Mario Lemieux might 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, based on The Athletic.
The Athletic had not too long ago reported that Lemieux, fellow former co-owner Ron Burkle, and former chief government Dave Morehouse (who’s presently an advisor with the Pittsburgh Steelers) had been trying into the potential for 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 trying into its monetary choices to see if it regain management of the Penguins once more sooner or later. 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 presently valued someplace between $1.47 billion and $1.75 billion. The Lemieux-led group is reportedly hoping that FSG could be prepared to contemplate a “affordable” value contemplating Pittsburgh’s latest on-ice struggles and declining fan help. The Penguins bought simply 91.4 p.c of their obtainable tickets final season, the bottom whole of the Sidney Crosby period.
Lemieux, 59, is essentially the most distinguished 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 consequence of most cancers and retiring for the primary time at age 31, he was thought-about one of many best 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 possible headed towards both leaving Pittsburgh or folding altogether. In 2000, Lemieux returned the ice and helped lead the Penguins to a stunning run to the Jap Convention Ultimate.
Earlier than his comeback, Lemieux was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1997.
Lemieux’s last 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 bought 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 had been the fewest by the franchise for an 82-game season since 2005-06.
