Friedman: Major shakeup at FSG, predicts a Penguin signing and a Crosby note

Key figure in the Penguins’ ownership group leaving the company

Elliotte Friedman dropped some news, predictions, hints and notes. Only a few Penguin related items, but they’re pretty big.

There was a big change behind the scenes in Pittsburgh.

According to several sources, staff were notified Friday that David Beeston, co-head of Fenway Sports Management and a Penguins’ alternate governor, is stepping down. Apparently, he’s joining the private equity firm Clearlake Capital. (Clearlake is incredibly influential, it bought a majority stake in Chelsea FC in 2022.)

Beeston, who did not respond to requests for comment, played a major role in Fenway’s Penguins purchase and in recruiting current President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas.

Beeston has been more or less the face and name most in tune from the Fenway Sports Group when it comes to the Penguins. He was the representative from ownership as the point person at the press conference in Pittsburgh when Ron Hextall was fired and later was there (with chairman John Henry) when Kyle Dubas was hired last summer. His departure will be an interesting one behind the scenes but will remain to be seen how FSG will re-sort themselves and manage the Penguins any differently (if at all).

It also goes to show how tightly run and closed off the organization is these days when the news came out on Friday and it took until Monday to be reported anywhere (and then came from a national/Canadian source and not local). Insight and input these days is tough to come by.

Other Friedman ditties:

Here are some educated guesses on what we could see Monday. Don’t take them as gospel, the rumour mill drank a case of Red Bull on the weekend.

Anthony Beauvillier: Pittsburgh.

This was the only player even guessed to join the Penguins today. As mentioned in our preview, Beauvillier projects to be in line for a cheap one-year deal. He’s only 27, but has bounced around and hasn’t found much traction in recent years.

I do not expect to see a Sidney Crosby extension on July 1. Doesn’t mean there’s any reason for mass panic, but no one sees the need to rush anything.

This is in-line with most all indications. No one seems in a rush, but a contract extension in the somewhat near future should be coming down the line for Crosby.

Tampa’s got Jake Guentzel signed to a seven-year deal, believed to be at a $9M AAV.

We now know where Guentzel will play out the rest of his career (or the majority of it, assuming he’s got a full no movement clause to protect him!). Guentzel had a rollercoaster of a contract year, being traded from Pittsburgh after the two sides either didn’t talk much or didn’t have much common ground to talk about on an extension. Reportedly over the weekend, Guentzel sent signals to Carolina he would stay but then rejected an eight-year deal worth $8.0 million. Seeing that there was no path to keep him, Carolina dealt his rights to Tampa, where he finally found his spot. The cap hit isn’t astronomical (and even under Johnny Gaudreau’s $9.75m parlay into free agency) but Guentzel’s deal is structured advantageously with heavy signing bonuses and the Florida advantage of no state income tax. Looks win/win for all parties there and finally brings a conclusion to a tumultuous year.