|
After the initial sales pitch from AEG and Kansas City Officials, it looks as if the Penguins Ownership Group had gotten enough juice to force the City of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Officials into a new deal. That deal has taken another hit today as Penguins co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle notified Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that talks are at an impasse and they have no choice except aggressively exploring relocation.
The Penguins have declared an impasse and will aggressively explore moving the franchise to a new city. Kansas City is the favourite to land the Penguins as they have a brand new arena that is missing a tenant.
…
“Unfortunately, we still don’t have a deal and are faced with mounting uncertainty that an agreement can be reached in a time frame that is realistic for our organization,” the letter states. ”Therefore, we have no choice but to declare an impasse and to notify NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that we will aggressively explore relocation.”
“A project of this scope, with so many complex issues, can ill afford further delays that add more risk and more uncertainty. The risk has been magnified by what we perceive as a lack of collaboration from the public sector in the negotiations.”
“Our good faith efforts have not produced a deal, however, and have only added more anxiety to what we thought at best was a risky proposition for us moving forward.’”
I said before that Kansas City is an attractive option for the Penguins given the deal offered and the new state-of-the-art arena they offer for immediate occupancy. Any deal with Pittsburgh would involve at least three more seasons in an old run-down arena. While this id guaranteed to anger Pittsburgh fans and illicit anger and irrational statements (as I experienced stating Kansas City made a good offer), it may be time to come to grips with an NHL that isn’t in Pittsburgh. Its not a done deal yet and this could be another attempt to force the City and State to deal to keep the Penguins, but it is not looking good. Just be ready to welcome the Kansas City Penguins and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Full text of letter.
The Florida NHL franchise was busy before yesterday’s trading deadline.
WASHINGTON — The Panthers took a step to assure the Roberto Luongo trade will go down as one of the worst in franchise history Tuesday when they traded Todd Bertuzzi to Detroit hours before the NHL trade deadline.
The Luongo deal was easily the worst in Panther history. A 3rd rate goaltender and an injured player in place of an all-star goaltender. Fiasco is the word that sums up that trade.
Bertuzzi was the principle asset acquired in last June’s deal that sent Luongo, the team’s franchise goaltender, to Vancouver. Florida also got goaltender Alex Auld, out for the season with a knee injury, and top-four defenseman Bryan Allen. Defenseman Lukas Krajicek also joined the Canucks.
“We just have to move forward,” said coach and General Manager Jacques Martin, who served in his GM capacity for the first time on deadline day. “One thing you’ll learn about me is I make decisions to try to better the organization.
Martin wasn’t responsible for the Luongo trade but former GM Mike Keenan.
“I don’t live in the past. My commitment is to make this organization better, and to have a plan … I do feel we can make the organization better with the moves we’ve made today.”
Martin was busy in the 36 hours leading up to the deadline, but not as busy as many expected.
Gary Roberts agreed Tuesday morning to the deal that sent him to Pittsburgh for minor-league defenseman Noel Welch, and defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski went to the same Penguins for a fourth-round draft pick.
*****
Martin said he had discussions with Bertuzzi’s agent, Pat Morris, about a contract extension but ultimately decided to use the $5 million-plus it would have taken to re-sign him elsewhere.
*****
Bertuzzi played only seven games before leaving the team in mid-October with a back injury. He has been practicing and is expected to play again soon.
Exactly what the Panthers get in return for Bertuzzi will depend on how far Detroit goes in the playoffs.
At minimum, they get a third-round pick, but it could rise to a first-rounder if the Red Wings reach a benchmark that is believed to be the conference finals.
Florida would get an additional pick if Bertuzzi re-signs with Detroit (not likely). Florida also got forward prospect Shawn Matthias, 19, a second-round pick of the Red Wings in last year’s entry draft.
The Panthers aren’t a playoff team now, Roberts and the now retired Joe Nieuwendyk weren’t going to be part of the future of this team. So I don’t mind Roberts being gone, but I’d like to know why does this team invest in over the hill players?
