Not Just Another Hockey Blog

  Graphic: Genevive Oliver There have been great players for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and then there has been Mario Lemieux. From the impossible reach of his stick to his effortless, balletic stride, 'Le Magnifique' wasn't just a force of nature—he was a work of art on ice. His time in Pittsburgh wasn't just about piling up goals and assists; it was an incredible journey of dizzying highs, a battle with a life-threatening illness, and then, a truly triumphant comeback that carved his place as an eternal Penguins legend. His story is one of unrivaled greatness on the ice and a fierce, unwavering loyalty to the city that loved him. The Arrival of Le Magnifique: The Savior of a City The hype around Mario Lemieux started almost before he even got here. In the mid-1980s, the Pittsburgh Penguins were a punchline—a franchise teetering on the brink of irrelevance. Their arena was a ghost town, their roster a collection of misfits. Then, on a fateful day in 1984, the draft lotte...