Group led by Mario Lemieux ‘very interested’ in ownership of Penguins

An ownership group led by Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux has expressed that it is "very interested" in buying his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, as reported by The Athletic on Monday.

Lemieux and his ownership group, comprised of former co-owner Ron Burkle and former executive David Morehouse, have reportedly informed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman of their intention to pursue a purchase of the team from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the organization that acquired the team from their group in 2021.

FSG has announced the pursuit of additional minority investors in the wake of selling just 91.4 percent of available tickets in 2024-25, the lowest amount in two decades, but hasn't expressed publicly a desire to sell the club.

The Penguins were valued at $1.47 billion in 2024, per Sportico.

Lemieux, 59, was a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Penguins, earning three Hart Trophies among nine All-Star appearances.

His 1,723 career points and 690 career goals remain the most in franchise history, with current Penguins star Sidney Crosby second in both categories.

Since acquiring the team, FSG has presided over just one playoff appearance, including straight postseason misses. The Penguins' recent record is in stark contrast to the team winning three league championships from 2009-17.

--Field Level Media