CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The potential sale of the Penguins has been the subject of a lot of conversations around the region for the past day or so.
Understandably enough, it's been a popular topic of discussion inside the team's locker room, too.
After all, players could be among those most affected by a change in ownership.
But while the sale of the franchise to Fenway Sports Group has not been finalized -- there apparently are still some issues to be resolved -- Penguins players and Mike Sullivan seems confident that having new names at the top of the organizational depth chart won't have have much of an impact on how they go about the business of trying to win games.
"We were sort of told that things will be run the same," Bryan Rust said after practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex Wednesday. "I don't think there are any good or bad feelings (among the players) about it."
And while the sale provided plenty of fodder for discussions as guys prepared for their workout, it didn't have any impact on what transpired during that 45-minute practice.
With three consecutive losses heading into their game in Montreal Thursday, the players and coaches had more pressing concerns than some big-money negotiations in which they are not directly involved.
"We definitely hear rumblings about it," Danton Heinen said. "But I think for us, as players, there's not much, from our standpoint. We just have to stick to try(ing) to win hockey games. It's kind of out of our control. Whatever happens, happens."
While the sale talks have been underway for a while, people at the player-coach level of the operation were largely insulated from them.
Sullivan, for example, said he did not learn of the negotiations until Tuesday, when word of them went public.
The sale to Fenway Sports Group, whose holdings include the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club and New England Sports Network, reportedly could be wrapped up this week, although neither side is believed to have set a deadline for negotiations to conclude.
Regardless of when a deal would be reached, the transaction would have to be approved by the NHL Board of Governors.
Projections of the sale price have been as high as $900 million.
All indications are that Mario Lemieux will retain a minority interest in the club, but it is unclear whether his business partner, Ron Burkle, will do likewise.
The Penguins won three Stanley Cups during their run as owners, and players and staff have consistently praised Lemieux and Burkle for the way they have overseen the operation.
"I have so much respect for Ron and Mario, and their leadership and what they provide for us, from a resources standpoint, to give us every opportunity to win," Sullivan said. "From my standpoint, it's just been a terrific experience, working with those guys."
Of course, Lemieux almost never attends practices, and Burkle probably has been to more Stanley Cup parades than he has regular-season workouts.
It's safe to assume that John Henry won't be a regular at practices, either, if he ends up owning the franchise.
And so, regardless of what's transpiring in the executive suites -- or when it happens -- coaches and players anticipate conducting business as usual, the way they did last week.
And last month. And last year.
"I don't envision anything, from our standpoint, changing very much," Sullivan said. "We're going to go about our business the way we always do. That's trying to help this team move forward and help this team be successful."
