Just minutes before they embarked on their Stanley Cup title defense Thursday, the Penguins took one last look back to celebrate last year's championship.
They unveiled their 2016 Stanley Cup banner, which will hang alongside those from 1991, 1992 and 2009 _ all four redone with a bigger and bolder look _ in the PPG Paints Arena rafters.
The ceremony began with Paul Steigerwald, the team's TV announcer, introducing a highlight video of the team's "fast and fearless run to the Stanley Cup," as Steigerwald said.
With four titles in the last 25 years, Steigerwald dubbed the Penguins "the franchise of champions."
He introduced the Penguins by asking the crowd, "Are you ready to meet the champs?"
The players were then introduced one by one, capped by captain Sidney Crosby _ sidelined Thursday with a concussion _ taking the ice in full uniform and carrying the Stanley Cup to center ice.
The team gathered around the Cup to watch the banner, emblazoned "Stanley Cup Champions 2016" in the team's new black and "Pittsburgh gold" color scheme rise to the roof of PPG Paints Arena.
The ceremony concluded with public address announcer Ryan Mill declaring, "This officially concludes the Penguins 2016 Stanley Cup championship season" just seconds before the Capitals took the ice for the teams' 2016-17 season opener.
