Mario Lemieux the Owner and the Early 2000s Penguins

Mario has saved the team from moving more than once. The team also went through tough times early on after he bought the team.
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[@JeremyCuddles]

Super Mario is my GOAT. What he has done for the Pens is nothing short of legendary.

[@11DNA11]

He's was the most fun guy to watch play. Every time he was on the ice, he made something happen.

[@creepyrobsta5509]

Whether he's # 1 or as low as # 4. I think almost anyone has Lemieux, Gretzky, Orr, and Howe in their Mount Rushmore! I have him high on that list, but sadly didn't watch any of these guy's when they played, as I was a baseball fan at that time.

[@juveaccount]

He is the Jesus of hockey

[@schuy7RA]

Being from Pittsburgh, of all the great athletes to have played here and still play here, Mario Lemieux is easily the most respected. He is a legend in this city.

[@christopher3952]

@John Steudler no it's lemieux for sure. Franco is awesome local but doesn't do much he's just an average guy day in day out. I've met him several times and he's a great guy no doubt. However he doesn't do things that Mario does. Austins playhouse, the lemieux foundation, saving the penguin franchise from bankruptcy etc etc. Lemieux has bettered this city in multiple ways unlike any other sports figure in Pittsburgh history. Greene, Lambert and majority of 70s Steelers don't even live here anymore. Exception. Being rocky, and franco. Also don't forgot those Steelers of the 70s didn't make much money like lemieux did. That in its self can be a bit factory what you do following a professional career.

[@schuy7RA]

John Steudler football is more popular here than hockey, so those guys are probably more famous. But Lemieux is held in another category and regarded as the absolute man here. The city loves and respects him so much. He’s done a lot for the city outside of hockey as well.

[@frankcommatobe8009]

Sewickley gang

[@creepyrobsta5509]

Even if you ABSOLUTELY HATE THE PENGUINS you gotta respect & love Lemieux!....Back problems, Hip problems, Cancer, a Failing Franchise, and he triumphed over all! As someone who has had back problems and smoked I have nothing but love for the guy, out here in L.A.!

[@hazardous0887]

John Steudler Football is definitely the most popular sport here in the city and of course, Joe Greene would be seem as the most famous and you wouldn’t be wrong to a degree. But out of most respected, that’s definitely Lemieux. Even people who aren’t hockey fans or don’t watch hockey in general in Pittsburgh know who Lemieux is

[@kosmicwizard]

Malkin was #2 overall, behind OV8

[@larryparr2799]

Don’t forget that Jagr putting the team on his back why they upset the devils and got that extra second round money that saved the franchise for the moment.

[@Youtubeuser797]

Not to mention Straka/Kasparaitis ot goals in 01

[@aaGit]

you should do a regular podcast, this kind of stuff is so interesting to listen to in the backround

[@dennis9707]

Shannon should teach hockey in college courses.

[@BlakeWheelersBurnerAccount]

@@dennis9707think of the curriculum he would come up with. Possibilities are endless.

[@BrokenSaide]

Nobody means more to a single sports franchise than Lemieux means to Pittsburgh. He single handedly saved, and kept, us in Pittsburgh.

[@ronaldgarner1992]

Super Mario is one of 5 Hall of Famers drafted in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. The others are Patrick Roy, Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull and Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine. Glavine was drafted before Robitaille and Hull.

[@BvG_Venom]

My first hockey game was either in 03 or 04. Pens lost 8-0 to Montreal

[@gutchmang2430]

I'm pretty sure that was Sheldon Souray's 6 point game. 1G 5A, still a record for a Habs D.

[@tonttaana8930]

That 2000-01 was good!!. Super Mario,Jagr,straka,kovalev,Lang!!.

[@lancemilliken9078]

Him and Bobby Orr are the two biggest "what if" stories in NHL history

[@360flip19]

I would add Mike Bossy in that conversation too. That's not to say that Bossy was quite the transcendent talent that Orr and Lemieux was, but had he played a full career he almost certainly would have the all time goals record.

