The Nostalgia Thread: Remembering the "Generation X" Era (2001-2006)

[SomeDude]

I only recognize two players aside from Mario in that pic:

Marc-Andre Fleury and Brooks Orpik

Fleury, Lefebvre, Bradley, Abid, Orpik, and the one and only Rico Fata

I still have that shirt somewhere.

 

[enenvee]

I think this picture sums up the era quite nicely.

We were featuring guys like Ramzi Abid, Josef Melichar, Kris Beech and Aleksey Morozov on our tickets.

 

[ObnoxiousPensFan*]

haha I remember the game that The Drake Berehowsky lost the same glove twice on the same shift didnt he also break like 50 sticks in that game.......my god that guy sucked monkey poop.

 

[The Ghoul]

If you signed up for the Pens newsletter back then you received tickets to a game.

 

[Til the End of Time]

I was so pumped when the Pen's were able to land the budding-power forward Ramzi Abid for Hrdina. I was like "finally the Pens got a young forward with legit upside."

 

[Penguins23]

I was so pumped when the Pen's were able to land the budding-power forward Ramzi Abid for Hrdina. I was like "finally the Pens got a young forward with legit upside."

Sadly, I was happy with that too. Despite Hrdina being great at faceoffs I remember Abid being awesome in the Q.

If you think that team was bad, on December 13th 2003 I went to Pittsburgh to see the Pens play the Blue Jackets....Pens won 5-3 but boy, not too many superstars in that one hahaha. It was my first look at the "Penguins' Spirits" though, the lone bright spot of the X-Generation.

 

[Sorry]

I'll always remember when Joel Bouchard hit Forsberg into the bench boards. It was probably the first time anyone on the defense had stepped up in the neutral zone all year and made decent contact with someone. This new guy comes in and hits Forsberg... it had me pumped. But that was the 02-03 season and every little part that got you pumped up was met with large amounts of emotional drainage. Injuries, injuries, injuries.

What i really think about most when i think of the dark years was the 03-04 teams power play towards the end of the year. It had skill, worked well, and looked good. It looked like a rising sun is what it looked like. It brought some life to a team that had been playing dead hockey.

 

[iamjs]

Sadly, I was happy with that too. Despite Hrdina being great at faceoffs I remember Abid being awesome in the Q.

If you think that team was bad, on December 13th 2003 I went to Pittsburgh to see the Pens play the Blue Jackets....Pens won 5-3 but boy, not too many superstars in that one hahaha. It was my first look at the "Penguins' Spirits" though, the lone bright spot of the X-Generation.

I was pissed when I saw the Hrdina trade on ESPN2's bottom line. I was in an Outback in Hawaii having dinner with a friend. Next thing you know, I tossed my Pens hat to the ground and said quite loudly "What the f--- are they thinking? Hrdina for WHO?!?" I have hated on Abid since day one, but I think him coming over for one of my favorite players at the time might have had something to do with it. Well, that, and because he sucked. Don't forget there was also more to that trade. Hrdina and Frankie Leroux for Lefevre (as seen in XGen pic), Abid, and Dan Focht.

Going back to Hrdina, I had this discussion with somebody a few weeks ago. Assuming there was a roster spot open, do you think he'd work well with the current Pens? He played decent two way hockey, was good on faceoffs, and during his time with the Pens he was good for 40+ pts a season (even hitting as high as 57pts one season.)

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Hrdina is in the Swedish Elite League right now putting up significantly less than a point per game. I don't see any real use for him on this team. Not skilled enough anymore for the top 6 or gritty enough for a grinder. Then again, I never did really like him.

 

[rk50]

What ever happened to Andy Chiodo?

 

[The Ghoul]

I found the following on the Giant Ideas website.

Three years ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins had started over from scratch, a new line-up of young, talented, unrecognized players and the need to create a brand that captured the energy they would bring to the ice. They turned to Giant Ideas and we responded with The X Generation, one of the most powerful and recognized sports brands in Pittsburgh sports history. Two years later, after a year-long strike, we followed that with the X Force. For a non-playoff team, ticket sales rose during both years, well beyond predictions. Talk about Giant results. Let’s Go Pens!

