Mario Lemieux could assist resurrect hockey in Pittsburgh as soon as once more. The Penguins legend and Hockey Corridor of Famer is a part of a gaggle that’s “very ” in shopping for the Penguins, according to The Athletic.
The Athletic had just lately reported that Lemieux, fellow former co-owner Ron Burkle, and former chief govt Dave Morehouse (who’s at present an advisor with the Pittsburgh Steelers) have been wanting into the opportunity of shopping for again the Penguins from Fenway Sports activities Group (FSG), who acquired the crew from them in 2021.
Whereas FSG has introduced that it’s exploring including a minority investor, the Lemieux group is reportedly wanting into its monetary choices to see if it regain management of the Penguins once more in some unspecified time in the future. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reportedly been made conscious of the group’s curiosity in rejoining the Penguins in an possession capability.
The Penguins are at present valued someplace between $1.47 billion and $1.75 billion. The Lemieux-led group is reportedly hoping that FSG is perhaps keen to contemplate a “affordable” value contemplating Pittsburgh’s latest on-ice struggles and declining fan help. The Penguins offered simply 91.4 p.c of their obtainable tickets final season, the bottom complete of the Sidney Crosby period.
Lemieux, 59, is probably the most outstanding determine in franchise historical past. He led the Penguins from relative obscurity to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1991-92. Regardless of lacking a 12 months in his prime as a result of most cancers and retiring for the primary time at age 31, he was thought-about one of many biggest gamers of all-time on the time of his first retirement.
Lower than two years into retirement, Lemieux gained controlling curiosity within the Penguins after the crew had declared chapter and was seemingly headed towards both leaving Pittsburgh or folding altogether. In 2000, Lemieux returned the ice and helped lead the Penguins to a shocking run to the Jap Convention Last.
Earlier than his comeback, Lemieux was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1997.
Lemieux’s remaining NHL season as a participant was Crosby’s first season with the Penguins. In 2009, Crosby helped lead the Penguins to their first of three Stanley Cup wins with Lemieux serving as an proprietor.
The Penguins have been mired in mediocrity since Lemieux’s possession crew offered the franchise to FSG 4 years in the past. Pittsburgh has not made the playoffs since 2022 after qualifying for the postseason annually from 2007-22. The crew’s 80 factors final season have been the fewest by the franchise for an 82-game season since 2005-06.
