This is one of my favorite projects I’ve done here on Fifth Avenue. Back when I was a writer for The Foreword, I did an article about seven one-game wonders in Pittsburgh sports history. In that list, there were two NHLers who played a single game for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Recently, because I’m a narcissist, I went back and I re-read that article, which prompted me to wonder if I could fill an entire roster of Pittsburgh Penguins who played just a single game for the team.

Dozens of Google Chrome tabs later, here we are. I have assembled the ultimate one-game wonder for the Penguins.

I actually got rather lucky in this project: the Penguins had just enough in both forwards and defensemen to complete a lineup. Our only surplus was in net, where I had to make some difficult decisions.

But, without further ado, I’ll introduce you to the roster, and then I will try my best to form actual lines and defensive pairs.

The Forwards:

Tim Brent, January 21st, 2008

A former second round pick by the Anaheim Ducks, Brent was acquired by the Penguins in a trade that sent Stephen Dixon back the other way.

Brent, who had 15 NHL games under his belt at the time of his trade, spent the vast majority of the season with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, where he notched 61 points in 74 games for the WBS Penguins. He also was a huge factor in that team’s Calder Cup Final run, where he had 27 points in 23 games.

During a brief call up to the NHL, Brent got a taste of the Penguins-Capitals rivalry, with his one game coming in the old Mellon Arena against Washington.

Brent would go on to play in almost 200 more contests in the NHL over his career, largely with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes.

Greg Crozier, December 6th, 2000

One of the few players on this team who only played a single NHL game, Greg Crozier had several memorable moments early on in his career. Playing for the University of Michigan in college, he was on two National Championship winning teams in 1996 and 1998.

Then, shortly after turning pro, Crozier scored the first ever goal for the WBS Penguins, and also guided the team to a Calder Cup championship in 2001.

Though he would never make it back to the NHL after his single game for Pittsburgh, he did play in over 300 AHL games over his career, suiting up for four more AHL teams after his time with the Penguins organization was over.

Josh Currie, March 2nd, 2021

An undrafted player, Josh Currie first got his start in pro hockey in the ECHL. After years of bouncing around both the ECHL and AHL, the Edmonton Oilers extended him a deal to play within their organization.

Finally, in the 2018-19 season, he earned call up, where he played 21 games for the Oilers, recording 5 points.

In the 2020 offseason, Currie signed a one year deal with the Penguins. He spent some time in the AHL, and some time on the team’s practice squad (a group of players ready to step in primarily Covid-related absences).

His one and only came in a chapter of the battle of Pennsylvania, where the Penguins beat the Flyers 5-2.

Nick Drazenovic, January 15th, 2014

Nick Drazenovic’s final NHL game came with the Penguins during the 2013-14 season. A veteran of five professional seasons by the time he made his way to Pittsburgh, Drazenovic had 11 NHL games in all when he signed with the team.

Though he spent the vast majority of the season in the AHL with the WBS Penguins, he did earn a call up when the Penguins were in a pinch.

Drazenovic, much like several of the earlier names on this list, made his debut in a rivalry game, against Washington.

He started out a little rough, getting called for a tripping penalty in the first period, but he settled in after that.

Drazenovic would play two more years in the AHL before calling it a career.