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Pittsburgh Penguins

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Year End #1

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Fenway Sports Group unloaded the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins franchise this weekend at a hefty $1.7-to-$1.8 billion, an increase over the $900m the Boston-based agency paid for the ice hockey franchise in 2021.

Crosstown from Fenway and up at North Station, financier and entrepreneur Bill Chisholm, a lifelong Boston Celtics NBA basketball fan, dropped a cool $6.1 billion in order to purchase a controlling chunk of the C’s.

Is it possible that an NBA franchise is worth $4.3 billion more than an iconic NHL team? Or, if you count the exorbitant $10 billion valuation of the Los Angeles Lakers – recently purchased by Mark Waller (from the family of Dr. Jerry Buss), you’ve got a ridiculous 8.3 billion difference.

To level the playing field, hardwood and ice, you must consider the fact the Celtics and the Lakers, respectively, are the two most decorated franchises in the NBA and only the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors can be held in the lofty rare-air of value. In the NHL, the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks can be compared. Pittsburgh would be in the second tier of NHL franchise valuations. The global allure and the recent TV/media deal struck by the NBA make it a very steady investment for the ultra-rich who might be seeking a vehicle to balance their bank books.

Fenway has been seeking a buyer for the ice hockey franchise for a while. The Penguins were never a good fit for the agency, as its Boston-based sister clubs (Boston Red Sox and NHL Bruins) co-own cash cow regional sports network NESN. FSG also owns Liverpool of the English Premier League, and the (Worcester, Mass) Woo-Sox and the minor league teams which support the Red Sox. Fenway also has its investments in, RFK (Roush Racing venture with driver Brad Keselowski), the PGA Tour, and TGL Golf via the Boston Common GC of indoor golf.

Fenway Sports Group and Hoffmann Family of Companies announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for the Hoffmanns to acquire a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Headquartered in Chicago, the Hoffmann family have built a diverse portfolio of operating businesses and commercial real estate holdings and are also owners of the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The close of the transaction is subject to approval by the National Hockey League Board of Governors.

“During a formal process to explore investor interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins, we were approached by the Hoffmann family with an offer that warranted serious consideration,” said Sam Kennedy, CEO of Fenway Sports Group. “From our earliest conversations, their love of the sport and their commitment to doing things the right way made it clear they would be thoughtful stewards of the franchise, which is why we chose to seriously consider their interest. We plan to work closely with them to ensure a smooth transition and to carry forward the momentum that’s been built. It has been an honor to be part of the Penguins’ story, working alongside a world-class leadership team, passionate fans, and a dedicated community.”

Hoffmann Family of Companies is a rapidly expanding, family-owned private equity enterprise of over 125 global brands led by brothers Geoff and Greg Hoffmann. Geoff oversees the family’s private equity investments with Greg managing its real estate holdings. In addition to their business ventures, the Hoffmann’s acquired the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in 2019 and are deeply committed to community impact, contributing millions annually to nonprofits across the country.

Their philanthropic efforts include the creation of Type 1 Timer Hockey in 2022 by Geoff Hoffmann and his wife, the only nonprofit hockey camp in North America dedicated to supporting young athletes with type 1 diabetes.

“Hockey has always been a meaningful part of our family’s story, which makes this an incredibly special opportunity,” said Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of Hoffmann Family of Companies. “We’ve long admired the Pittsburgh Penguins – not just for their championship legacy and history, but for the culture, passion, and loyalty that define the organization. From our earliest conversations, we saw how deeply the Penguins are woven into the fabric of Pittsburgh. We are honored to join that tradition and excited to become an active part of the community.

“Our goal is to support Kyle Dubas with everything he needs to bring the Penguins back to the pinnacle of the NHL. We look forward to working alongside the exceptional leadership team already in place, strengthening our connection with Penguins fans, and ensuring the franchise remains a source of pride for the city for generations to come.”

