Martin Straka came to Pittsburgh as a 1992 1^st Round Pick from Czechoslovakia, and he debuted that year, appearing in 42 Games for the team.  Straka had a strong sophomore season in 1993-94, scoring 64 points, but the young forward was traded for a pair of gritty performers, Troy Murphy and Norm MacIver.  This deal, however, would not be the end of Straka in Pittsburgh.

Syl Apps was the son of Syl Apps Sr., who was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.  As the son of a legend, it was not easy to play hockey, but Apps Jr. was a very good player in his own right.

Alex Kovalev played 365 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he first arrived when he was traded from the New York Rangers in November of 1998.  The Russian Right Winger would score 95 Points in 2000-01, which would be a career-high.  Kovalev followed that with a 76 Point campaign and then would have 64 Points in 54 Games before he was traded back to the Rangers.