Update from ownership: What Tom Werner’s comments mean about how FSG sees the Penguins, Dubas and Sullivan

Ownership doesn’t tend to speak a lot, so it’s interesting when they do..

Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins are owned by a conglomerate ownership group and not a single person, things are different. It’s tough shoes to fill when the prior 25ish years ownership had point person and public-facing entity that also was the team’s best player.

As such, you don’t see “Fenway Sports Group” in the luxury box every game like you used to see Mario Lemieux. Even though Lemieux kept his image and comments largely private, his presence alone was enough for the fans to know they were in good hands.

FSG also doesn’t tend to be the outwardly focused on PR or public comment. They’ve been available for key moments (like their decision to fire Ron Hextall and Brian Burke and then later to introduce their new manager in Kyle Dubas) but their Q rating is far from Lemieux-esque.

FSG’s chairman Tom Werner talked to the media on opening night Wednesday and also gave an interview to the station FSG owns that was broadcast during the first intermission of last night’s game against the Red Wings. This provided interesting glimpses into what ownership is thinking and how they are operating, both now and maybe in the future.

The good thing for the Penguins is that FSG has a history of success. The past 20 years or so of the Red Sox has held unprecedented glory for the once moribund franchise. Liverpool has won a host of trophies and seen their prestige raise as well since FSG takes over. So when Werner focuses on winning, it does come with the history and expectation of backing it up.

“We got involved with this because this is an incredible team with a great legacy, and our responsibility is to bring another Stanley Cup,” Werner said on Wednesday. “We know that we’re in a period of some transition. We are so confident in Kyle’s vision…Our responsibility as FSG is to give Sully and Kyle the resources that they need to win.”

The points about Dubas and Mike Sullivan as the key hands on figures in the organization loom large. Every social media platform and website like this one is flooded after literally every loss about whether Sullivan has worn out his welcome and if it would be time for a change after almost 10 years behind the bench (which, in fairness is like 100 regular years in NHL coaching shelf life).

FSG doesn’t feel that way with quotes like this that should be remembered.

“We think that he’s one of the two or three best coaches in hockey,” Werner said.

If an ownership group thinks they have a coach of that quality, they’re probably not going to replace him any time soon, despite the reactionary takes from what happens game in and game out. Sullivan’s contract runs through 2026-27.

Player salaries are capped in the NHL, but ownership can find ways to invest more. To FSG’s credit, they have freed Dubas to operate and build out the organization in ways beyond the budget of the Lemieux Group days.

“Our focus is on giving the team resources,” Werner said. “We’re not really concerned about the bottom line in any particular year. We’re concerned about growth. It’s important to us obviously to sell as many tickets as we can, but it all begins and ends with winning.”

That’s reflected in a growing management staff. It’s also upgrades to PPG Paints Arena from new upscale areas to last year’s replacement of the 2010 videoboard at the arena.

It also trickles down to the minor leagues. In this day and age, the Pens have no problem paying any number of AHL players to get an NHL one-way contract. That’s the Sam Poulin, Emil Bemstrom, Sebastian Aho level of player that stock the organization, all of whom were signed this summer and some to multi-year deals.

To that end, FSG is so far doing all a fan could ask by making the arena better, authorizing the GM to spend up to the salary cap and even beyond it to create a deep team below. By public comments they seem to have no interest in a full on or protracted rebuild and hope to see a team compete in the playoffs.

Will the plan work? That remains to be seen, and much will lie with the trust and power that they’ve given to Dubas to operate their team.