PITTSBURGH — No team in any sport celebrates the return of its conquering heroes better than the Penguins. The night would-be pugilist Marc-Andre Fleury came back to PPG Paints Arena with the Vegas Golden Knights was one of the most fun nights in Pittsburgh sports history. So was the night quirky Phil Kessel returned with the Arizona Coyotes. The tributes, as all that the Penguins do, were done wonderfully on the arena's big scoreboard as an appreciative fan base poured down its love.
I'm hoping the Penguins have something really special planned for Monday night during their game against the Ottawa Senators.
Can you imagine the reaction if they show Mario Lemieux sitting in Suite 31, waving to the crowd, during the first or second television timeout?
They will blow the roof off the Uptown rink.
It will be Lemieux's first appearance at a Penguins home game since they lost Game 6 of their ill-fated playoff series with the New York Rangers last May.
Is it sad that Lemieux intentionally has stayed away or what?
It's not what Lemieux had in mind when he and co-owner Ron Burkle sold the Penguins to Fenway Sports Group in November 2021. Lemieux and Burkle retained a small percentage of the team and eased the worries of the fans by promising business as usual. No one wanted to imagine the Penguins without Lemieux. The mere thought was horrifying.
"As the Penguins enter a new chapter, I will continue to be active and engage with the team as I always have been and look forward to continuing to build on our success with our incoming partners at FSG," Lemieux pledged in a statement. "This is a new beginning, not the end of an era."
FSG chairman Tom Werner delivered the same uplifting message.
"We are particularly excited to welcome Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle to FSG and have the utmost respect for all they have done to build the Penguins into the perennially successful franchise we know today. We look forward to working with Mario, Ron and the entire Penguins front office team."
Unfortunately for both sides, business got in the way, as so often happens when millions of dollars are at stake.
A group of Penguins minority owners sued Lemieux and Burkle over the sale, accusing them of pushing through the deal without their input. The suit was settled, but the attorneys also had to be paid. Lemieux and Burkle took care of the fees and thought they would get a bit more equity with FSG. The two sides couldn't come to an agreement.
That's why Lemieux — the face of the Penguins and the most accomplished athlete in Pittsburgh sports history — has stayed away.
Lemieux divides his time between his homes in Sewickley and South Florida. His love for golf is well-known. He's spending much of his time helping his son, Austin, who is trying to make it professionally in golf. He's also doing the grandfather thing with his two grandchildren. Daughters Lauren and Stephanie each have a child.
Can you imagine Lemieux as a grandfather?
I don't know about you, but that makes me feel really old.
Lemieux, 57 now, will be back at PPG Paints Arena Monday night to host campers at his annual fantasy camp, which started with a dinner Sunday night and continues Monday through Wednesday with on-ice competition. It is one of the best camps of its kind in North America and has raised more than $4 million for the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Lemieux makes it an extraordinary experience by skating with each team during the camp. He also brings along some of his Hall of Fame friends, including Bryan Trottier, Paul Coffey and Mark Recchi.
It's nice to think Werner will visit with Lemieux on Monday night and try to make peace. FSG needs to get Lemieux involved with the team again. It is one thing that he no longer runs the club. It is something much worse that FSG hasn't taken advantage of his boundless wisdom and at least consulted him on any decisions.
Lemieux is an incredible resource.
FSG needs to tap into it as soon as possible.
