6 Hockey Players who Played for Knights and Penguins
My guess is you’ve searched this page out because you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
If I’m right, that also means that today’s grid is asking for players who have played for both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And, I’m also guessing that you’re a little stuck on this particular square and you’re looking for a little help to keep your grid immaculate. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, I’m here to help.
I’ve already done the research and have put together a list of well-known stars along with some more “under-the-radar” players that could land you a low rarity score.
Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-André Fleury was chosen first overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fleury is only the third goaltender to be selected first overall in the NHL draft. Fleury’s NHL debut was in the 2003–04 season, where he became the youngest goaltender in the league at 18 years old.
Internationally, Fleury represented Canada, winning back-to-back silver medals at the World Junior Championships in 2003 and 2004, and a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
His NHL career is marked by impressive achievements, including playing a pivotal role in the Penguins’ journey to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals and contributing significantly to their Stanley Cup victory in 2009. Fleury’s 547 career wins are currently the most of any active player and 3rd most all-time.
Fleury Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Championship (Penguins)
- 300+ Career Wins (Penguins, Golden Knights, Wild, Blackhawks)
- 30+ Wins in a Season (Penguins, Golden Knights)
Phil Kessel
Phil Kessel was selected 5th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Draft. Known for his offensive prowess, Kessel quickly became one of the league’s top goal-scorers. He played three seasons with the Bruins before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 2015, Kessel was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he became a key part of the team’s success, winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. Kessel’s speed, skill, and ability to perform in high-pressure situations were crucial to the Penguins’ playoff runs.
Kessel’s journey has made two more stops – Coyotes and Golden Knights. Everywhere he’s played, Kessel has been a consistent offensive player and is closing in on 1000 career points (992 at the time I’m writing).
Kessel Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Winner (Penguins, Golden Knights)
- 50+ Assist Season (Penguins)
David Perron
David Perron, a Canadian-born player, currently serves as an alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings. His journey began with the St. Louis Blues, who drafted him 26th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
After a successful start with the Blues, he moved to the Edmonton Oilers in 2013, followed by stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks. Perron returned to St. Louis in 2016 and then joined the Vegas Golden Knights for their inaugural season in 2017-18, where he recorded a career-high 66 points.
He returned to the Blues for a third time, contributing significantly to their 2019 Stanley Cup victory. In 2022, Perron signed with the Detroit Red Wings, marking the first time in his career he signed a contract with a team other than the Blues.
Perron Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Championship (Blues)
- 50+ Assist Season (Golden Knights)
Derrick Pouliot
Derrick Pouliot is a Canadian defenceman currently playing for the Texas Stars in the AHL while under contract for the Dallas Stars. He has played for several NHL teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks.
Pouliot was selected eighth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Penguins. Pouliot made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in December 2014, scoring his first NHL goal on his first shot. He was part of the Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup in 2016.
In October 2017, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. He set an NHL record for most goals scored from the start of a career, with all being game-winning goals, during his time with the Canucks.
Pouliot Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Championship (Penguins)
Reilly Smith
Reilly Smith is a Canadian right winger currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was selected in the third round, 69th overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Smith’s pro career began with the Stars in 2012, and he was soon part of a significant trade to the Boston Bruins.
His journey through the NHL also included stints with the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2023, scoring the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5.
His career statistics in the NHL (as of this writing) include 200 goals and 273 assists in 764 regular season games, along with 26 goals and 53 assists in 106 playoff games.
Smith Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Champion (Knights)
James Neal
James Neal, a Canadian winger, has played for several teams in the NHL, including the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and St. Louis Blues.
Selected 33rd overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Neal started his NHL career with Dallas in the 2008–09 season. During his time with the Penguins, he had a breakout season in 2011–12, finishing with 40 goals and 81 points, including a career-first playoff hat-trick in 2013.
Neal was traded to the Nashville Predators in 2014, where he continued his robust performance, and then was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Neal’s career statistics in the NHL include 869 games with 296 goals, 263 assists, and 559 points.
Neal Key Stats
- 40+ Goal Season (Penguins)
