Former Penguin Zarley Zalapski Dies

The Penguins have lost a member of their extended family. Zarley Zalapski, the team’s top pick in the 1986 Entry Draft, passed away at the age of 49. The cause of death was not revealed.

Blessed with a chiseled physique, great wheels and marvelous skills, the 6’1″ 211-pounder emerged as one of the Penguins’ top offensive defensemen of the late 1980s and early ’90s. In 190 games with the black and gold, Zalapski tallied 33 goals, 102 assists and 135 points, 11th all-time among Pens’ defensemen.

Enjoying arguably his finest all-around season in 1990-91, “ZZ Top” seemed set for a long and eventful stay in the ‘Burgh. But on March 4, 1991, the 22-year-old blueliner was dealt to Hartford along with John Cullen and Jeff Parker in a shocking six-player swap for Ron Francis, Grant Jennings and Ulf Samuelsson.

While “The Trade” propelled the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup, Zalapski performed well for a poor Whalers team. In 1991-92, he scored a career-best 20 goals and 57 points. The following season he registered 51 assists and 65 points, both career highs, along with 14 goals. Zalapski also skated for Calgary and Montreal before winding down his NHL career with the Flyers in 1999-2000.

His departure from the NHL ushered in a second career in Europe. Over the next decade, the Edmonton native played for teams in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland before retiring at the age of 41.

Through it all, the Steel City remained close to his heart.

“I loved (Pittsburgh),” he shared in a 2010 interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I really enjoyed the city, and the people were great.”