The organizational history of the Pittsburgh Penguins has a plethora of great players, and we decided to examine the best Penguins players to wear each jersey number. Today, we’re starting at the beginning with number 1.
There are 22 players in team history who have worn No. 1, the majority of them being goaltenders – including players like Brent Johnson and his father, Bob, Wendell Young, Peteris Skudra, Casey DeSmith and former Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.
But this one goes out to “The Moose,” former Penguins goalie Johan Hedberg.
Hedberg played for the Penguins for three seasons from 2001-03. During this time, he posted a 0.901 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.82 goals-against average (GAA). As a rookie, he took the reins at the starting position and set up the net for the Penguins on their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. He posted a .911 SV% and 2.30 GAA in the playoffs that seasonhis only postseason appearance in a Penguins uniform.
He also made many memorable saves after leaving Pittsburgh. But during one of his last stops in Pittsburgh in 2010, he had a memorable changeup against the Penguins, including a big save on Evgeni Malkin:
Hedberg was traded to the Penguins while playing for the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose on March 12, 2001. He did not have time to have another helmet made for himself before making his Penguins debut four days later, and earned the nickname “The Moose” after wearing his iconic Manitoba Moose helmet, which was blue with large moose antlers. Penguin fans in what was then Arena Mellon were often heard singing “Moooooose!” after a great defense.
© Doug Pensanger – ALLSPORT
And never should be forgotten the “Moose Sundae” served at Kings, a Pittsburgh-based restaurant chain, during his tenure there:
Hedberg played 12 NHL seasons from 2000 to 2013 between the Penguins, the Vancouver Canucks, the Dallas Stars, the Atlanta Thrashers and the New Jersey Devils. He finished his career with 161 NHL wins, a .282 GAA and a .902 SV%.
Related: 5 Undesirable Penguins Single-Season Goalkeeping Records
