5 Worst Captains In Pittsburgh Penguins History

By seanmeyers

5 Worst Captains In Pittsburgh Penguins History

Martin Straka — The Pittsburgh Penguins have been blessed with some of the greatest players in NHL history. While some of those skaters, such as Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis and Sidney Crosby, wore the 'C' with pride, other players had less-memorable stints as captains. Here are the five worst captains in Pittsburgh Penguins history.

5. Steve McKenna

Steve McKenna

5. Steve McKenna

Steve McKenna — Steve McKenna wore the 'C' for only one game in 2004, for a Hockey Fights Cancer jersey auction. Although he wore the jersey for a great cause, McKenna was far from a great player. He scored 18 career goals, although half of those did come during his 2003-04 campaign with the Penguins. The Penguins lost McKenna’s only game as captain, suffering a crushing 8-0 defeat to Montreal.

4. Martin Straka

Martin Straka 2

4. Martin Straka

Martin Straka 2 — Martin Straka was a fine player in the NHL, and had some really good seasons in Pittsburgh. Despite this, his run as a captain in Pittsburgh is forgotten by even the most die-hard fans. Straka wore the 'C' for just 10 games during the 1999-2000 season when Jaromir Jagr was out with a thigh injury.

3. Earl Ingarfield

Penguins Ice Crew

3. Earl Ingarfield

Penguins Ice Crew — Earl Ingarfield had a long and successful career in the NHL, but his tenure in Pittsburgh was largely insignificant. He played 90 total games with the Penguins, including 40 in 1968-69, when he served as the second captain in team history. The center produced just 23 points that season, and was a minus-17.

2. Terry Ruskowski

Penguins Fans

2. Terry Ruskowski

Penguins Fans — When the Penguins traded Mike Bullard to Calgary during the 1986-87 season, they needed a replacement for the captaincy. Terry Ruskowski, an NHL journeyman, earned that distinction and wore the 'C' for the rest of the season. Despite a hot start to the campaign, the Penguins, under Ruskowski’s leadership, struggled mightily down the stretch, and missed the playoffs, despite 54 goals from Mario Lemieux.

1. Dan Frawley

Iceburgh

1. Dan Frawley

Iceburgh — Dan Frawley had a forgettable career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but at least he'll forever be linked with greatness. Frawley served as captain for about two months to begin the 1987-88 season, before being replaced in December by Mario Lemieux. Frawley was rarely heard from again, while his successor became one of the greatest players in NHL history.

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Pittsburgh Penguins

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