pittsburgh: Some people are saying they are leaving Pittsburgh, but others say they are staying.|||They optioned the lease so they are in Pittsburgh this up coming season. Beyond that is in doubt. Between the Slot License, if Isle gets it they are staying is pretty much a guarntee, and all kinds of othering things it just isn't known.|||I think they will stay, but, it's a pity more people don't support their local team nomatter what. After all only one team can be first.|||it depends on the fan and the casino deal. If Isle of Capri and me get our way the pens aren't going anywhere, but they will definitely be in the burgh for at least one more year.|||They are definitly staying, for now. This is way too soon to be moving them. As for their on ice success next year..... Well I would anticipate a few more wins with sophmore sensation Sidney Crosby. But they will still fall short of playoff dreams.|||All I know is they are looking at some kid from Michigan U in the draft. He's supposed to be the American version of Crosby. Hopefully they can get some good players, and have the players they have play like they can and maybe they can turn the team around. As for leaving Pittsburgh, that's been rumored for a few years now... and they're still here. So I'm not too worried about hockey leaving Pittsburgh, I think if they can start winning then they can bring more fans out to their games and generate more revenue to keep themselves here.|||they are staying, for now, there has been no definate decissions made as of yet|||They arent going anywhere next year, but if you guys dont start buying seats and selling out the building, they wont be in pittsburgh for much longer!|||who cares, hockey is stupid|||This was in the Kansas City Star today. I see it two ways. The first: Kansas City has had pro hockey before. They had the blades which i think was the equivalent of an AAA minor league baseball franchise. On the other hand, the NHL pay structure has more parity and it is easier for teams to be competitive unlike baseball where the team with the highest payroll usually is the team that wins the world series. Plus Kansas City has a brand new arena(the Sprint Center) being built and ready. **************************************… NHL DRAFT | Pittsburgh’s pick could interest KC Penguins still may end up nesting here By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star Hockey fans in Kansas City have good reason to keep an eye on today’s National Hockey League draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. The second pick in the draft belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and their selection has a chance of playing in a Kansas City uniform when the Sprint Center opens in the fall of 2007. The Pittsburgh franchise is for sale and is a prime candidate to move if plans are not in place for a new building before its lease at antiquated Mellon Arena expires at the end of the upcoming season. Sam Fingold, a real-estate developer from Toronto now based in Hartford, Conn., said Friday he plans to make an offer for the Penguins “relatively soon” and reiterated that he would move the club to Kansas City if not assured of a new arena in Pittsburgh. The Isle of Capri gaming company has promised to fund a $290 million facility adjacent to Mellon Arena if it secures a standalone slot machine parlor in Pittsburgh. But if one of two other bidders for the license is selected by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board sometime before the end of 2006, there would be no assurance for a new arena, freeing the club to move. Fingold said from what he hears, Isle of Capri’s chances don’t “look all that great. Obviously (that leaves) Kansas City.” Another bidder for the Penguins, Andy Murstein, president of Medallion Financial Corp. in New York, said he wants to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh and told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Isle of Capri “has less than a 50 percent chance” of gaining the slots license. Murstein, who at one time expressed interest in purchasing the Kansas City Wizards soccer team, said he plans to make an offer and told the Post-Gazette the Penguins “are probably going to sign (a letter of intent) with somebody within the next 30 days.” That means a sale of the Penguins — for an expected $150 million to $170 million — could be consummated before the awarding of the slots license. Should Isle of Capri not be granted the slots license, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed a Plan B for building a new arena. The winning casino bidder would commit $7.5 million a year for 30 years, and the Penguins would contribute $4 million a year toward construction. Murstein told the Post-Gazette he believes Plan B would work, but Fingold has his doubts. There could be other interested parties who want to relocate the team to cities such as Houston; Hamilton, Ontario; or Winnipeg, Manitoba, but the Penguins’ lease stipulates the club must wait until July 1 to contact prospective buyers who want to move the franchise. The Penguins have declined to comment on any aspect of the sale other than the fact that the team is on the market. Fingold has been in constant contact with Paul McGannon of NHL21, the group in Kansas City dedicated to bringing the NHL to the Sprint Center, and with AEG, which will manage the arena. McGannon is attending the draft and networking with NHL owners and officials on behalf of Kansas City while working on bringing an exhibition game to Kemper Arena this fall.|||Well hopefully more than last season LOL