Mario LeMieux #66

Mario Lemieux was drafted first overall in the 1984 Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made his NHL debut that season and scored on his first shift against the Bruins. In his rookie season, Mario scored 100 points and won the Calder Trophy. In 1985-86, still a teenager on opening day, Mario scored an amazing 141 points as the Penguins improved 23 points in the standings and scored more goals than they allowed for only the fourth time in their 19-year history. At season's end, Mario was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award after he was voted by his peers as the best player in the league. After scoring 107 points in just 63 games in 1986-87, Mario stepped his game up in 1987-88 and scored a league best 70 goals and 168 points for his first Art Ross Trophy (scoring leader), his first Hart Trophy (MVP) and second Lester B. Pearson Award. At the mid-season All-Star Game that year, Mario scored three goals and added three assists.

In 1988-89, Mario posted his best offensive numbers by pacing the league with 85 goals, 114 assists, 199 points, 31 power play goals and 13 shorthanded goals (record). That year, he won his second straight Art Ross Trophy as the Penguins made the playoffs for the first time in seven years. On April 25, 1989, he scored five goals and three assists in a 10-7 victory over the Flyers; his four first-period goals tied a league record. After playing only 59 games (123 points) in 1989-90 and missing the playoffs, Mario played only 26 games (45 points) in 1990-91 and helped his team win its first ever regular season division (Patrick) title. In the playoffs that year, Mario scored 16 goals and 44 points as the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup title. For his efforts, Mario was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

In 1991-92, the Penguins slipped to third place in the Patrick Division, but Mario won his third Art Ross Trophy with 131 points in just 64 games. In the playoffs once again, Mario led the way with 16 goals and 34 points (just 15 games) for his second Conn Smythe Trophy and second Stanley Cup ring. In 1992-93, Mario had a stellar year as he scored 160 points in just 60 games to win his fourth Art Ross Trophy. He also won his third Pearson Award, second Hart Trophy and led the league with a +55 plus/minus rating. After the team won their first Presidents' Trophy at the end of the regular season, Mario scored 18 points in 11 playoff games as the Penguins made it as far as the second round of the playoffs for the third time in four years. After playing only 22 games in 1993-94, Mario took the 1994-95 season off to recover from back injuries.

In 1995-96, Mario returned to win his fifth scoring championship (161 points), fourth Pearson Award and third Hart Trophy as the Penguins won their fourth season divisional championship. That year, he tied a career high 31 power play goals and won his third goal-scoring crown with 69 goals. Mario played one final season in 1996-97 and won his sixth scoring championship with 122 points.

After three and a half years off the ice, Mario returned to the NHL on December 27, 2000 and recorded one goal and two assists in a 5-0 victory over the Maple Leafs. In his next game, Mario assisted on Jaromír Jágr's 1000th point and recorded his own 1,500th point. At week's end, Mario shared NHL Player of the Week honours with Jágr. On January 24, Mario scored his 40th NHL hat trick in a 3-1 victory over the Canadiens in his hometown, Montréal. At the end of January, Mario was named NHL Player of the Month. Mario then participated in his ninth midseason All-Star Game. Despite playing only 43 games that year, he scored 35 goals and 71 points and paced the team with 16 power play goals and a 20.5 shooting percentage.

Mario played his major junior hockey with Laval of the QMJHL and scored 96 points as a 15-year old in 1981-82. In 1982-83, Mario scored 184 points in just 66 season games and 32 points in 12 playoff games. In his final junior season, Mario paced the league with 133 goals (league record), 149 assists and 282 points for QMJHL First Team All-Star honours as well as QMJHL and CHL Most Valuable Player awards. In the playoffs that year, Mario scored a record (since broken) 29 goals in just 14 games.

Mario first won a bronze medal with Canada at the 1983 World Junior Championships. Two years later, he helped Canada's national team win a medal at the 1985 World Championships. Then, in a memorable 1987 Canada Cup tournament, Mario helped his country win gold as he paced the tournament with 11 goals.

On March 23, 2001, Mario was named to the 2002 Canadian Olympic team.

Mario's nickname is "Le Magnifique". His brother is former NHLer Alain Lemieux. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997. Mario made his return to the NHL in 2000 so that his son, Austin, could watch him play.