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Mario: If I play, it will be with Pens
Staying put
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
Karen Price can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7980.
That's what the Penguins' principal owner said in a statement issued Monday morning to quash swelling speculation that he wants to sell his share of the team and play elsewhere for more money.
"I am not considering selling my interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins," Lemieux said in the statement. "As I said to our season-ticket holders last week, I have not decided whether I will play in 2003-04. However, if I do play, it will be for the Pittsburgh Penguins."
Lemieux, 37, again delayed a decision on his future last week when the Penguins held a "town meeting" with season-ticket holders, promising that he'd announce his plans to play next year or retire "soon." On Sunday, a report on the Canadian Web site TSN said that Lemieux, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, would indeed play next year. However, it would be for either the New York Rangers or Philadelphia Flyers and not the Penguins if he could find someone to buy his share of the team. A similar report ran in the New York Post.
Lemieux made $5.25 million with the Penguins in 2002-03, and finished as the eighth-leading scorer in the NHL with 28 goals and 63 assists despite playing in just 67 games. Even in the final year of the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players association, which many believe could affect this summer's free agent signings, Lemieux could probably still more than double his salary by going elsewhere.
Some sources around the league remained convinced yesterday that Lemieux looked into the possibility of selling and going elsewhere, but found that such a move would be difficult at best.
For the league to approve a sale, there could be no potential conflict of interest -- the transaction would have to be permanent and not just a loan. Lemieux would not be able to reclaim his share of the team once he retired.
It would also have to happen in a relatively short period of time. Even a wealthy team like the Rangers would probably have to rid some existing obligations in order to afford Lemieux. And given that the Penguins have been seeking one or two new investors since early April with no real prospects on the horizon, Lemieux would likely have trouble finding a buyer on short notice.
Penguins president Ken Sawyer refused to comment on the situation after Lemieux's statement.
"We feel that stands on its own," team spokesman Tom McMillan said.
Rangers general manager Glen Sather told the New York Daily News yesterday that he had "zero contact with Mario or anyone that represents him."
And one source close to Lemieux said yesterday that he didn't believe there was any truth to the reports.
Similar rumors came out in March, and Lemieux said at the time that he intended to stay with the Penguins.
"The rumor started in New York, and maybe it's wishful thinking on their part," he told the Tribune-Review at the time. "Then, it's in Toronto and Montreal and everybody's calling me (wondering if it's true). I've been loyal to this franchise, and I want to remain loyal. That's how I view it."
