Chicago-based Hoffman family emerge as contender to buy Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins could be changing ownership in the near future, and a Chicago family looks to be among the interested parties. 

On Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Hoffman family were interested in purchasing the Penguins, and adding an NHL team to their ownership stable, which already includes the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. 

A sale would see the Penguins split from Fenway Sports Group, an ownership conglomerate which owns the likes of MLB’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League club Liverpool FC, as well as Fenway Park, New England Sports Network and other sports and entertainment products, alongside the Penguins. 

While any deal is still far from certain, the expected sale price is expected to be around $1.75 billion, a significant growth from the $900 million that Fenway Sports Group spent to acquire the Penguins in 2021. 

David Hoffman leads the Hoffman Family of Companies and purchased the Everblades from former Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karamanos in 2019. In addition to the Everblades, the Hoffman Family of Companies own several local newspapers in Florida, as well as companies in the agriculture, transportation, financial services, manufacturing and real estate industries. 

The Everblades, though, have been a successful franchise on the ice as well, winning three Kelly Cup titles from 2022-23, before seeing their hopes of a fourth straight title dashed in the semifinals of 2024-25.

According to the report, David’s son, Geoff Hoffman, co-CEO, would also likely be involved in the purchase. 

However, FSG provided a comment to Pittsburgh Hockey Now on Tuesday, dismissing the reports of the sale. 

“Fenway Sports Group continues to evaluate potential equity partners to support the long-term growth of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” the statement read. “While the process remains active, there is nothing to confirm or discuss at this time.”

In addition to the Hoffman family’s reported interest, previous reports linked Mario Lemieux’s group would be also interested in reacquiring the Penguins, but likely wouldn’t have the means to do so. 

The Penguins are set to open the 2025-26 NHL season against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7, in what could be their final year under current ownership.