Silent partner

Although Burkle was exceptionally forthcoming and insightful on almost every subject raised — the birth of his partnership with Lemieux, the decision to explore selling their stake earlier this decade, the move to fire a key coach and executive, the slow development of the Civic Arena site, even Donald Trump — he said there is nothing to be gained by him assuming a prominent public position.

“It doesn’t serve the team any purpose or me any purpose to have a high profile,” Burkle said. “Mario is the hockey guy and he’s the Pittsburgh guy and he’s also an incredibly nice and easy-going person and everything.”

That makes Burkle an interesting partner for Lemieux, who actively avoids the spotlight, too. Determining which would prefer to be further from the public eye is not easy.

“We’re the same, in that regard,” Lemieux said. “We don’t look for the spotlight. It works well for both of us.”

In 2006, Burkle battled a New York Post gossip columnist over publication of unverified reports about his personal life. At one point, the FBI got involved over the claims, which Burkle has vehemently denied.

That’s an indication of the lengths to which he will go to keep his private life out of the public eye.

Regardless of how Burkle actively avoids the spotlight, his players are adamant that he merits more credit for what the Penguins have achieved than he generally receives.

“He and Mario are both really supportive, but I think they do it because they care about the team,” captain Sidney Crosby said. “They don’t necessarily need the attention or need everything that comes with it.

“They’re proud of it. They care a lot. They’re doing it for the right reasons. They both deserve a lot of credit. They give us the opportunity every year to be successful.”

For nearly a decade, Burkle was a classic silent partner for Lemieux, contributing capital but avoiding hands-on involvement.

That began to change early in 2009, when Burkle believed the team was underachieving and Michel Therrien — for whom he expressed great respect and affection — had to be removed as coach.

Dan Bylsma replaced Therrien in mid-February, and the Penguins won the franchise’s third Stanley Cup a few months later.

But even after he began to have input on major decisions, Burkle remained a silent partner in the most literal of senses.

“I’m really proud of what the Penguins have done, but it doesn’t make the Penguins any more money or help any of their fans or anyone else for me to be there [in a prominent role],” he said. “From a philosophical point of view, the way I manage all the things I’m invested in or a part of is, the people who are there should be the face of it.”

The people who are there, though, are quick to point out how much Burkle has contributed.

“He’s such a quiet guy and he goes about his business in a very quiet way,” said Rutherford, the Penguins’ general manager. “If he does anything, he’s not going to share it with anybody.”