 

[Wes Mantooth]

i remember looking at a pens roster during this period and feeling like the guy in the movie major league saying "who the **** are these guys?" i could barely watch in 03-04 after all the horrible trades the pens were starting to remind me of the pirates.

 

[AquaticBirdman]

Marc BErgevin was my idol.

 

[AquaticBirdman]

Remember this pic?

It's just too bad they couldn't use the money they spent on trying to hype up this pathetic team through fancy ads like this one onto more useful areas like trying to IMPROVE IT the team itself!

 

[sf expat71]

Koltsov... Skating isn't everything. It's the only thing!

 

[AquaticBirdman]

What's funny is that in the 05/06 season we were expected to greatly improve with the addition of Ziggy, Recchi, Sid, Gonchar, and "healthy" Mario in the lineup. Instead we ended up posting a worse record than any of the previous 3 seasons. Is it any wonder that Mario and Palffy decided to call it quits by January?

 

[sf expat71]

05/06 was a tough one to swallow. I was living with a Kings fan and a Sharks fan and it was truly uncool. I mean, I was taking this garbage smacktalk from a kings fan?! A KINGS FAN?! Man. Thank the heavens our squad exorcised those demons...

 

[AquaticBirdman]

the 2003/2004 roster. When a defenseman leads your team in scoring, and a rookie ROb Scuderi is one of only 2 players to finish the season with a positive +/-, then you know things are really just that bad.


32 Dick Tarnstrom 1975-01-20 28 D 80 16 36 52 38 -37 -- -- -- -- --
95 Alexei Morozov 1977-02-16 26 R 75 16 34 50 24 -24 -- -- -- -- --
12 Ryan Malone 1979-12-01 23 F 81 22 21 43 64 -23 -- -- -- -- --
14 Milan Kraft 1980-01-17 23 C 66 19 21 40 18 -22 -- -- -- -- --
9 Rico Fata 1980-02-12 23 R 73 16 18 34 54 -46 -- -- -- -- --
71 Konstantin Koltsov 1981-04-17 22 R 82 9 20 29 30 -30 -- -- -- -- --
55 Richard Jackman From Toronto 1978-06-28 25 D 25 7 17 24 14 -5 -- -- -- -- --
43 Tomas Surovy 1981-09-24 21 L 47 11 12 23 16 -8 -- -- -- -- --
36 Tom Kostopoulos 1979-01-24 24 R 60 9 13 22 67 -14 -- -- -- -- --
15 Brian Holzinger To Columbus 1972-10-10 30 C 61 6 15 21 38 -27 -- -- -- -- --
55 Drake Berehowsky To Toronto 1972-01-03 31 D 47 5 16 21 50 -16 -- -- -- -- --
20 Mike Eastwood 1967-07-01 36 C 82 4 15 19 40 -18 -- -- -- -- --
8 Matt Bradley 1978-06-13 25 R 82 7 9 16 65 -27 -- -- -- -- --
6 Martin Strbak From Los Angeles 1975-01-15 28 D 44 3 11 14 38 -11 -- -- -- -- --
11 Lasse Pirjeta From Columbus 1974-04-04 29 L 13 6 6 12 0 3 -- -- -- -- --
82 Martin Straka To Los Angeles 1972-09-03 30 C 22 4 8 12 16 -16 -- -- -- -- --
72 Eric Meloche 1976-05-01 27 R 25 3 7 10 20 -6 -- -- -- -- --
44 Brooks Orpik 1980-09-26 22 D 79 1 9 10 127 -36 -- -- -- -- --
66 Mario Lemieux 1965-10-05 37 F 10 1 8 9 6 -2 -- -- -- -- --
25 Marc Bergevin To Vancouver 1965-08-11 38 D 52 1 8 9 27 -8 -- -- -- -- --
2 Josef Melichar 1979-01-20 24 D 82 3 5 8 62 -17 -- -- -- -- --
5 Patrick Boileau 1975-02-22 28 D 16 3 4 7 8 -16 -- -- -- -- --
26 Landon Wilson From Phoenix 1975-03-13 28 R 19 5 1 6 31 0 -- -- -- -- --
19 Ramzi Abid 1980-03-24 23 L 16 3 2 5 27 -5 -- -- -- -- --
39 Jonathan Sim From Los Angeles 1977-09-29 25 L 15 2 3 5 6 -4 -- -- -- -- --
4 Dan Focht 1977-12-31 25 D 52 2 3 5 105 -23 -- -- -- -- --
7 Kelly Buchberger 1966-12-02 36 R 71 1 3 4 109 -19 -- -- -- -- --
49 Matt Hussey 1979-05-28 24 C 3 2 1 3 0 -1 -- -- -- -- --
45 Rob Scuderi 1978-12-30 24 D 13 1 2 3 4 2 -- -- -- -- --
23 Steve McKenna 1973-08-21 30 D 49 1 2 3 85 -10 -- -- -- -- --
22 Matt Murley 1979-12-17 23 L 18 1 1 2 14 -6 -- -- -- -- --
16 Kris Beech 1981-02-05 22 C 4 0 1 1 6 0 -- -- -- -- --
50 Martin Brochu 1973-03-10 30 G 1 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
33 Reid Simpson 1969-05-21 34 L 2 0 0 0 17 0 -- -- -- -- --
18 Steve Webb To NY Islanders 1975-04-20 28 R 5 0 0 0 2 -3 -- -- -- -- --
6 Nolan Baumgartner To Vancouver 1976-03-23 27 D 5 0 0 0 2 -7 -- -- -- -- --
40 Andy Chiodo 1983-04-25 20 G 8 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
29 Marc-Andre Fleury 1984-11-28 18 G 21 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
30 Jean-Sebastien Aubin 1977-07-17 26 G 22 0 0 0 2 0 -- -- -- -- --
31 Sebastien Caron