[@MrPeabody67]

Add what if Valeri Kharlamov played in the NHL to that list.

[@lancemilliken9078]

360flip19 yup he is another one

[@wencosa]

You can add Jagr to that (KHL, lockouts)

@@wencosa Bossy, Cody Hodgson, Bertuzzi, Daigle, Lindros, Horton, Burdon, ...

[@ColonialUnited]

I'm a Caps fan but even I think Lemieux is the 🐐

[@sshurmatz]

When the pens upset New Jersey in the 1st round of the 1999 playoffs Penguins were the number eight seed. During that time Mario was still going thru the bankruptcy court to gain control of the pens. During that series, the pens were almost dead in the water with hardly any local support, but that changed when the pens upset the devils. Mario got the control of the team in June of that year, and started the comeback of Mario playing again for the pens.

[@shtanna]

Great stuff Shannon. The magazine article is wrong. The pens didn't make the conference final in 2000. They lost in the 2nd round to Philly. They did make the conference finals in 2001 when Super mario returned. I always remember the game he made his comeback! Unbelievable electricity in the building!

[@mattcampbell8939]

blew out the Leafs

[@shtanna]

@@mattcampbell8939 Yep, 5-0 I believe, and Mario had 3 pts too.

[@jasonwaddingvlogs254]

Wasn't it around Christmas yeah I remember that

[@Patres87]

Every time I start watching one of his videos, I end up binge watching and I'm not even a subscriber. Production is simple but the content is that keeps you focused. Bravo.

[@JohnWilliams-hn3wn]

Most people don't realize the pain that mario played in half his career at times not even being able to tie his own skates. An athlete with hotchkins disease and a horrible back playing most games at about 30% level. He was the savior of the Pens in many ways but most of all the people's hero!

[@sergiokhizhnyak]

it's so wonderful to cheer for that amazing franchise: it's always kinda like a really good Hollywood drama with so many unique stories and great characters who are going through adversity to the inevitable happy end ^_^ luv my Pens

[@BvG_Venom]

Ah the X Generation Pens. Led by Rico Fata and Milan Kraft

[@theodorebelmont7922]

Dont forget about Dicky Tarnstrom

[@theodorebelmont7922]

@@michaelb4833 Kelly Buchburger

[@tomchamberlain4329]

Rene Corbet

[@BvG_Venom]

Steve McKenna

[@theodorebelmont7922]

@@michaelb4833 haha i remember i hated Buchburger all thru his career then he ends up with the Penguins

[@bannisher]

Mario is Pittsburgh royalty. I don't want to admit how much mario merch I have around the house.

[@bannisher]

Also I want to note that as long as Mario owns the Pens he's *going for the cup.* this isn't a lazy owner happy just making money. We're cursed with the crappy pirates who won't spend a dime on the team. Mario is the exact opposite.

[@Abruzzo333]

Shannon, you should watch the Penguins documentary "Pittsburgh is Home". Even if you're not a Pens fan, it's a great hockey documentary.

[@SombraPiloto]

Lemieux is my #1, the GOAT.

[@seanwatson3790]

this video brings me down memory lane. I grew up a pens fan in pittsburgh since 1990, and i remember going to games during those down times. I remember listening to the announcements that they got a new arena. I remember where I was when they announced we won the crosby lottery, and I remember how betrayed I felt when jagr, straka, lang, and my favorite player kovi got traded for basically nothing. This team means the world to me because I went from the great times, to the bottom of the world, and back, and I have intimately roade that emotional roller coaster. I remember rico fata, an tomas surovy and dicky t. Thank you for this video, it was a good representation of what I went through for so many years

[@bacchigaloupe1]

another legendary video in the books. natural light is awesome

[@richcerasale8909]

another great video shannon. keep them up

[@clarkwilson9520]

This is an old video and I don't know if anyone said this but the reason that the penguins need to make the second round to turn a profit is the same reason Pittsburgh doesn't have a basketball team.. The city should be too small to support as many teams as it does (steelers/penguins/pirates) but we manage it pretty well I'd say

[@riloh58]

Thanks for this Shannon. Pens fan from down under here and unapologetic Lemieux fan (obviously). Really got into hockey when he was in his prime.

