Full version of ‘Playing to Lose,’ the 1983-84 Penguins story, is available online

So did the Pittsburgh Penguins really tank it in 1984 so they’d land Mario Lemieux and the first pick of the ’84 draft? The team’s former head coach says “yes,” but you can decide for yourself.

Recall, back then, the NHL’s draft order was simply the reverse order of finish in the regular season -- so teams knew how they’d draft pretty certainly by the end of the regular season.

Click here to watch the full video from TSN up in Canada. (Previously, we only had a six-minute excerpt. Sorry -- TSN doesn’t allow embedding).

What are your thoughts? Comment here, on Google+ or on our Facebook Group.

PREVIEW: TSN’s ‘Playing to Lose’ (Video)

June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN Canada: How the Penguins tanked it to score Mario Lemieux and keep him from NJ

Lemieux

A remarkable documentary will air at 8 p.m. June 24 on TSN Canada where former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Lou Agnotti admits the Penguins “tanked it” in the 1983-84 season to land Mario Lemieux and the first pick of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

Former Penguins GM Eddie Johnston denies the allegations.

But the sheer moves the team made -- on and off the ice -- sort of confirm what Agnotti admits and most have known for the last 30 years.

Muller

(Keep in mind the draft order used to simply be determined by reverse order of finish in the previous regular season).

Picking second, the Devils chose Kirk Muller. And the course of NHL history was forever changed.

I cannot embed it, but here is a link to a six-minute preview of the documentary, which includes former Devils head coach Tom McVie.

Once this airs, I will try my best to embed the entire documentary