Mario Lemieux might save the Pittsburgh Penguins one more time.
The hockey legend is “very interested” in buying back the team he once owned and played for, according to The Athletic. He’s not alone – former co-owner Ron Burkle and ex-CEO Dave Morehouse are part of his group looking to regain control from current owner Fenway Sports Group.
It wouldn’t be the first time Lemieux has come to Pittsburgh’s rescue.
The 59-year-old superstar first saved the Penguins as a player, leading them from obscurity to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Then he did it again as an owner, stepping in when the team was bankrupt and on the verge of leaving town in the late 1990s.
The timing might be right for another Lemieux comeback. The Penguins have struggled since FSG bought the team in 2021, missing the playoffs last year for the first time in 16 seasons.
Fan support is dropping too. Last season’s attendance – just 91.4% of capacity – was the lowest since Sidney Crosby joined the team.
Speaking of Crosby, he and Lemieux share a special connection. Super Mario’s final season as a player was Crosby’s rookie year, passing the torch to the next generation. Later, as owner, Lemieux watched Crosby lead the Penguins to three more Stanley Cups.
The price tag won’t be cheap. The Penguins are valued between $1.47 billion and $1.75 billion. But Lemieux’s group hopes the team’s recent struggles might help bring that number down to something “reasonable.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman knows about their interest. While FSG has only mentioned looking for minority investors, Lemieux’s group is exploring ways to take back control.
The Penguins hit rock bottom last season, recording their lowest point total (80) in a full season since 2006. For a franchise used to competing for championships, that’s pretty tough to swallow.
Could Mario work his magic one more time? Pittsburgh fans sure hope so.