[@theodorebelmont7922]

I remember calling in sick to work the game he came back vs Maple Leafs. Honeslty i jumped outta my chair when he scored in the game.

[@Cobretti20001]

Could listen to you talk hockey all day! Love it.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Mario is the definition of a class act.

[@ShantyIrishman]

Every good Canadian boy loves that Hockey News cover. 22:34

[@maedhros3305]

If the Penguins had kept Jagr there is a very good chance that they would have won just enough games to not get that number 1 pick for Fleury, that 2 pick for Malkin or the 1 pick for Crosby. The entire league changed because of that Jagr trade. He also played so bad in Washington that the Caps were able to draft Ovi ahead of Malkin in 04. All 4 of those future Hall of famers could have ended up playing for different teams.

[@fredrikjonsson8126]

great video!

[@AC-xq4hh]

This is such a cool video, wow, can't believe I only just saw this

[@ihatetheantichrist9545]

That 2000-2001 team was so damn good

[@kosmicwizard]

Super Mario was my favourite player, his ppg after everything he went through is higher than Gretzski's were after he was 27 ... Cancer, chronic back pain, worn out hips, nothing could take this guy down, and if he wouldn't have come back to mentor Syd the kid things wouldn't be as they are today either.

[@SombraPiloto]

As a Nevada resident I’m quite interested to see what the VGK attendance becomes when they come back down to earth and the novelty wears off.

[@9313James]

I always wanted to see Jagr retire a Penguin but it was never going to happen with the way he left. I was just getting back in to Ice Hockey at this time (thanks to the internet being in the UK) and it was really difficult seeing my team be so poor, especially as my football team was at the beginning of a long slide downward which has only really stopped in the last few years. Incredibly pleased that the city of Pittsburgh was able to keep them there as I don't think any other city would have felt right and if they stopped being the Penguins and became something else, well it was the animal that made me choose that team as a young boy in the first place. Very grateful to Super Mario for everything he's done for the franchise.

[@classicamerican2469]

Man that Penguins jersey looks great.

[@creepyrobsta5509]

The Penguins have to make a boat load on jersey sales. I see more Pittsburgh jerseys in the states then any other team! (Except of course when I go to Kings games)

[@TheIdiotNamedJoe]

There’s no shortage of Pittsburgh jerseys here in Canada either. Crosby was and still is a very big name here.

[@dr3putt62]

Having watched (live and in person) his career, Mario was not only super but annoying to a Caps fan. At times a whiner like Crosby, but RESPECT for his skill and scoring touch. I am soo glad you did this video. He deserves this 👍👍 seeing an opportunity to give back to a City that gave him so much. Gretzky, Howe, Orr, Ovi, and Mario my top 5.

[@fitness_mcgee6353]

Love that jersey

[@jahmanoog461]

Before Mario--cheap tickets to watch them lose. Umderstand the small market, totally dedicated to football. Pittsburgh has been called A drinking town with a football problem. No tradition, hadn't won anything. In that sense Mario is a true Ambassador of the GAME, educating the fans on what it takes to win a Cup, and it is the most difficult championship to win. Never in sports was a player owed so much money and invested so much that he bought the team. A pillar of the sport and good business instincts. So dominant the two line pass wasn't removed until his career was over, since, if he skated toward the blue line to break out of the zone, no single Defense man could stop him from getting to the puck. Easily the best one on one/two with goalie player of all time. Gretzky has, and deserves, the points record, the Great One was a scoring machine. We have Mario and a tradition and he gets loyal fans. The NHL has another solid anchor in the US market thanks, in large part, to Mario. It's a Great Day for Hockey! GO PENS!

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

I thought this team was moving to the West and fortunately they stayed. Who else am I suppose to dislike with a burning passion? XD Mario was unbelievably talented. One of the best hockey players of all time. Ouch...that hurt saying, but it's true. Lemieux is one in a million.