That all equates to a press announcement filled with back-patting along with a stated commitment to the city of Pittsburgh, the home to the Penguins since the NHL expansion of 1967.

The Penguins lifted the Stanley Cup five times, in 1991,1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017, a tremendous run with much of it due to the talents of the great Mario Lemieux. The success noted, it was Lemieux who bailed the franchise out after they were forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 1998.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: St. John’s University basketball entered the 2025-26 season with a lofty No. 5 ranking, the highest since the Chris Mullin era in the mid-1980s. Coming off the (31-5) 2024-25 season, a BIG EAST Championship and the magic of Rick Pitino’s off-season recruiting efforts, St. John’s was destined for greatness this season … Not so fast, as Saturday’s 78-66 loss to Kentucky set the Johnnies back to (7-4) on the season, including losses to Alabama, Iowa State, Auburn, and the Wildcats – not to mention an exhibition loss at the hands of Michigan at Madison Square Garden. While St. John’s improved defensively over the first three weeks of the young season, and won three games during that timespan, their half-court offense was non-existent in the loss to the (8-4) Wildcats. St. John’s is (0-3) against ranked teams. After one last non-conference game (home vs Harvard), for St. John’s, the tough, full BIG EAST schedule awaits. … A one-of-a-kind baseball card featuring a gold logo patch commemorating Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 NL MVP Award fetched $3 million during an auction this week. The card was autographed by Ohtani. … Long before the advent of breaking news “Woj Bombs” and “Shams Scoops” on Twitter/X, Peter Vecsey, was writing NBA basketball only sports columns in New York and he fast became an influential NBA insider who helped define modern sports journalism. Author Pete Croatto profiled Vecsey for Poynter.

PGA SCHEDULE: The PGA TOUR usually begins its season with a Tournament of Champions on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Each year, roughly 30 pro golfers, who won on the circuit last season, get a one week head start on the rest of the tour. The SONY Open – which was the second event on the tour in year’s past – will now act as the No. 1 tournament for 2026, playing in Honolulu from January 15-18.

A SHAMELESS PGA TOUR BRUNCH PLUG: Say Happy New Year to your favorite golf fan with PGA Tour Brunch. Posted to in-boxes six days a week (not Tuesdays) for lunch or brunch-time reading, PGA Tour Brunch provides fans of the PGA Tour (and its growing list of Fantasy, gambling and DFS players, too) with a one-stop, mobile friendly e-news to help navigate the hundreds of golf news sites available. PGA Tour Brunch is short and sweet, a couple mobile page scrolls and it provides all the basic information, like tee times, the field, odds, player notes, leaderboards, and even some breaking news. It’s designed by @terrylyons with a blessing from the popular @SoxLunch creators.

What Was Written by WWYI in the First Half of ‘25

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As the Year of 2025 comes to a close, your favorite column does a customary look-back at the stories we looked at each week of the year. It works best when split into two parts. One part this week, then Part 2 next weekend. Here’s January to June 2025:

Part One – January 2025 to June ‘25 (Tune in Next Week for July to December)

Jan. 5:

Bold Predications – Actually chalk – Ohio State will win the College Football Playoffs

I made 10 predictions. Plain text = Incorrect but Bold Text = Correct

Ohio State will win the College Football National Championship.

Free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Canada will win the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Detroit Lions will win the Super Bowl. Jared Goff will be MVP.

Kansas will win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with Tennessee, Duke and Florida falling short in the 2025 Final Four. (2 of 4, and Florida won)

Citizen Bull will win the Kentucky Derby but not the Triple Crown. (Sovereignty won and Citizen Bull came in a lowly 15th).

The Vegas Golden Knights will win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Washington Capitals. (Florida Panthers won, but Vegas was 1st in Pacific but lost to Edmonton in the Second Round).

The Oklahoma City Thunder will win the NBA title, defeating the Boston Celtics with OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning a double MVP for the regular season and NBA Finals.

