Editorial: Lemieux's place in new Penguins leadership shows value of continuity

OK, now it’s official.

Fenway Sports Group is buying the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a price tag some are putting at around $900 million. The Boston-based company announced Monday that, yes, the rumors are true and the Penguins will be added to its stable of teams that spans sports such as baseball, auto racing and soccer in the U.S. and Europe.

There is no mystery about what makes the team an attractive property. The Penguins have brought the Stanley Cup home to Pittsburgh five times in 30 years. It makes regular appearances in the playoffs, and — coronavirus protocols notwithstanding — the seats are usually filled with eager, enthusiastic fans. When it comes to sports history, success and support, Pittsburgh and Boston have more than a little in common.

“We will work diligently to continue building on the remarkable Penguins’ tradition of championships and exciting play,” Fenway Chairman Tom Werner said in a statement.

The most important part of the announcement was not the somewhat expected exchange of compliments for the team and the buyers. It was the confirmation of not who is coming in but who is staying on.

Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will remain part of the ownership group. More than that, Lemieux — the hot prospect who took the ice-cold Penguins from the worst team in hockey to the championship before moving to the owners’ suite — will remain actively overseeing hockey operations.

Why is this important? It shows smart decision- making by buyers and sellers alike.

It would be easy for Lemieux and Burkle to take that big pile of cash and hand over the keys to their icy kingdom like they were selling a car and watch the Fenway Sports Group drive it down the road. It might seem easier for Fenway to start fresh without keeping the guy whose name is synonymous with the team.

But this shows both sides putting ego aside to do what is best for the organization. Lemieux hasn’t had a boss in more than 20 years but is willing to take a smaller position rather than walk away. At the same time, the Fenway leaders seem to recognize the value in keeping a guy who has had his hand in all of the Penguins’ successes.

The Penguins aren’t just some guys who play a game. They are an important local industry. The scariest part of any business buyout or merger is wondering how it will really play out after the handshakes and press releases that assure a continued bright future. What will change dramatically? Who will be brought in? Who will be kicked out?

Hockey already is a game of trades and shuffling when it comes to rosters and coaches. Keeping the guy who has been the face and the heart of the franchise since 1984 shows an understanding of the value of continuity.