[@upbeatmj]

Caps-pens best rivalry in league

[@carparthero]

@The Hockey Guy thanks for shining the light of truth about mario and the penguins when times were not so good. being 47 close to your age, i like yourself, lived and seen what happened with the penguins. nonetheless this video was, is and will be so important for people of all ages to understand and remember what mario lemieux did for the penguins on and OFF the ice!! am not a penguins fan or hater but appreciate their great teams over the years, and how they and the city persevered to keep the team in pittsburgh. #penguinsinpittsburghforlife oh and congrats THG on getting to 180k sub's. keep fighting the good fight!! cheers from southern ontario 🍁

[@brendenstuder6119]

Only 2 of those "very good prospects" you mentioned were actually on the 2009 Stanley Cup team, Orpik and Fleury. Very interesting.

[@edyoung4450]

2 more of those prospects were on the cup losing team being whitney and malone

[@Mach141]

Ill never forget Therrian saying they players didnt even try during a press conference

[@chrisgorgas1929]

For people who don't know, Pittsburgh is a very small city. It's really a rural area and the Pittsburgh teams struggle because they are a small market, except for the Steelers. I've been waiting forty years for the Pirates to be contenders again.

[@seanhartwick2243]

A lot of us know. Yinzer for life myself

[@hazardous0887]

It’s essentially the Winnipeg of the US except much more successful....

[@chrisgorgas1929]

Hazardous 088 That's why the salary cap makes sense. It's more fair to cities with small markets.

[@johnscott353]

The city itself is small. But the metropolitan area is like top 20 in population so no they aren't the Winnipeg of us. Green bay is

[@chrisgorgas1929]

tommyboy Including the metro area, the population is still only about 2.3 million.

[@joshkusiak7613]

Hopefully to happen again soon!

[@Detector1977]

I remember those days with the Kansas speculation. After that wonderful playoffs 01 everything fell apart.

[@darthslater8722]

Nice jersey that’s a throwback

[@nikantropov3165]

The 2001 team had lemeuix Jagr Lang straka and kovalev in their top 6. Wtf

[@tomchamberlain4329]

Very low audio in the left channel! You should probably know about that if you don't already

[@FreeJaffa92]

Thanks for the history. I personally hate the Penguins but for the first time I kind of feel bad to know that if they don’t get to the second round they loose money.

[@Mike_Poppe]

Spittin’ Chicklets boys were there top prospects, huh

[@thesuneversets]

Ivan hlinka was jagrs guy if I recall. Around the time that jagoff was running himself out of town.

[@penguinsfan251]

Shannon, the early 2000s were the residue of the Howard Baldwin era. Baldwin never had the money to run the Penguins - he really didn't have the money to buy them either. The Pens were sharing an AHL team with Edmonton, which is how bad the scouting and drafting were going. The Civic Arena was functionally obsolete in the 1980s - Cleveland built a new arena downtown in 1994 and abandoned the 20 year old Richfield Coliseum, which was in every way a better arena than the old Igloo. Baldwin could not participate in the new stadium/ballpark project - he was broke. After Mario & Burkle took over the team the drafting improved. The lockout all the NHL fans blame Bettman for and the subsequent salary cap did not just save the Penguins - a lot of other NHL teams would have met their end, including every Canadian team not playing in Montreal or Toronto. The whole new arena thing was another fiasco. i pointed out elsewhere that the late Mayor Bob O'Connor wanted the Pens to leave and get an NBA team - pure stupidity for a region with little interest in the NBA. I have the jersey you are wearing. I had Battleship Kelly's name and number put on it.

[@sdgakatbk]

Lol, do the analogies with the house falling down have anything to do with your move?

[@ESchneider702]

The most stable/profitable organizations. That would be a good video

[@christopher3952]

What people don't understand is that the bankruptcys were not the fault of the fans specifically because they didn't go to games. One owner didn't pay taxes and had shady dealings in the early days of the franchise. Then Howard Baldwin comes along sells off all the rights to everything that could get him quick cash. Vendors in the arena with food, drink,alcohol, merchandise sales. TV broadcasting rights etc. Only thing they had the rights to was ticket sales. They could of sold out and it still wouldn't have covered the expenses they had to pay. Could you say that the fans didn't help anything certainly but Baldwin was the reason they got into that mess in the first place. Could debartilo be a factor to blame perhaps but not the final nail that led to the 90s bankruptcy.