 

[sf expat71]

Holy -37! That Tarnstrom fellow sure was awesome!

 

[sf expat71]

And Rico Fata at -46? Mind-boggling...

 

[AquaticBirdman]

Judging by that roster, I sometimes get the feeling that Mario was faking most of his injuries during that time.

Could you really blame him if that were the case?

 

[The Ghoul]

What ever happened to Andy Chiodo?

Monroeville Mall security!

 

[King of the Fall]

the 2003/2004 roster. When a defenseman leads your team in scoring, and a rookie ROb Scuderi is one of only 2 players to finish the season with a positive +/-, then you know things are really just that bad.


32 Dick Tarnstrom 1975-01-20 28 D 80 16 36 52 38 -37 -- -- -- -- --
95 Alexei Morozov 1977-02-16 26 R 75 16 34 50 24 -24 -- -- -- -- --
12 Ryan Malone 1979-12-01 23 F 81 22 21 43 64 -23 -- -- -- -- --
14 Milan Kraft 1980-01-17 23 C 66 19 21 40 18 -22 -- -- -- -- --
9 Rico Fata 1980-02-12 23 R 73 16 18 34 54 -46 -- -- -- -- --
71 Konstantin Koltsov 1981-04-17 22 R 82 9 20 29 30 -30 -- -- -- -- --
55 Richard Jackman From Toronto 1978-06-28 25 D 25 7 17 24 14 -5 -- -- -- -- --
43 Tomas Surovy 1981-09-24 21 L 47 11 12 23 16 -8 -- -- -- -- --
36 Tom Kostopoulos 1979-01-24 24 R 60 9 13 22 67 -14 -- -- -- -- --
15 Brian Holzinger To Columbus 1972-10-10 30 C 61 6 15 21 38 -27 -- -- -- -- --
55 Drake Berehowsky To Toronto 1972-01-03 31 D 47 5 16 21 50 -16 -- -- -- -- --
20 Mike Eastwood 1967-07-01 36 C 82 4 15 19 40 -18 -- -- -- -- --
8 Matt Bradley 1978-06-13 25 R 82 7 9 16 65 -27 -- -- -- -- --
6 Martin Strbak From Los Angeles 1975-01-15 28 D 44 3 11 14 38 -11 -- -- -- -- --
11 Lasse Pirjeta From Columbus 1974-04-04 29 L 13 6 6 12 0 3 -- -- -- -- --
82 Martin Straka To Los Angeles 1972-09-03 30 C 22 4 8 12 16 -16 -- -- -- -- --
72 Eric Meloche 1976-05-01 27 R 25 3 7 10 20 -6 -- -- -- -- --
44 Brooks Orpik 1980-09-26 22 D 79 1 9 10 127 -36 -- -- -- -- --
66 Mario Lemieux 1965-10-05 37 F 10 1 8 9 6 -2 -- -- -- -- --
25 Marc Bergevin To Vancouver 1965-08-11 38 D 52 1 8 9 27 -8 -- -- -- -- --
2 Josef Melichar 1979-01-20 24 D 82 3 5 8 62 -17 -- -- -- -- --
5 Patrick Boileau 1975-02-22 28 D 16 3 4 7 8 -16 -- -- -- -- --
26 Landon Wilson From Phoenix 1975-03-13 28 R 19 5 1 6 31 0 -- -- -- -- --