Scottie Scheffler will repeat as the winner of the TOUR Championship, the FedEx Cup and the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year. He will not get arrested this season. (Scheffler fell short and Tommy Fleetwood won)

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be World Series champions once again.

*****I went five for 10 (.500) with partials at the NCAA Final 4 (Duke and Florida). Roki Sasaki signed with the LA Dodgers in March but was oft-injured and placed on the 60-day IL with right shoulder impingement.

Jan. 12:

  • What happened to the Boston “Title Town” teams?
  • LA Wild Fires
  • Venu is Kaput (ESPN changes direction, never launches site/channel)

Jan. 19:

  • CFP 2025 – Good Job
  • MSG photographer George Kalinsky – RIP
  • FIBA ‘25 – Hall of Fame Inductees

Jan. 26:

  • AFC/NFC Championship – Great Day

Feb 2:

  • Ground Hog Day Meets Red Sox Truck Day
  • MLB Spring Training on the Horizon

Feb. 9:

  • The Doncic Trade
  • All-Time Fictional Character Hoops Team

Feb. 16:

  • Ups & Downs of NBA All-Star
  • Jeff Twiss Named BHofF Bunn Award Winner

Feb. 23:

  • 4 Nations Ice Hockey Scores!

March 2:

  • MLB Spring Training/Little Fenway
  • Diana Taurasi

March 9:

  • On-site at MIT Sloan Sports Conference

March 16:

  • On-site at the BIG EAST Tournament at The Garden
  • MLB Opener in Japan

March | Special:

  • St. John’s Wins Big East Championship

March Madness | Special – March 20:

  • Brackets!

March 22:

  • St. John’s Bows-Out Early (On-site in Providence)
  • Celtics Sale

March 30:

  • Frozen Four
  • College Basketball Crown

April 4 | Special | Fenway Home Opener

  • Digital Sports Desk Opens MLB Season at Fenway

April 6:

  • Boston Red Sox Review of Home Opener | Timeline
  • Torpedo Bats

April 13:

  • The Masters
  • Ch, ch, ch, CHANGES in Sports

April 20:

  • Jackie Robinson Day in MLB (April 15)

April 27:

  • Relegation in the Premier League/European Futbol
  • Relegation: Not So Fast in North American-based Pro Sports
  • Relegation in LARGE College Conferences

May 4:

  • San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Tribute

May 11:

  • The Cooper Flagg NBA Draft Lottery
  • Devers Airs his Grievances with Red Sox

May 18:

  • Seasons Change and So Does Boston
  • PGA Championship | Quail Hollow

May 25:

  • The Memorial
  • The Ultimate Memorial: Carl Richard “Dick” Gumina

June 1:

  • The Belmont at Saratoga

June 8:

  • NBA Finals
  • NBA Photos
  • Look Out for the Florida Panthers

June 15:

  • Great Sports Promos – the NHL
  • Stanley Cup Final | Game 5

June 22:

  • NBA Finals – Game 7s
  • On-site for the PGA Tour | The Travelers
  • Cal Raleigh | Record-breaking Pace

June 29:

  • The “New” Texas Triangle

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: Without pushing it too far or making one of my patented lists, one could easily say the most impactful musical voices of the 20th Century were:

  • The Beatles
  • Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones
  • Elvis
  • Frank Sinatra

Here’s a collection of Sinatra Christmas music for your yuletide enjoyment:

Bruins Face Penguins in Key Game

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PITTSBURGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Pittsburgh Penguins are on some kind of roll yet are guaranteed nothing as they get ready to host one of the top teams in the NHL today, the Boston Bruins.

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Seemingly out of the hunt for a playoff spot late last month, the Penguins (37-30-12) have stacked together a 10-game points streak (7-0-3). Thursday, they beat Detroit 6-5 in overtime to move into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

That means if they win their final three games, they are guaranteed a spot in the postseason.