[@juveaccount]

Lemieux is the Jesus of the Pittsburgh Penguins

[@luvslogistics1725]

The Pens are one of the most followed teams nowadays.

[@tonymultani]

Mario Lemieux the real GOAT if not for the cancer and back problems

[@mynameisdpc]

Never forget, Hedburg had a .911 SV% in 01....

[@titowrestling]

As much as I loved Jagr, he tanked in that 2001 New Jersey series. Complained about a new contract and wanted to be traded.

[@justinwalters7953]

My Pens actually traded away Markus Naslund for Alex Stojanov. Ugh

Hey, Vancouver has to make a good trade every decade or so.

[@NotoriousChacha]

Best trade ever

[@sshurmatz]

And Zubov to Dallas for Kevin Hatcher.

[@MMGJ10]

@@sshurmatz I remember being probably the only person in Pittsburgh that didn't like that trade. Zubov clashed with Lemieux as they were both "power play quarterbacks", and he "didn't shoot enough", but man was he a good defenseman. Hatcher was on the decline and Zubov was solidly in his prime. Terrible trade.

[@MMGJ10]

@@sshurmatz I think Zubov is a HOF'er

[@creepyrobsta5509]

Isnt Mark Messier "Moose"....only been really following Hockey since 2012, but I thought that name was relegated to Messier?

[@americaletstalkwithjimmyv3682]

Could you do a stability ranking for NHL teams?

[@justinhollingsworth8212]

I mean, that’s kinda pointless. All teams are pretty stable at the moment except for Ottawa, Arizona and Florida. Other than that, I can’t really see much of a need for a stability ranking when just about every team is fine stability wise.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Once again he would save the Penguins ( as an owner)

[@kaylaeastty5828]

So did he see the team? After that season is he still a owner or at least involved in Pittsburgh still?

[@That90sShow]

He still owns them

[@evileyeball]

IIRC I went to High school with Chris Beech's Neice

[@mynameisdpc]

So....Hedberg had a .911 save percentage....in 2001....

[@doctorx3]

Kevin Constantine is an interesting figure. He had a winning record in most of his seasons, but he wore out his welcome with players rather quickly. I can't say why, but I know a common line of complaint against him was that he never played the game at a high level and couldn't relate to the demands of the pro game.

[@sniffmypickle4181]

When you gonna do a mike Keenan video

[@JHockeyFan]

Pretty sure he already did one.

[@JHockeyFan]

If they don't trade Jagr, they most likely don't get Crosby. Because they hadn't won a lottery in the previous 4 drafts, and hadn't made the playoffs in the previous 3 seasons, they got 3 lottery balls. If they had made the playoffs, they would've had one lottery ball removed from the 2005 Lottery, and we're talking about Crosby's legacy with a different organization.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

Tuggernut!!

[@dr.tabogan1421]

Lemeiux is our savior.

[@williammontroy9024]

Sorry Gretzky guys ... I’d take Mario over Wayne any day of the week and twice in sundays .

[@sinisterone4673]

They were so bad in those years, but they are still competitive to this day because of some of those draft picks

[@kamX-rz4uy]

The organization's approach to spending money is how it should be. Make money by winning. Contrast that against the Pirates who determine the profit they want to make and subtract that from the projected regular season revenue to get the budget. As long as they win just enough games for fans to come back again next year then the season is considered a success. This is why the Penguins owners are loved while Nutting is despised. Fans hate being strung along. They want to see a good faith effort.

[@JohnDoe-eu1lc]

Jagr only making $10.5M per season. Laughing on the outside while crying on the inside because of EK65 and watching in San Jose.

[@xtra420]

Malkin went 2nd

[@KT78387]

Might want to look up new numbers on pens finances they have blown up over media consumption and other stuff. 600 straight sell outs. But it is a good thing that he pays to and over the cap while they have this core, he doesnt care, he wants to win. He can be profitable sooner in season when the sink a bit and he can go to cap basement.

