According to Hockey Reference, only 13 NHL players were born on Christmas. Surprisingly, three former Pittsburgh Penguins players share the same birthday. Despite being born on December 25, these three skaters never had the chance to play together.
Dmitri Mironov (1965)
Born on Christmas Day in Moscow in 1965, Dmitri Mironov was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the eighth round (160th overall) in the 1991 Draft. After four seasons north of the border, the right-handed defenseman came to Pittsburgh in July 1995 in exchange for Larry Murphy.
Most power play points by a defenseman in playoff history
23 — Brian Leetch
17 — Ray Bourque
15 — Denis Potvin
14 — Dmitri Mironov
14 — Brian Leetch
14 — Dave Ellett
13 — Evan Bouchard (this season)This is his 10th game in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/9BSLLnJrgd
— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) May 11, 2023
Mironov played parts of two seasons with the Penguins, scoring four goals and 40 points in 87 games before being dealt to the Anaheim Ducks in November 1996.
He won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1998 and finished his career with the Washington Capitals, leaving the NHL after the 2000-01 season.
Stu Barnes (1970)
Born December 25, 1970 in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Stu Barnes was the fourth overall pick (Winnipeg Jets) in the 1989 Draft. After three seasons in Manitoba, he moved to the Florida Panthers, where he played in the 1996 Stanley Cup Final skated.
During the following season, Barnes (along with Jason Woolley) was traded to the Penguins for Chris Wells in November 1996.
In 1997–98, his first full season with Pittsburgh, he had his best NHL season, scoring 30 goals and 65 points, the only time he surpassed 50 points in a single season.
In March 1999, the Penguins dealt him to the Buffalo Sabers for Matthew Barnby, where he went on to play in the 1999 Stanley Cup Final. Barnes retired after the 2007–08 season and spent his final five years with the Dallas Stars .
Mark Friedman (1995)
Mark Friedman, born in 1995 in Toronto, is the only active NHLer with a Christmas birthday. The Philadelphia Flyers drafted him in the third round (86th overall) in 2014.
He would skate with the club for three seasons from 2018 to 2021 before the Penguins selected him off waivers in February 2021. In 54 games with Pittsburgh, he scored four goals and 11 points.
“I play a hard-nosed game and use my skating skills to break out pucks and get pucks back as quickly as possible. And play a fast transition game.”
🗣 Hear the latest #Canucks defender Mark Friedman on his playing style and what the last 24 hours have been like. pic.twitter.com/6mbKTz2aL5
—Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 18, 2023
In October 2023, Friedman (with Ty Glover) was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Karel Plasek and Jack Rathbone. Since the deal, he has played just 26 games, including three this season, with one assist.