Ed Belfour, who is playing well in goal, isn’t any spring chicken either.(Don’t get me wrong, I like Eddie in goal. Its the age factor) With Auld injured, The Eagle is the only proven NHL goaltender the team has. In spite of their 13 goals in the last two games, the Panthers are a notoriously punchless offensive team who now has goaltending problems to boot. Not a good mix.
Matthias and the draft picks may work out but if Detroit thought so highly of this 19-year-old, why trade him for an injured player who will be a free agent at the end of the year? I’m hoping Detroit pulled a Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen but some how I doubt it.
As to the draft picks, the Panthers have had over 10 years to build an offense. Do I need to say more?
Today brings the NHL Trade Deadline, a national holiday in Canada. Of course most of the trades won’t many anything except to Canadians and the five die-hard American fans, I’ll just bring you some of the big name/impact trades as they happen through out the day. But if you are Canadian or one of the five, visit TSN.ca’s site they will give you everything from Edmonton and Toronto trading 7th round draft picks to the guy traded for a bag of pucks. (oh yes they have a live broadcast too.)
Deals of Note
To NY Islanders: F – Ryan Smyth
To Edmonton: F – Robert Nilsson, F – Ryan Omarra, 2007 1st Round Pick
The inability of Edmonton to reach a new contract agreement with Ryan Smyth forced this trade. Edmonton gains nothing and loses the cornerston of their franchise who has been with the team since they drafted him in 1994. Great move by the Islanders, that will help them in the playoff push. I am suprised Edmonton didn’t get a bidding war going, but it was reported that they refused to deal him to a Western Conference Team.
To Dallas: D – Mattias Norstrom, F – Konstantin Pushkarev, 2007 3rd and 4th Round Pick
To Los Angeles: D – Jaroslav Modry, D – Johan Fransson, 2008 1st Round Pick, 2007 2nd and 3rd Round Pick
This wins the award for most complex trade of the day and most difficult for many Kings Fans. Dallas gets Kings’ Captian Mattias Norstrom a solid (but old school) defensive defenseman to shore up their defensive core, who is under contract for next season. Dallas also picks up Pushkarev who can play bigger than he is, but has attitude problem caused mostly by Russian Clubs who consistently tell him he gets no respect in the NHL and should be playing in Russia. The Kings eat the salary of turn over machine Modry (who is a free agent on July 1st) and get the first right to Swedish prospect defensive Fransson. As for the picks… The Kings net a 1st rounder in the stronger 2008 draft and swap around draft positions in 2007 (the Kings’ original 3rd round pick would be higher than Dallas’ original 3rd round pick based on this season standings. Overall the Kings moved up in the draft board in 2007 while Dallas moved down.
To Colorado: F – Scott Parker
To San Jose: 2008 6th Round Pick
Nothing major here, San Jose just picks up an additional draft pick and frees up some roster and cap space.
To Toronto: F – Yanic Perreault, 2008 5th Round Pick
To Phoenix: D – Brendan Bell, 2008 2nd Round Pick
Yanic, who was unsigned for the frist two months of the season, pays off for Phoenix with a higher draft pick and a defensive prospect to build for the future. Toronto picks up a healthy and effective center for a playoff run in what will be a tight playoff push in the east. This is Yanic’s 3rd stint with Toronto.
To Buffalo: F – Dainius Zubrus, D – Timo Helbling
To Washington: F – Jiri Novotnv, 2007 1st Round Pick
Buffalo adds a talented forward but raw forward (with motivational issues) and a defensive prospect to build for the future and a playoff push. In return Washington gets a low 1st round pick in a weak draft and a talented foward who lacks finishing skills and is prone to laziness
To Detroit: F – Todd Bertuzzi
To Florida: TBA Pending Trade Call with NHL Head Office F – Shawn Matthias, 2007 Conditional Draft Pick, 2008 Conditional 2nd Round Draft Pick
Florida gets a top prospect and picks for rebuilding while giving Detroit Bertuzzi who has only played 7 games this seasons. When healthy Bertuzzi is a force on the ice, but no one knows if he will regain his for and if he can avoid sucker punching other players.
To San Jose: F – Bill Guerin
To St. Louis: F – Ville Nieminen, F – Jay Barriball, 2007 1st Round Pick
San Jose gets a first line winger, Stanley Cup Winner and six time All-Star. He possess a big shot, a mean streak that combine power and speed. He will help the Sharks immensely as they make a push for the Stanley Cup.
