Editing Mario Lemieux (section)

===2000–2006: Out of retirement===
[[Image:Mario Lemieux 2001.jpg|upright|thumb|Lemieux in 2001]]
Late in 2000, there were rumours that Lemieux was attempting a comeback. Upon announcing his comeback, Lemieux also signed a "career spanning deal" with Nike to wear their equipment on the ice, and to endorse their products off the ice. This deal would include Lemieux endorsing their line of footwear and their golf equipment. It is said that the deal was worth $500,000 (US) a season and would remain in effect for the rest of his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2001/01/16/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/Not-One-To-Let-A-Good-Thing-Pass-Nike-Inks-Lemieux-To-Deal|title=Not One To Let A Good Thing Pass: Nike Inks Lemieux To Deal|date=January 16, 2001|publisher=Sports Business Daily.com|access-date=March 13, 2021|archive-date=September 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919163902/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2001/01/16/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/Not-One-To-Let-A-Good-Thing-Pass-Nike-Inks-Lemieux-To-Deal|url-status=live}}<!--(archive at https://www.webcitation.org/5qt9PwekO)--></ref> At the press conference confirming his return, Lemieux indicated part of his reason was that his only son Austin, then four, wanted to see his father play.<ref name="si2001"/>

On December 27, 2000, he returned to the NHL against the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. The game was nationally broadcast on [[ESPN2]] in the US and on ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]''. Lemieux proved that his scoring touch had not disappeared by scoring a goal and three points, including an assist 33 seconds into the first shift of his return.<ref name="si2001">{{cite magazine|last=Farber|first=Michael|title=Owner Operator In his return to the ice, Penguins proprietor Mario Lemieux showed his old magic – and a more engaging personality|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2001/01/08/8095818/owner-operator-in-his-return-to-the-ice-penguins-proprietor-mario-lemieux-showed-his-old-magicand-a-more-engaging-personality|access-date=February 11, 2017|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=January 8, 2001|archive-date=January 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116201024/https://www.si.com/vault/2001/01/08/8095818/owner-operator-in-his-return-to-the-ice-penguins-proprietor-mario-lemieux-showed-his-old-magicand-a-more-engaging-personality|url-status=live}}</ref> While [[Jaromír Jágr]] remained captain of the Penguins, Lemieux was named captain of the North American All-Stars during the midseason All-Star game in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]. Despite playing in only 43 games in 2000–01, Lemieux scored 76 points to finish 26th in scoring, finishing the season with the highest points-per-game average that season among NHL players. In fact, he had the highest points-per-game average amongst NHL players for the entire period from his 2000–01 return until his final retirement in 2005–06. Lemieux was one of the three finalists for the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] and Lester B. Pearson NHLPA awards and earned a selection on the postseason NHL All-Star second team.

Lemieux led the Penguins in the postseason and led in playoff scoring for much of it. His team surprised many by going to the Eastern Conference finals, knocking off the higher-seeded [[Washington Capitals]] and [[Buffalo Sabres]] along the way in six and seven games, respectively. The Penguins lost in five games to the top-seeded [[New Jersey Devils]], as their players held Lemieux and Jágr without a goal that series. Lemieux finished Game Five in the penalty box after slashing the Devils' [[John Madden (ice hockey)|John Madden]]; afterwards Lemieux signed his stick and handed it to a young fan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/23/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-owner-looks-ahead-after-losing.html|title=Sports of The Times; The Owner Looks Ahead After Losing|date=May 23, 2001|first=George|last=Vecsey|work=The New York Times|author-link=George Vecsey|access-date=October 29, 2009|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527172731/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/23/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-owner-looks-ahead-after-losing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Before the start of the [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]] season, Pittsburgh was forced to trade most of their expensive players, so the team plummeted to the bottom of the NHL and missed the playoffs in each of the next four seasons. Lemieux again resumed the captaincy, as Jaromír Jágr was sent to the [[Washington Capitals]]. However, Lemieux only appeared in 24 games, partially due to injuries that would also plague him for the next three seasons. He also skipped some Penguins games in 2001–02 so he could be in condition to play what would be his only chance at the Olympics in his career. However, Lemieux played only one more game after the [[2002 Winter Olympics|Salt Lake City Olympics]] before being out for the rest of the season due to a nagging hip problem, leading one Pittsburgh columnist to demand that Lemieux apologize for making Team Canada his priority.<ref name="pro ice hockey">{{cite web|url=http://proicehockey.about.com/library/weekly/aa030602a.htm|title=Sacrifice in Salt Lake City: Fans are angry because NHL stars risked their health for Olympic gold. But what did we expect?|publisher=About.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075626/http://proicehockey.about.com/library/weekly/aa030602a.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011|access-date=June 30, 2010}}<!--(archived at https://www.webcitation.org/5qtA71SCI?url=http://proicehockey.about.com/library/weekly/aa030602a.htm & https://www.webcitation.org/5qtAIRVAG)--></ref>

