Lemieux’s group no longer owns the Penguins, having sold to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) midway through the 2021-22 season. And although GM searches generally follow the same pattern — candidates are identified, interviewed, and a winner emerges from a small selection of finalists — the Penguins, under FSG’s helm, have kept a tight lid on all aspects of the current process.
That is by design.
The Penguins’ stance is not to publicly comment on the process. The Athletic has learned that only a small group of people — one that includes Beeston, Acklin and coach Mike Sullivan — know where the search stands.
It’s unclear, however, if they plan to hire just a GM who will oversee hockey operations, both a GM and a president of hockey operations, both a GM and a senior advisor or any combination of the positions. It’s also unclear whether there’s a timeframe for the hire or hires. On April 14, after the Penguins fired Ron Hextall (GM), Chris Pryor (assistant GM) and Brian Burke (president of hockey operations), Beeston said they’d like to have their leadership team hired “as soon as possible without rushing it.”
Teams rarely enter the NHL Draft — this year in Nashville on June 28-29 — without a GM.
Beeston and Acklin could be leaning on Sullivan, who is signed for another four seasons after an extension last August and who has more NHL connections than any current team employee. Sullivan has the respect of FSG’s top officers, including Beeston and fellow Penguins alternate governor Sam Kennedy, in addition to FSG owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner.
FSG is a Boston-based sports and entertainment conglomerate. Sullivan is a native of Marshfield, Mass.
Even if he is involved early in the process, Sullivan is not expected to have a final say in the selection of new hockey operations leadership.
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