Not that that will be easy for Pittsburgh, just as this stretch hasn’t been easy. Many of the bugaboos that have plagued them all season — blowing leads is at the top of the list — are still there. The Penguins have just been able to overcome them lately.

“For some reason, we like to challenge ourselves a little bit more than maybe we should,” said Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who has stolen the net from prescribed No. 1 Tristan Jarry and has started every game during the 10-game point streak.

In the critical game against the Red Wings — the teams were tied in points going into the game — the Penguins blew a two-goal, third-period lead before Erik Karlsson’s overtime winner.

Assisting on Karlsson’s goal was team captain Sidney Crosby, who has been the catalyst for Pittsburgh’s surge.

He has eight goals, 20 points in the 10 games. Thursday, his goal and two assists lifted him into 10th place all-time in the NHL with 1,591 points and gave him 1,000 career assists.

“He’s a special player; he’s an even more special person,” Crosby’s linemate, Bryan Rust, said. “He’s just leading this team right now. We’re just all getting in line behind him and doing everything we can.”

Boston (46-18-15) long ago established itself as a top team and Stanley Cup contender this season, but there is still work to be done over the final three games.

The Bruins have not locked up the Atlantic Division title, and still have a shot at the Eastern Conference championship and even the Presidents’ Trophy.

That’s a lot of home-ice advantage on the line in addition to bragging rights.

Boston also wants to fine-tune its game heading into the playoffs. The team has been off since Tuesday when its four-game winning streak was snapped in a 4-1 loss to Carolina.

“I feel good” about the team, defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “(Tuesday) was just one game.

“I think we’ve displayed how we can play. … I think we’ve been working toward our game.”

The Bruins also could settle on a go-to goalie, Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman, for the playoffs, or could continue with a rotation of the two.

“Why are we talking about two weeks from now?” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery asked coyly.

In the game in Pittsburgh, there seems to be a good chance that veteran forward Pat Maroon will make his Bruins debut. He was acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline but has been recovering from back surgery.

Montgomery put the odds of Maroon playing at 75 percent.

Maroon could replace James van Riemsdyk, who has just one point in the past 19 games.

–Field Level Media

It’s Official: Welcome the FSG Penguins

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BOSTON/PITTSBURGH – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Pittsburgh Penguins and Fenway Sports Group entered into an agreement for FSG to acquire controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. The deal, which is subject to approval by the National Hockey League Board of Governors, is expected to close before the end of the year.

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As part of the transaction, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will remain part of the ownership group and will be closely aligned with FSG. Lemieux, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, will continue his role guiding hockey operations for the organization. In addition, continuity of leadership will be maintained among the club’s senior management team of CEO David Morehouse, COO Kevin Acklin, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, General Manager Ron Hextall, and Head Coach Mike Sullivan.

FSG Chairman Tom Werner said in a statement, “The Pittsburgh Penguins are a premier National Hockey League franchise with a very strong organization, a terrific history and a vibrant, passionate fan base. We will work diligently to continue building on the remarkable Penguins’ tradition of championships and exciting play.”

Lemieux and Burkle, who purchased the team in 1999, enjoyed a 22-year partnership that delivered three Stanley Cups and the construction of PPG Paints Arena, a multi-purpose venue which opened in August 2010 and is considered one of the top facilities in North America. Under their leadership, the Penguins have consistently led the NHL in local TV ratings, social media, sponsorships, and community and youth hockey investments, while selling out more than 600 straight games.

“As the Penguins enter a new chapter, I will continue to be as active and engaged 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 said. “They have an organizational philosophy that mirrors the approach that worked so well for Ron and me over the past 22 years.”

“Fenway Sports Group brings everything we could ask for in an ownership partner to help continue the historic success of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Morehouse. “They understand what the Penguins mean to Pittsburgh, and they bring to us the latest in cutting-edge sports research, data analytics, player training and performance, real estate development, and organizational excellence..”