Penguins Primary Logo
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a long and storied history, and their primary logo is one of the most iconic in professional sports. The original logo was designed by Tony Esposito in 1967 when the team was founded as part of the National Hockey League's expansion into Pennsylvania. This classic design featured a skating penguin wearing an old-style hockey jersey with "PITTSBURGH PENGUINS" written across it, along with two crossed hockey sticks behind him.
This original design remained unchanged until 1992 when it underwent its first significant redesign to make it more modern while retaining its classic elements. The new version featured a more prominent penguin figure that had been updated to reflect current trends in NHL uniforms, including shoulder patches on both sides of his chest and stripes running down each arm sleeve instead of just one like before. Additionally, this update also removed any text from around or inside the logo itself so that only “Pittsburgh Penguins” would appear below or above it depending on where precisely they were placed within various designs for merchandise or apparel items related to them.
Since then, there have been several minor tweaks made over time, but nothing too drastic; these changes mainly consist of small details such as color palette alterations from black/gold/white back into more traditional colors like navy blue/light blue/white, which has become synonymous with Pittsburgh teams since then (including other franchises such as baseball's Pirates). Together, these subtle modifications help keep their look up-to-date without straying too far away from what people know & love about them: namely, their unique mascot & recognizable brand identity!
2016 - Present
The Penguins released their 50th anniversary logo for the upcoming season, which had not a hint a Vegas gold — a lighter, more metallic color — but instead, featured the Lemieux-era Pittsburgh gold — similar to the gold worn by the Steelers and Pirates, or as some people call it, “yellow.”
2007 - 2016
A black and white penguin wearing skates, hockey gloves and holding a hockey stick on a vegas gold with a black trim triangle.
Slight change to the vegas gold color.
2003 - 2006
In 2002, the Penguins officially reverted to the old logo but made a change to set it apart. The bright yellow was replaced with a darker “Vegas Gold.” Still have the black and white skating penguin holding a hockey stick.
1993 - 2002
The skating penguin that has been with the team through most of its history took a leave through the 1990s. A penguin’s head is jutting out from a yellow triangle. The black and white with yellow penguin is still the focal point of the logo.
1973 - 1992
In 1971, the lettering and the circle around the logo was removed, leaving a larger black and white skating penguin on his own for the first time. The yellow with black trim in a triangle shape is still in the background.
1969 - 1972
In 1968 the Penguins changed the look of the penguin with his round gut pushed up to his chest to make him look stronger and his facial expressions became a lot more menacing. The circle around the Penguin was also made bolder. A wordmark “PITTSBURGH PENGUINS” in white on a blue ring. The lettering was made larger and turned white, while the background became a dark blue.
1968
The first Penguins logo has been labeled “Beer League Penguin” because it’s the only one with a beer gut. This logo has a smile, wide eyes and dangling scarf. A wordmark “PITTSBURGH PENGUINS” in blue enclosed around the penguin. In 1967 Bob Gessner created the first logo for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He was paid $1,500 for providing the Penguins with their logo.