To Pittsburgh: F – Georges Laraque
To Phoenix: F – Danny Carcillo, 2007 8th Round Pick
Pittsburgh gets one of NHL’s best heavyweights and enforcers to protect their young stars for the playoff run.
To Philadelphia: G – Martin Biron
To Buffalo: Undisclosed Draft Pick 2007 2nd Round Pick
This deal unloads unhappy goalie Biron to Philadelphia. Biron had lost his starting spot in Buffalo and was going to walk away from the team this summer as a free agent, so they pick up what they could for him. I imagine the draft pick will be determined based on Philadelphia’s ability to sign Biron this summer. (in a minor deal, Buffalo acquired Ty Conklin from Columbus for future considerations a 2007 5th Round Pick to fill Biron’s role as backup for the rest of the season and playoffs)
To Pittsburgh: F – Gary Roberts
To Florida: D – Noah Welch
Roberts is a power forward who loves to crash the net and battle for loose pucks. At 40 years old, he is a short term rental for the young Pittsburgh team to provided leadership and grit from past Stanley Cup Playoffs. Welch is a 24 year old defenseman; he’s a big presence on the blue line (6’4″) with a big shot from the point. With his upside this could pay off for Florida in the long run.
To Vancouver: F- Bryan Smolinski
To Chicago: 2007 Conditional 2nd Round Pick
To Vancouver: D – Brent Sopel
To Los Angeles: 2008 2nd and 4th Round Pick
In both of these trades are to improve Vancouver, currently the #3 seed in the West. Smolinski is a veteran center, who becomes a free agent on July 1st, while Sopel can play like a top 4 defensemen (but is prone to stupid mistakes) and provides additional offensive spark at the blue line. The picks are a wash; Los Angeles got a better deal than Chicago as the 2008 draft is projected to be stronger than the 2007 draft.
To NY Islanders: F – Richard Zednik
To Washington: 2007 2nd Round Pick
Islanders pick up extra offense to sneak into the Playoffs, provided Zednik doesn’t go into one of his prolonged scoring slumps.
To Atlanta: F – Keith Tkachuk
To St. Louis: F – Glen Metropolit, 2007 1st and 3rd Round Picks, 2008 2nd Round Pick
Atlanta gets a veteran scorer (with historic playoff scoring problems), while St. Louis gets a career reserve forward and a bunch of picks to rebuild the time. This deal is mainly to set the price for Bill Guerin.
To Philadelphia: D – Braydon Coburn
To Atlanta: D – Alexei Zhitnik
Philadelphia gets a young defenseman with lots of upside, while Atlanta gets a veteran defenseman with a big slap shot and the ability to play a big man’s game…when he’s motivated to.
To Carolina: F – Anson Carter
To Columbus: 2008 5th Round Pick
Carolina gets Carter, who had been a disappointment from Columbus on the cheap. Could pay dividends for Carolina IF Carter rediscovers his scoring touch.
To Nashville: F – Peter Forsberg
To Philadelphia: F – Scottie Upshall, D – Ryan Parent, 2007 1st and 3rd Round Pick
Nashville sold the farm to get Forsberg, which means this is the year they are really going for the Cup hard. Forsberg is a immense talent and game changer, but recent history shows he is one big hit away from the injured list. By far the biggest risk-reward player out there and really could push Nashville over the top. On an ironic side note, Nashville now has two of the biggest divers in the League on their team in Peter Forsberg and Paul Kariya.
Yesterday I mentioned Pittsburgh Penguins Ownership visiting Kansas City in AEG’s attempt to lure them to the City. Well AEG just pulled the goalie for an extra skater, offering free rent and equal management stake in the new arena.
The Pittsburgh Penguins could play rent-free and be equal managing partners in the new Sprint Center if they move to Kansas City, under an offer unveiled Thursday by the arena’s operating group.
Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, said the Penguins would not have to buy into the management agreement. The $276 million Sprint Center is scheduled to open in October.