19 Ramzi Abid 1980-03-24 23 L 16 3 2 5 27 -5 -- -- -- -- --
39 Jonathan Sim From Los Angeles 1977-09-29 25 L 15 2 3 5 6 -4 -- -- -- -- --
4 Dan Focht 1977-12-31 25 D 52 2 3 5 105 -23 -- -- -- -- --
7 Kelly Buchberger 1966-12-02 36 R 71 1 3 4 109 -19 -- -- -- -- --
49 Matt Hussey 1979-05-28 24 C 3 2 1 3 0 -1 -- -- -- -- --
45 Rob Scuderi 1978-12-30 24 D 13 1 2 3 4 2 -- -- -- -- --
23 Steve McKenna 1973-08-21 30 D 49 1 2 3 85 -10 -- -- -- -- --
22 Matt Murley 1979-12-17 23 L 18 1 1 2 14 -6 -- -- -- -- --
16 Kris Beech 1981-02-05 22 C 4 0 1 1 6 0 -- -- -- -- --
50 Martin Brochu 1973-03-10 30 G 1 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
33 Reid Simpson 1969-05-21 34 L 2 0 0 0 17 0 -- -- -- -- --
18 Steve Webb To NY Islanders 1975-04-20 28 R 5 0 0 0 2 -3 -- -- -- -- --
6 Nolan Baumgartner To Vancouver 1976-03-23 27 D 5 0 0 0 2 -7 -- -- -- -- --
40 Andy Chiodo 1983-04-25 20 G 8 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
29 Marc-Andre Fleury 1984-11-28 18 G 21 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
30 Jean-Sebastien Aubin 1977-07-17 26 G 22 0 0 0 2 0 -- -- -- -- --
31 Sebastien Caron

what about Shawn Heins!!!

 

[FDBluth]

I remember when Tarnstrom was like the awesomest thing ever. Then all of a sudden he sucked.

 

[nckd]

i remember looking at a pens roster during this period and feeling like the guy in the movie major league saying "who the **** are these guys?" i could barely watch in 03-04 after all the horrible trades the pens were starting to remind me of the pirates.

I had that same feeling watching a game early that season where I recognized maybe one defenseman's name and was trying to explain to a non-hockey fan friend why that was a really bad sign.

05/06 was scarily Pirate-like, too, in its weird awfulness. With all the injuries, trades, and retirements of free agents, the Pens were playing 11 rookies a game at one point. No one wins in the NHL with 11 rookies dressed.

I don't think I could really say I'm nostalgic for that era of Penguins hockey, between circling the bankruptcy drain and the often incredibly boring play you got from a low-talent team in the clutch-grab-trap era.