The Penguins announced today that former Stanley Cup defenseman Paul Coffey will be inducted in to the team's Hall of Fame. Coffey spent five seasons with the Pens from 1987-1992 contributing 108 goals and 332 assists. Coffey joins Mario Lemieux, Rick Kehoe, Jean Pronovost, Syl Apps, Dave Burrows, Joe Mullen, Les Binkley and Ulf Samuelsson. and members of the team's HOF.
Here is an exerpt of the official press release from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
PENGUINS TO INDUCT PAUL COFFEY
INTO TEAM’S HALL OF FAME
Defenseman Paul Coffey, whose blazing speed, breathtaking skill and winning attitude helped transform the Penguins of the early 1990s into Stanley Cup champions, will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 15 at Mellon Arena, before a game against the New York Islanders.
Coffey, who played here from 1987-92, is the only defenseman in Penguins history to rank in the club’s all-time top 10 in points and assists. He averaged well over a point a game during his Penguins career, racking up 108 goals and 332 assists for 440 points in 331 games. He also added 26 points in 22 playoff games.
Coffey is also the only defenseman in Penguins history to score more than 100 points in a season – and, in fact, he did it twice. He had 30 goals and 113 points in 1988-89 and 29 goals and 103 points in 1989-90. He followed up with 24 goals and 93 points in 1990-91, when the Penguins went on to win the first of two Stanley Cups.
Coffey currently owns and is active in a Toyota /Nissan car dealership. He lives in the Toronto area with his wife, Stephanie and their children, Savannah, Blake and Christian.
In other news, former Penguin and gambling ring mogul Rick Tocchet will be reinstated in February of 2008. Tocchet had been suspended in February 2006 for his participation and guilty pleas relating to illegal sports gambling, conspiracy of gambling and promoting illegal gambling. League commissioner Gary Bettman has said Tocchet is eligible for reinstatement as long as he adheres to a personal list of no-nos (my words, not Bettman's). This list includes Tocchet's inability to gamble (legally or illegally), admittance in to a substance abuse program to see if Tocchet has a gambling addiction and, in Bettman's words, "May not engage in any conduct which may reflect adversely on NHL hockey, the League or any club, or on any League or club personnel".
On that note, here is Rick Tocchet showing us how to make pasta.
