Penguins donate Cup ring to an exhibit in progress

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang dropped by the Hockey Hall of Fame on Wednesday to present a Pittsburgh Penguins 2017 diamond-studded Stanley Cup ring to the shrine for its growing, but incomplete, collection.

“It means a lot,” Crosby said. “When you win, there are so many great things you get to be a part of. But to have that (ring here) and be a part of history, for people to be able to see it up close . . . I remember being a kid coming here, the experiences I had. I get a big kick out of seeing things up close. It’s nice we can share this with people.”

Unlike baseball’s museum in Cooperstown, N.Y, which has a ring from every World Series champion, the Hockey Hall of Fame has only a few.

Brian Burke started the tradition of donating a ring to the Hall when he was general manager of the 2007 champion Anaheim Ducks, and other teams have followed. Red Wings executive Jimmy Devellano donated his collection, from championships in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. The Hall also has rings from Bill Hay (Chicago, 1961), Doc Seaman (Calgary, 1989) and Bob Johnson (Pittsburgh, 1991).

“If you can work with us to get them all, we’d love to,” said curator Phil Pritchard, best known as one of the keepers of the Stanley Cup. “Our goal one day is to have one from every champion.”

The Hall also has a ring from Billy Barlow from the first Stanley Cup won in 1893 by the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. Donated by Barlow’s daughter, it is a plain gold band.

“Where are the diamonds?” Malkin joked while looking at it.

The Penguins’ new ring features over 200 diamonds, including 10 yellow diamonds that make up the background of the Penguins logo. Each player has his name and number and the phrase “Back 2 Back” with two Stanley Cups on the left side of the ring.

The number 5 replaces the eye of the Penguins logo, reflective of the franchise’s five championships.