It’s now the beginning of August, which means the days are long and warm. Hockey fans will have little to do until September when teams begin preparations for training camp.
With that in mind, most fans are desperately seeking ways to get their hockey fix. Realistically, YouTube and social media can only do so much, so some will find time to read while enjoying the weather.
Considering how successful the Pittsburgh Penguins have been as a franchise for 50 years, there is quite a bit of published content on the five-time Stanley Cup champions.
A quick search on Goodreads, the internet’s most popular book tracking site, reveals 323 items under “Pittsburgh Penguins.”
Of course, if you scroll through the 17 pages of results, you’ll see a variety of media, including magazines and books.
To separate the best from the rest, here are the top four books based on the Penguins with at least 39 ratings.
If These Walls Could Talk: Pittsburgh Penguins: Stories from the Pittsburgh Penguins Ice, Locker Room, and Press Box
(4.19 stars)
Former Penguins defenseman Phil Bourque has a unique perspective on the team’s history. Whether wearing a black and gold jersey and hoisting the Stanley Cup in the early 1990s or covering the team as a broadcaster, Bourque has been a part of the organization for over three decades.
Along with Josh Yohe, the two go into the dressing room to give the public a glimpse of what it’s like to be part of an NHL team.
Published in 2019 and 256 pages long, this book has a story for every fan. Whether it’s Marc-Andre Fleury’s pranks, Mario Lemieux’s parties with the Stanley Cup, or life on the road, this would be a must-read for every fan.
Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rebirth
(4.14 stars)
Fans know that the Penguins have almost relocated several times and were bought out of bankruptcy by their former star player. Pittsburgh’s NHL history is unique, and no other professional sports organization has ever experienced it.
Author Andrew Conte takes fans and curious people behind the scenes to show how the Penguins went from playing at worn-down Mellon Arena to the state-of-the-art PPG Paints Arena while winning five Stanley Cup champions despite the financial odds against them.
Fans following the franchise will be familiar with its story, which has made headlines over the decades, and all the major players, whether Howard Baldwin, Lemieux, or Sidney Crosby.
The book, which was published in 2011 and is 248 pages long, does not include the Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.
Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Penguins Stories Ever Told
(3.84 stars)
Until Bourque’s book was released in 2019, Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins Locker Room was the gold standard for behind-the-scenes stories about the organization.
Published in 2013, Joe Starkey secured famed announcer Mike Lange to write the forward in his book that collects some of the best stories in team history.
Although this publication does not provide a personal touch like Bourque’s, it was the trendsetter regarding behind-the-scenes storytelling.
At 216 pages, there is plenty of room for more stories, which could leave a reader wanting more.
Sidney Crosby: The Inspirational Story of Hockey Superstar Sidney Crosby
(3.59 stars)
When a fan searches for books about the Penguins on Goodreads, one of the top-rated books is a 66-page book about Crosby.
Now, anyone who reads this list will say there are far better books about Crosby, which we will cover in a future list, but if a casual fan searches for a book on Pittsburgh, they will find this particular title as one of the highest-rated books.
Like most biographies, this short story by Bull Redban only touches the surface of Crosby’s Hall of Fame-worthy career.
This would be an excellent induction if a fan wanted to relive the highlights of his career before 2014 and educate non-Penguins fans about how special Crosby is as a person and a hockey player.
As mentioned, we are just ranking the best Penguins books based on the search. So don’t shoot the messenger if your favorite book isn’t on the list.