[@Zenkka]

If you keep really quiet you can hear Flyers fans giggling right now

[@hazardous0887]

What?

[@Zenkka]

Someone else than a Flyers fan talking about all those times Penguins almost moved away from Pittsburgh

[@hazardous0887]

Henri Kirsi Okay?

[@eila2088]

If they need second round to be profitable sounds like they could be back to bleeding money if they suck in 5+ years

[@seanhartwick2243]

As long as the penguins are willing to spend money to win, I am willing to spend money to go to games. Even when they are s**t

[@11DNA11]

Don't forget that they were given the 1st overall for Crosby. And i say GIVEN, because they would've never EVER been a 1st overall drafting team in the lockout season.

[@BvG_Venom]

2nd round just to make a profit!?! We're screwed when 87-71 retire

[@321zero9]

Thats only because they spend right to the top of the salary cap and its paid off with 3 championships. They won't be spending to the cap when Sid and G retires.

[@BvG_Venom]

@@321zero9 you're right. I just hope they dont become a salary floor team for a while. But with the Pens success I'm ok with burning everything down and draft high. Its worked twice now

[@321zero9]

@@michaelb4833 Well, yeah. Gotta start the rebuild with a high pick when the time comes. Better to be complete crap when you commit to a rebuild, teams stuck in mediocrity like the canes have been for the last while don't get the highest picks and it takes longer.

[@creepyrobsta5509]

Larry Lunchbucket. Are you serious or are you joking? Look at the Oilers and how well that has worked for them! Even Pittsburgh had MAF, Crosby, and Malkin from the drafts, as 1 high draft lottery will likely do NOTHING!

[@BvG_Venom]

There's a history in Pittsburgh of things magically falling into our laps. I cant explain it but it's the only thing that separates us from Cleveland, Cincinnati, or Buffalo

[@Wexter0083]

I'm sure this could also be called. "How the Penguins fumbled into being a great team."

[@mattcampbell8939]

I don't know why you keep preaching the narrative it wasn't a rebuild. They were on the financial brink while adding nothing to their team. They traded the reigning best player in the world, for nothing! They didn't sign anybody noteworthy until they had Malkin and Crosby. If you're not adding pieces to compete you are rebuilding. With the exception of the wrecking ball, he was doing a friend a favor.

[@pumpkinking5174]

You mean when the Pens are bad, their great fans bail? Hmmmm

[@schuy7RA]

Person Of Interest Pittsburgh is one of the smallest markets in the nhl

[@sdgakatbk]

Sounds like any other fan base to me.

[@pumpkinking5174]

Excuses. It's historic fact how fraudulent that fan base is.

[@tomchamberlain4329]

@@schuy7RA Nottingham Forest FC average nearly 29,000 per game in the second tier of English football, in a market probably not much more than half the size of Pittsburgh. It's 20 years since they were relegated from the premier league. 20 years of pain and they keep pulling big crowds. With a bigger stadium they could pull 40,000. Committed fans turn up when times are bad. It's pretty sad watching half empty NHL arenas. Pens had fan issues back then, absolutely no question. No point denying it.

[@petercasnocha5340]

@@tomchamberlain4329 because nothingham has fans. us people are not fans...they are viewers

Um, don't you mean that Mario blackmailed ownership to honour the ridiculous contract which he walked away from?

[@That90sShow]

The hell are you talking about? Mario played for years without getting paid

[@timsmith428]

Hold the phone...Pittsburgh tanked to get Mario..the NHL will NOT lose Pittsburgh. ok..fast forward to more money issues. I bet a friend that Pittsburgh would get Crosby, because the NHL does not want the team to fail, and move. I made the bet ($500.00) 1 week before the "draft"...what a surprise..I won the 500..The fact a team NEEDS to make the play-offs to make money tells me they should not be there. Face it, Pittsburgh is a small market team, with little or no interest. There are far better markets for an NHL team...