The NHL is considering dissolving the Penguins after
this season and then awarding former NHLer Mario Lemieux a
new franchise in Pittsburgh, according to Ann Belser of the
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. The scenario was one of several
mentioned in a statement filed by the league in U.S.
Bankruptcy Court on Friday "supporting Lemieux's bid to pull
the team out of bankruptcy." According to the proposal, the
new franchise could possibly play in an old aircraft hangar
or vacated steel mill until a new arena is constructed. NHL
Senior VP/Legal Affairs William Daly said "there are ways to
come up with temporary facilities that could seat 10,000 or
15,000 spectators." Other possible scenarios for the
Penguins outlined in the NHL filing include "selling the
team to a third party who would be willing to operate the
team outside of Pittsburgh" or revoking the franchise and
auctioning off its assets and players to help repay the
team's debts. Daly said that the filing "did not ask the
court permission to revoke the franchise," and that
dissolving the team was a "last resort." Meanwhile, the
NHL, Penguins co-Owner Howard Baldwin and the NHLPA all have
"supported" Lemieux's bid to restructure the team and pull
it from bankruptcy. Lemieux's plan will be discussed during
a hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Bernard Markovitz on
Friday (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/24). In Pittsburgh, Joe
Starkey wrote that "contrary to recent speculation, the NHL
will not grant Pittsburgh an expansion franchise if the
Penguins are dissolved" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/25).
IF I WERE A BETT-MAN: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman:
"Mario's is the only plan that's been put in to save the
team, and he's worked very hard on it. If the club is going
to be viable in Pittsburgh, he's going to have to be the
owner." Bettman said that the league "is neither hindering
nor discouraging" other potential groups from bidding for
the team, and "we've encouraged everyone to be as active as
they can" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/25).
WEDNESDAY KEY? SMG CEO Wes Westley will meet with
Lemieux "face to face" on Wednesday to discuss lease
concessions at Civic Arena (TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/25).
