I’m ripping off a feature on my roommate’s Pittsburgh Pirates blog, hyzduhq.blogspot.com. I do it in good faith, not because I particularly care for the Pirates, but that it is a damn good idea.

There are some great Penguins in the team’s history that I think have been forgotten throughout the years, especially in the pre-Mario era. There is a dividing line in Pittsburgh Penguins history, and that line is 1984 when the Penguins drafted Mario Lemieux. Unlike any time in the history of the franchise, the team had a face, a representative. It became Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and quite honestly, with a once in a lifetime talent like Lemieux, that’s the way it should’ve been and should be. His shadow looms large over the franchise’s entire 40 year history, like Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA.

There were two other French-Canadian phenoms that played for the Penguins previous to the Lemieux era and they were the late Michel Briere who died tragically in a car crash after his rookie season and the great Pierre Larouche.

Earning the nickname, “Lucky Pierre” playing for the Sorel Blackhawks in the QMJL, Pierre was drafted eighth overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1974.  Pierre was a flashy sort of player, unlike most of the blood and guts players the Penguins had on their squad at the time, as well as most of the NHL at the time.

Larouche had a sensational rookie campaign, netting 31 goals and a total of 68 points, and finishing second overall in votes for the Calder (Rookie of the year) Trophy. The Penguins made the playoffs and blew a 3-0 series lead against the Islanders, but Pierre became a local celebrity, and was primed and ready to take off.

Take off he did. The next season, 1975-76, Pierre scored 50 goals and until Wayne Gretzky broke the record, was the youngest player to join the 50 goals club. He netted a total of 111 points, becoming the first player in Penguins history to reach that plateau. His star rose in Pittsburgh, as local sports broadcaster Myron Cope held a “Win a date with Pierre,” contest. His outstanding play led the Penguins to third place in the Norris Division, finishing with 82 points behind the power house Montreal Canadiens, who finished with 127 points, and the L.A. Kings who finished with 85.  Those 82 points rewarded a playoff birth where the Penguins faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Preliminary round that featured best of three playoff series.

The Penguins were bounced, losing two games to one to Daryl Sittler and the Leafs. With Pierre, Apps, Kehoe, MacDonald, and Pronovost, the Penguins future seemed bright.

The next season, however, saw a drop in Lucky Pierre’s production. In 65 games, he scored 29 goals and 34 assists. The Penguins still made the playoffs, once again meeting the Toronto Maple Leafs in the preliminary round and losing the series 2 games to 1.

In 1977-78, Pierre started the season once again with lackluster production. In a move that was misguided, like most Penguins personnel moves at the time, the Penguins and new Pens GM Baz Bastien traded Larouche to the Montreal Canadiens for a washed up Pete Mahavolich and Peter Lee.

Pierre had a resurgance with the Canadiens, winning two Cups and playing on a line with Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt. After he was traded to the Hartford Whalers, and then the New York Rangers, the injury bug reared its ugly head and cut a promising career dreadfully short. By the time 1987 rolled around, Pierre was a borderline NHL player for the Rangers and by 1988, he had retired from pro hockey.

Today, Pierre can be found living in the South Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh and working for the organization as a sales coordinator.

Larouche will forever hold a place in Pittsburgh Penguins lore as its first true super star.