Commentary
Lemieux should consider playing for another team PITTSBURGH – Mario Lemieux playing for another team is not crazy talk.
The idea that Lemieux wouldn’t explore that possibility? Now, that’s crazy.
Lemieux’s career has been fascinating in so many ways and this is another unique twist.
He can still play hockey at a high level. Even with a terrible supporting cast for much of last season, he still finished second in the NHL in points per game.
His fabulous hand-eye coordination, vision of the ice and uncanny ability to anticipate the play have not diminished a bit.
Yes, he’s pushing 38 and sometimes looks every day of that. Surgeries on his back and hip have taken a toll and those quick bursts of speed are well-chosen these days.
But Lemieux could be a major asset to some team, even if he limited himself to power-play duty. Surround him with players who know what he’s doing – and what they’re doing – and he’ll rack up points like a pinball machine.
He would still be an asset to the Penguins if he chose to play for them. He just wouldn’t make as much of a difference to a team that’s in a complete rebuilding mode. You saw what happened down the stretch last year.
At some point the Penguins have to learn to function without Lemieux on the ice, establishing structured systems and finding personnel who can be the foundation of a winner in the years to come.
But Lemieux with a more experienced team? That makes perfect sense.
The speculation that he might consider dropping his ownership stake in the Penguins to sign as a free agent with another team was not unfounded.
Lemieux could sign for at least two years and be guaranteed no less than $20 million. It’s more likely he could command closer to $30 million.
Lemieux has made a lot of money over his career, but he never made as much as he should have. He took questionable advice and agreed to defer money. He was left holding those IOUs when the previous ownership went bankrupt.
Lemieux could have settled for pennies on the dollar, like other creditors did. He opted to take his money as ownership equity because his advisors thought that was his best hope for recovering what was owed him.
They projected a scenario in which the Penguins would get a new arena, which would raise the value of the franchise. The plan was to have Lemieux hold the franchise for a few years, sell it at a profit and ride off into the sunset on a golf cart.
But Sept. 11 shot a hole in the economy and, while everyone agrees a new arena should be built, there’s no money for it.
Could Lemieux divest himself of his ownership stake? Easily, it says here. He could transfer his shares to a relative or attorney, a transparently paper move that would take his name off the books temporarily.
It would be a sham, but the NHL wouldn’t stand in the way of a Hall of Fame player continuing his career. The league needs Lemieux on the ice more than it needs him as the owner of a franchise that’s doomed without a new building anyway.
After he’s broken the bank with a contract elsewhere, Lemieux could come back to Pittsburgh and reclaim his ownership stake.
Would there be a fan backlash? No. Intelligent fans can see what the circumstances are and wouldn’t hold it against Lemieux that he went after a chance for lifelong financial security and an opportunity to play in a competitive situation again.
Besides, if the rebuilt Penguins are playing exciting, winning hockey, who cares who the owner is?
After playing a couple of seasons, Lemieux could return to his ownership role and prepare to sell the Penguins. Either their value is enhanced by a new arena or it’s enhanced by the ability to sell them to someone who would move the franchise. They have no obligation to stay after 2007.
Mario Lemieux playing for someone other than the Pittsburgh Penguins isn’t preposterous.
There are 30 million good reasons why he should consider it.
Sports correspondent John Mehno can be reached at: begin johnmehno@lycos.com johnmehno@lycos.com end
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