…
“We are not trying to steal the Penguins,” Leiweke said. “We have been very respectful of their process. We understand that this is Pittsburgh’s to lose, and we respect that.”
Anschutz officials, including former Pittsburgh star Luc Robitaille, met Wednesday and Thursday with Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, his partner, Ron Burkle, and other team representatives.
“They have told us they will make a decision within 30 days,” Leiweke said. “We will know within 30 days whether they are going to work out their issues in Pittsburgh and get an arena built, or whether they will ask the NHL for permission to move the team to Kansas City.”
Leiweke lives up to his nickname of “Lie Weekly†given to him by Kings Fans, with that kind of deal on the table, you are trying to steal the team. With this offer on the table and the lack of a solution or even an offer close to this in Pittsburgh for the team, the ownership would have to be really loyal or really stupid not to jump on it. I guess we will all know in 30 days.
I won’t even get into calling Luc Robitaille a “Pittsburgh star†when he only played there one season…
Update: In all fairness, you could call Luc a Pittsburgh Star. After all it was he who in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals scored with 0.3 seconds left to force overtime against Chicago in 1995. Thus he prevented the game from ending, allowing Jean-Claude Van Damme enough time to stop the terrorist from blowing up the arena at the end of the game saving his daughter, the Vice President and the world from Sudden Death.
According to ESPN:
The Pittsburgh Penguins are searching for a new home, and officials in Kansas City are rolling out the red carpet.
The Penguins, whose lease at Mellon Arena expires in June, has attracted interest from cities in the market for an NHL franchise. Kansas City officials, eager to find a tennant for the $276 million Sprint Center scheduled to open this fall, invited the Penguins in for a visit — and they accepted.
Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, who head the Pens’ ownership group, and other front-office personnel were scheduled to meet Wednesday with city officials and Sprint Center representatives, according to a statement released by the team.
“We are meeting with officials in Kansas City today as part of our effort to explore all of our options regarding a new arena,” the statement read. “We have heard many great things about their new building, which is scheduled to open in time for the start of the 2007-08 NHL season.
“We will meet with [Pennsylvania] Governor Rendell, County Executive Onorato and Mayor Ravenstahl in Pittsburgh on Thursday, and we will continue to explore other options as well.
“Our hope is to reach a new arena deal as soon as possible that will best ensure the economic health and long-term future of the Penguins franchise.”
…
The franchise’s current lease expires in June.
Kansas City is believed to be the first city to extend an invitation for a visit to Lemieux and the Penguins’ ownership team. Other cities that have expressed interest in the Penguins are Houston, Winnipeg, Portland, Ore., and possibly Oklahoma City.
Only time will tell if economic health and long-term future of the Penguins franchise can relate in anyway to staying in Pittsburgh, but Kansas City is looking more like reality.
Its beginning to look as if AEG Worldwide’s $54m investment in the $276m Sprint Center may just work out. Due to open in the Fall 2007 and host the 2008 Big 12 Basketball Tournament, they may have just moved a step closer to fulfilling their goal of housing a NBA of NHL franchise. Unfortunately, this would come at the expense of the City of Pittsburgh who saw the push to keep the Penguins in the City dealt another blow.
The future of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins is uncertain after Isle of Capri Casino was denied a slots licence in the state capital Wednesday.
The state’s Gaming Control Board in Harrisburg approved a licence for PITG Gaming Majestic Star of Detroit over Isle of Capri and a third bidder, Forest City Enterprises. The NHL team is expected to release a statement later in the day.
The licence was critical to the club’s survival in Pittsburgh as Isle of Capri had promised to spend US$290 million to build the Penguins an arena. The Penguins need a new rink to replace the 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the NHL.
The decision comes less than a week after a deal to sell the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie fell through.
AEG has already made moves to ink a long term lease with William Del Biaggio III to own and operate an NHL team in the Sprint Center if one becomes available through expansion or relocation.
Given the current attendance struggles of the league, especially in what would be considered big hockey towns like Chicago and St. Louis, I find it hard to see the expansion occurring anytime soon. The Penguins are left with out funding or an owner to keep the team in Pittsburgh, even with assistance from the NHL trying to keep them there. With options running out, look out West as the NHL just may give AEG the chance to save the Penguins similar to when AEG took over the Kings and led them out of the disaster Bruce McNall created.
 |
| Wednesday, December 20, 2006 |
The new casino for Pittsburgh was announced, and it was not Isle of Capri.
PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Penguins ownership planned to discuss the state’s rejection Wednesday of a slot-machine casino application by Isle of Capri Casinos, which had promised to build a $290-million arena if it got a license.
The Penguins ownership group, headed by Hall of Fame player Mario Lemieux, did not immediately comment on the decision by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to reject the slots license.
After the decision was announced, the Penguins practiced at Mellon Arena, the 45-year-old building the team says must be replaced for it to remain viable in Pittsburgh.
The board voted unanimously to award the city’s only slot-machine license to Detroit-based casino developer Don H. Barden’s PITG Gaming. Barden’s group proposes building a casino and entertainment development on the city’s North Shore, near Heinz Field and PNC Park.
Barden had promised to contribute some money for a new arena over 30 years under a plan proposed by city and county officials that would include public funds. But that plan also calls for the Penguins to help pay for the facility.
The short of this is, the Penguins had been counting on Isle of Capri to build them a new arena – as things currently stand, they cannot easily afford to help pay for the arena. Now, they are without an arena, and are back in the sales market after the interested buyer ran into a dispute with the NHL and pulled out. The question of whether the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh is looming over the team, and a lot depends on what they hash out over the next few weeks. In addition, they need a new owner as soon as possible. The future is very uncertain for this franchise. Unless they net an owner with deep pockets dedicated to making this work, they may be reaching the end of their tenure in the Steel City.
|
| Thursday, August 31, 2006 |
Sale of Pittsburgh Penguins in trouble? (KDKA)
More than a month has passed since a Connecticut real estate developer signed a letter of intent to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins.
There’s been no sale as of yet.
KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan has word that the deal may be in trouble.
Sam Fingold won exclusive negotiating rights to the Penguins when he offered $175 million dollars to buy the hockey club.
The deal has hit some major snags and tonight there’s serious doubt that Fingold and the Penguins will ever make the deal.
At $175 million dollars, the Penguins shocked the hockey world by fetching a sale’s price that hockey insiders thought they would never reach.
Now it appears the insiders might have been right all along.
The soap opera continues. Interestingly enough, the NHL wants to keep the Pens in Pittsburgh:
In recent weeks, the NHL has made it clear that it does not want the Penguins to leave Pittsburgh and would block such a move if there is a viable plan to build a new arena.
Of course, that’s been the whole issue over the past few years: the Pens, no matter how hard they try, cannot get anyone to finance the new arena. The only party to come forward has been the Isle of Capri casino, which would build an arena if they get a gaming contract in Pittsburgh. However, they are one of many possible gambling groups vying for a Pittsburgh license, and chances are that only one or two of the companies will get one. The state and local governments have promised a plan B, according to the article, but I’ll believe it when it happens.
|
| Wednesday, April 26, 2006 |
Mark Cuban eyes ownership stake in Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is interested in becoming a limited partner in a new ownership group trying to buy the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, according to a report.
“I have told several people who have contacted me that, although I wouldn’t be the lead or largest investor, I would kick in some money if it would help,” Cuban, a Pittsburgh native, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
I’m not sure how I feel about this one . . . Cuban is a bit of a firebrand, but his Pittsburgh background may just be what keeps the Penguins in Pittsburgh when they hit the auction block. Also, I’m not sure I like having to like the owner of any Dallas team.
Now I really want to see him do something with the other losing team in Pittsburgh.
Cuban has also expressed interest in owning the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are not currently for sale.
The Pirates need SOMETHING lit underneath them – Cuban may be just the thing. You know that baseball is not going well when you see this series of headlines on the Tribune Review’s website:
Another game to forget
Cards rally to beat Pirates
Pirates lose sixth straight
Casey injury affects Bay
Cardinals 6, Pirates 3: How they scored
Eldred out four months
Eesh. At least the Steelers won that little game called the Super Bowl a few months back.
|
|
|
Permalink
| Send TrackBack
