baldwin, Lemieux or Sidney Crosby.
The book, published in 2011 and is 248 pages long, does not include the Penguins’ consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.
Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Penguin Stories Ever Told
(3.84 stars)
Until Bourque’s book was released in 2019, Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins Locker Room was the gold standard for behind-the-scenes stories about the organization.
Published in 2013, Joe Starkey hired famous broadcaster Mike Lange to write the attacker in his book that brings together some of the best stories in the team’s history.
While this publication doesn’t have a personal touch like Bourque’s, it was a trendsetter in terms of behind-the-scenes storytelling.
At 216 pages, there is plenty of room for more stories, which may leave the reader wanting more.
Sidney Crosby: The Inspiring Story of Hockey Star Sidney Crosby
(3.59 stars)
When a fan searches for books about the Penguins on Goodreads, one of the highest-rated books is a 66-page book about Crosby.
Now, anyone reading this list will tell you that there are much better books about Crosby, which we will cover in a future list, but if a casual fan looks for a book about Pittsburgh, they will find this particular title as one of the highest. rated books.
Like most biographies, this Bull Redban tale only scratches the surface of Crosby’s Hall of Fame-worthy career.
This would be an excellent induction if a fan wanted to relive the highlights of his career before 2014 and educate non-Penguins fans on how special Crosby is as a person and a hockey player.
As mentioned, we’re just ranking the best Penguin books based on research. So don’t shoot the messenger if your favorite book isn’t on the list.
