Penguins Announce Hall of Fame Class Featuring Bowman, Francis, Stevens, Johnston

The Pittsburgh Penguins have inducted Scotty Bowman and Ron Francis into their Hall of Fame class of 2025, recognizing their critical roles in the team's early 1990s Stanley Cup victories. Bowman, the NHL's all-time winningest coach with nine Stanley Cups, was noted for his strategic mastery, defensive emphasis, and ability to blend veteran leadership with emerging talent such as Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, shaping the Penguins into a dominant force. Francis, the franchise's all-time leading scorer during his eight seasons with Pittsburgh, contributed significantly alongside Bowman and was part of the veteran core that helped secure two consecutive championships in 1991 and 1992. The induction ceremony also honors forward Kevin Stevens and former coach/general manager Eddie Johnston, both instrumental in transforming the Penguins into an NHL marquee team. Additionally, the Penguins made several offseason acquisitions in preparation for the 2025-26 season, adding forwards, defensemen, and a goalie to support their veteran stars like Crosby and Malkin in an effort to return to playoff contention. These moves indicate the franchise's ongoing strategy to build around their core and reestablish competitiveness in the league.