PITTSBURGH — Penguins CEO David Morehouse resigned Wednesday, ending a 16-year tenure with the franchise that spanned three Stanley Cup titles.
Morehouse did not provide an explanation for his decision in a press release. The Penguins changed hands last fall when Fenway Sports Group bought the club from Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle.
“I am confident that the future of the Penguins is in good hands with Fenway Sports Group,” Morehouse said in a statement. “The new ownership group prioritizes victory, and that has always been the philosophy of the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have experience running successful franchises and we already have some of the best people in the sport. Together, the Penguins legacy is sure to continue.”
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Morehouse served as a consultant on the team’s arena project in 2004 and was hired as team president in 2007 before being promoted to CEO in August 2010. The Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017 during Morehouse’s tenure.
Pittsburgh is also entering the playoffs for a 16th straight season, the longest active streak in North American professional sports. The Penguins have become one of the hottest tickets in the NHL. The club had a 633-game home sell-out streak that spanned from 14 February 2007 to 16 October 2021.
Team president Brian Burke and COO Kevin Acklin will oversee day-to-day operations at the club, which ends the regular season at home to Columbus on Friday night.
“David led an era that is impressive in every way. We are grateful for the leadership he has provided during this remarkable time, overseeing construction of a new arena, record sell-offs and Stanley Cup championships,” said FSG principal owner John Henry, and chairman Tom Werner said in a statement. “David has been instrumental in making the Penguins one of the most successful franchises in the NHL, and we are grateful for the immense time, energy and love he put into the organization.”
The Penguins, who lost 5-1 to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, are not pushing into the postseason this year. They will not have home field advantage in Round 1 and will face either the New York Rangers, the No. 2 in the Metropolitan Division, or the Florida Panthers, the top seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.