Penguins’ most memorable player nicknames and the stories behind them

Over nearly 60 years in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins have produced not only Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup winners, but also a long line of unforgettable player nicknames. A look back through team history reveals how the mix of locker‑room humour, media creativity and fan involvement turned simple monikers into lasting parts of Penguins lore.

From Super Mario to BizNasty: franchise‑defining nicknames

No name looms larger in Penguins history than Mario Lemieux, and his nicknames are just as iconic. “Super Mario” emerged in the mid‑1980s, fuelled by the rise of the Nintendo character and Lemieux’s own domination on the ice. “Le Magnifique” combined his French‑Canadian roots with recognition of his place among the game’s all‑time greats. A lesser‑loved label, “Ace,” was reportedly introduced by head coach Gene Ubriaco and picked up by teammates largely because they knew it irritated their superstar.

On the other end of the spectrum, Paul Bissonnette’s “BizNasty” persona was born during his time with the Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. Known as a relentless chirper who backed up his talk with a willingness to fight, he built a reputation that outlived his playing days. The handle now anchors his social media presence, his role on Barstool Sports’ Spittin’ Chiclets podcast and the title of his mockumentary series BizNasty Does BC.

Sidney Crosby has accumulated plenty of labels over a 20‑year NHL career, but one of the most unusual dates back to junior hockey. Teammates tagged him “Darryl” after he put up eight points in a pre‑season game, drawing a tongue‑in‑cheek comparison to Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler’s famous 10‑point night in 1976. The name stuck long enough to appear stitched on his gloves when he arrived in Pittsburgh.

Everyday moments that turned into Penguins legend

Some of the most creative nicknames trace back to ordinary situations that snowballed. Beau Bennett, often remembered for injuries, answered to “Sunshine” in the room. The nod came from his California background and a resemblance to quarterback Ronnie Bass, the character immortalized in the film Remember the Titans.

Nick Bjugstad’s “Rotisserie Chicken” story might be the most unlikely of all. Starving on his way to meet teammates for dinner in Florida, he abandoned the search for parking, detoured to a local grocery store and grabbed a cooked chicken instead, texting the group that he would not make it to the restaurant. Once the tale reached national television and Panthers fans, the nickname exploded, even inspiring chicken‑themed signs and items tossed on the ice.

Matt Cullen’s “Dad” nickname had less to do with his three hockey‑loving sons and more with his place on the Penguins’ age chart. At 42, he was old enough to be the father of teammates Jared McCann and Marcus Pettersson, both born in 1996, the same year he was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Mysteries, family ties and hard hits

Not every moniker comes with a full origin story. Physical defenceman Douglas Murray has long been known as “Crankshaft,” but he has guarded the details closely, once telling a team reporter, “It’s still not going to get told if it helps the legend.” He has only hinted that it grew out of a “long, secret story” tied to a memorable trip with Cornell University teammates.

Nicknames can also be passed down. Greg and Ryan Malone both wore No. 12 as Penguins and shared the nickname “Bugsy.” Greg first picked it up after the 1976 musical gangster comedy Bugsy Malone, released the same year he was drafted by Pittsburgh, and Ryan adopted it after the Penguins selected him in 1999.

Others are rooted in childhood or playing style. Steven Oleksy carried the name “Binky” from early hospital stays, where he was soothed by a pacifier he called by that name. Brooks Orpik was dubbed “Free Candy,” a reference to the steady stream of heavy bodychecks he handed out like treats. Even Derek Sanderson, who played only 13 games for Pittsburgh in 1977‑78, brought his long‑standing nickname “Turk” with him, adding another quirky entry to the Penguins’ nickname hall of fame.

From “Sunshine” and “Rotisserie Chicken” to “Crankshaft” and “Free Candy,” these stories show how throwaway jokes and off‑ice moments can become part of the fabric of team history, remembered by Penguins fans long after the final buzzer.