News Article: Lemieux, Burkle exploring possible sale of Penguins

[billybudd]

I don't know. Lemieux owns a pretty sizeable chunk from what I've read.

I would imagine whoever is interested would likely be paying a huge amount, even for just a portion of ownership.

Yeah but Brisson isn't just an agent. He owns a huge agency.

Or rather, owned and sold to Creative Artists for a ton of money.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

A low water mark?

I swear, 90% of these people weren't around for the pre-Lemieux days or the Dick Tarnstrom/Rico Fata pre-Crosby days.

Good lord. Missing out on the Stanley Cup - while still being a playoff team - five straight years isn't a low water mark. It's not even a middle water mark.

 

[cassius]

A low water mark?

You familiar with the term?

Well, if you need a reminder... by the virtue of barely winning a game against the worst team in the league (who intentionally lost games), the Penguins qualified for the playoffs.

It was just a rough year. This is certainly the low water mark of the Crosby/Malkin era hands down. Malkin slumped down the stretch.. Crosby got pwned in the Art Ross race. Kunitz was worthless basically. Perron was beyond useless. Then you have Despres for Lovejoy.. harsh year. I thought some folks would get that by now, but I guess they need reminders.

 

[Shrimper]

Should be fine no matter what happens.

 

[gordie]

Forget Mark Cuban. Has nothing to do with Pittsburgh, just like Joe Namath or Stan Musial. Their home became somewhere else and in this case Cuban's home is Dallas.

 

[LucSZ]

As long as new owner still allows spending to the cap... and maybe no more Morehouse.

 

[Penguinator]

On a side note, it would be nice if these damned game of war ads didn't close my browser and open the App Store every time I accidentally click on one.

I use my cell sideways, between the digital keyboard & the writing window it leaves me just one visible line to write & only if i'm at max. Zoom out!

So i have to get rid of it every single time & man, targeting a minuscule (x) to close it can be a real pain in the ass! These ads are getting more aggressive & intrusive as time goes by...

Oh & good for Mario.

 

[Deutschland Dangler]

You familiar with the term?

Well, if you need a reminder... by the virtue of barely winning a game against the worst team in the league (who intentionally lost games), the Penguins qualified for the playoffs.

It was just a rough year. This is certainly the low water mark of the Crosby/Malkin era hands down.

Jesus. So if you look at the overall situation of the franchise and look back at its history, this is a low water mark? How long have you been a fan? Two years?

Despite all that doom and gloom around here, the franchise is healthier than maybe ever before. High attendance, great TV market, relatively new arena with a very long lease, development rights for the area around the arena, two generational talents under contract long-term, etc. etc.
I get that last season was disappointing, but Mario trying to sell shares is not the rats leaving the sinking ship. Very far from it.

 

[lastcupever75]

The time has come for the board to buy the team, r.

damn, I was 1 digit (22 instead of 27) and a mega ball away from hitting the mega millions last night

in box me your resumes for the GM position

 

[Whale Mingo]

taking his ball and going home? I get being frustrated with the past 5 years, but man, I think he's done plenty for the franchise/city...?

Yep, it's sad to see how this generation of Pens "fans" have turned on the guy who is single handily, multiple times, responsible for the very existence of the team.

He's a legend on and off the ice. Legend.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Doubtful. He's made a lot of snide comments about how Bettman runs the NHL.


In any event, Mike Colligan called this months ago. Impressive.

Cuban also said "**** you! Your league is rigged." during an NBA Finals game to David Stern. Yet he is still an NBA owner.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

The Penguins' playoff berth was not hinged on the outcome of the Sabres game. They were in regardless of whether or not they won.

 

[cassius]

Semantics aside, I think we can all agree it's the low water mark of the Sid/Geno era.

Anyways, all that aside, I'm happy for Mario.. the guy deserves every penny he makes on the sale. He's done a lot for this team and city

 

[Sutter16]

Per Friedman, Cuban has no interest in buying PIT.

 

[Penguinator]

Yep, it's sad to see how this generation of Pens "fans" have turned on the guy who is single handily, multiple times, responsible for the very existence of the team.

He's a legend on and off the ice. Legend.

True enough but i wouldn't put all the 'new' fans in the same basket & really, it's more or less a local thing, starting with this board...

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Honestly, this is a perfect time to sell.

- The franchise probably never have worth more.
- All the stars are signed to long-term deals and are technically in the middle of their primes.
- The new arena has proven to be VERY profitable.

If they receive a good offer, they should definitely sell and make a HUGE profit.

 

[DegenX]

Kovacevic is the only one with anything new to add. He's reporting that Pens will be releasing statement, and that it is Lemieux - not Burkle - looking to sell off part of his stake.

Kovacevic saying Burkle isn't selling his portion.

Not sure how I feel about that. If only one of them is going, I'd rather it be Burkle. There's also some speculation about the land development deal from the financial sector types ... current consensus seems to be that it wouldn't be part of the team sale.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Yep, it's sad to see how this generation of Pens "fans" have turned on the guy who is single handily, multiple times, responsible for the very existence of the team.

He's a legend on and off the ice. Legend.

Saying that Mario and Burkle may be responsible for the country club atmosphere and the lack of championships still 2009 doesn't mean that one would turn on Mario. QUestionning him is fair game, doesn't mean I don't worship the guy.

 

[specialized]

Lemieux lives in a 20 million dollar home in Quebec, so this really does not surprise me that he wants to move on from hockey and away from Pittsburgh.

 

[Ogrezilla]

You familiar with the term?

Well, if you need a reminder... by the virtue of barely winning a game against the worst team in the league (who intentionally lost games), the Penguins qualified for the playoffs.

It was just a rough year. This is certainly the low water mark of the Crosby/Malkin era hands down. Malkin slumped down the stretch.. Crosby got pwned in the Art Ross race. Kunitz was worthless basically. Perron was beyond useless. Then you have Despres for Lovejoy.. harsh year. I thought some folks would get that by now, but I guess they need reminders.

I know it really doesn't change your point, but we would have made the playoffs even if we lost the last game. We needed to win to guarantee we made it. If we lost, Boston could have jumped us if they won their game. They lost their game though. Again, I don't disagree with your point.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Lemieux has always seemed uncomfortable in the ownership role. He's been trying to get out of it for 10+ years.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Lemieux lives in a 20 million dollar home in Quebec, so this really does not surprise me that he wants to move on from hockey and away from Pittsburgh.

In fact, he bought that home in Quebec pretty recently, no? He has been living in Pittsburgh year-round for pretty much 31 years, hasn't he?

 

[Ogrezilla]

The Penguins' playoff berth was not hinged on the outcome of the Sabres game. They were in regardless of whether or not they won.

well, not quite. At the time, it depended on what Boston did. But Boston played later than us that night. So we didn't know yet if we needed the win or not. Turned out, we didn't.

 

[gordie]

Lemieux has always seemed uncomfortable in the ownership role. He's been trying to get out of it for 10+ years.

Doesn't have the immense wealth to be an owner. I don't blame him. As far as this moving from Pittsburgh? He has local charities and you can't do that from Montreal.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Doesn't have the immense wealth to be an owner. I don't blame him. As far as this moving from Pittsburgh? He has local charities and you can't do that from Montreal.

He can absolutely do that from Montreal. Its not like he works a 9-5 to keep them functioning. He could fly down any time he needs to, which I'd assume is pretty infrequently.