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 Dec. 25, these three skaters never had the chance to play with one another.
Dmitri Mironov (1965)
Dmitri Mironov was born on Christmas day in Moscow in 1965 and 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 a trade for Larry Murphy.
Most powerplay points from 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 of 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, departing the NHL after the 2000-01 season.
Stu Barnes (1970)
Stu Barnes, born on Dec. 25, 1970, in Spruce Grove, Alberta, was the fourth overall pick (Winnipeg Jets) in the 1989 Draft. After three seasons in Manitoba, he moved to the Florida Panthers, skating in the 1996 Stanley Cup Final.
During the following season, Barnes was traded (along with Jason Woolley) to the Penguins in November 1996 for Chris Wells.
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 Sabres for Matthew Barnby, where he went on to play in the 1999 Stanley Cup Final. Barnes retired after the 2007-08 season, spending 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 three seasons with the club 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.
“Playing a hard-nosed game and using my skating ability to help break out pucks and get back to pucks as quick as I can. And play a quick transition game.”
🗣 Hear from newest #Canucks defenceman Mark Friedman on his style of play, and what the past 24 hours have been like. pic.twitter.com/6mbKTz2aL5
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 18, 2023
In October 2023, Friedman was traded (with Ty Glover) to the Vancouver Canucks for Karel Plasek and Jack Rathbone. Since the deal, he’s played only 26 games, including three this season, with one assist.
