The Pittsburgh Penguins’ organizational history features a plethora of great players, and we’ve decided to take a look back at the best Penguins players to have worn each jersey number. Today, we continue the list by naming the greatest number 19 in Penguins history.
Although 22 total players in Penguins history have worn the number 19 (and several talented players), there is really only one answer to this question.
He was the Penguins’ best and most consistent player during the 1970s, and his name was Jean Pronovost.
Pronovost signed with the Penguins undrafted in 1968 and remained with the team until 1978. During that time, he had some special seasons and was one of the league’s leading scorers.
About your 10 seasons with the teamThere was only one occasion – his rookie season – when he didn’t record at least 20 goals. He reached 30 goals six times, 40 goals or more three times and 50 goals or more once with the Penguins, and it was only in his first and final NHL seasons that he didn’t reach 20 goals or more.
In fact, Pronovost was the first player in Penguins history to score 50 goals in a season, when he recorded 52 goals and 104 points in 1975-76 as part of the famous “Century Line” with Syl Apps, Jr. and Lowell MacDonald.
After his time on The Century Line (and during his final two seasons in a Penguins uniform), he often shared the ice with Pierre Larouche. They also put up some good numbers together and produced some memorable moments, such as this goal in the 1977 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs:
#Travelwithclips
1977 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Preliminary Round. Game 2. Best of 3. Pittsburgh (0) @ Toronto (1).First half action: 4v4. This gives Pierre Larouche and Jean Pronovost a bit more space. Two players who don’t need it. image.twitter.com/xFGIaQfTSS
– The hockey samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) December 18, 2022
Pronovost also scored his 50th goal in 1976 on the same day Larouche became the first Penguins player to record 100 points:
On this day in 1976, Jean Pronovost became the first Penguins player to score 50 goals in a season and Pierre Larouche became the first Penguin to record 100 points in a season. photo.twitter.com/yCWw5SecW6
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 24, 2023
Pronovost played four more seasons in the NHL after leaving the Penguins in 1978: two with the Atlanta Flames and two with the Washington Capitals. He recorded three more 20-goal seasons and finished his 14-year NHL career with 391 goals and 774 points in 998 games.
Related: The best Penguins according to their jersey number: #18
Related: The best Penguins according to their jersey number: #17