Radio show host [[Mark Madden]] said he would donate $6,600 to the Mario Lemieux Foundation if the hockey great ever scored off a [[faceoff]]. On December 23, 2002, the Penguins played the [[Buffalo Sabres]] in Pittsburgh and Lemieux, who was aware of the challenge, made good on it when he scored the game-winning goal right off a faceoff during the third period.<ref name="Faceoff goal bet">{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/penguins/20021224pensside1224p5.asp|title=Lemieux a bet to convert some magic|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=March 8, 2012|first=Dejan|last=Kovacevic|date=December 24, 2002|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184426/http://www.post-gazette.com/penguins/20021224pensside1224p5.asp|url-status=live}}<!--(archived at https://www.webcitation.org/660aHeBc1)--></ref>

In [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], at the age of 37, Lemieux led the NHL in scoring for most of the season but missed most of the games towards the end of the schedule and finished eighth in scoring with 91 points in only 67 games. Lemieux missed all but ten games during the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]] season.
[[File:Mario Lemieux 2005.jpg|thumb|upright|Lemieux in 2005, during his final season]]
After the lock-out concluded, Lemieux returned to the ice for the 2005–06 season. Hopes for the Penguins were high due to the salary cap and revenue sharing, which enabled the team to compete in the market for several star players. Another reason for optimism was the Penguins winning the lottery for the first draft pick, enabling them to select [[Sidney Crosby]]. Lemieux opened up his home to Crosby to help the rookie settle in Pittsburgh, and served as Crosby's mentor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-nov-21-la-sp-elliott-nhl-20111122-story.html|title=Penguins' Sidney Crosby is magnificent in return|date=November 21, 2011|first=Helene|last=Elliott|work=Los Angeles Times|author-link=Helene Elliott|access-date=March 29, 2013|archive-date=April 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417064056/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/21/sports/la-sp-elliott-nhl-20111122|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Player/owner status====
Lemieux's unique status as player and owner placed him in a potential [[conflict of interest]] with respect to [[2004–05 NHL lockout|NHL labour negotiations]]. Because he was also an owner, Lemieux was no longer a member of the [[National Hockey League Players' Association]], although he still paid [[union dues]] to maintain his [[pension]]. By agreement with the NHLPA, Lemieux was paid the average league salary of about [[US dollar|$]]1.4 million and it was from this amount that his union dues were calculated and deducted. He did not vote in owners' meetings, delegating this role to a Penguins vice-president. He suggested that the NHL adopt a salary structure similar to the [[National Football League]], which has a hard [[salary cap]]. Lemieux and fellow NHL team executive Gretzky brought the parties together in a last-ditch effort to save what remained of the 2004–05 season, but no agreement was reached and the season was lost.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2005 |title=Lockout over salary cap shuts down NHL |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1992793 |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Heath |first=Thomas |date=February 18, 2005 |title=NHL, Union to Meet Again |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2005/02/19/nhl-union-to-meet-again/05a5fcc7-9539-4366-836d-884899e7fdb8/ |access-date=April 9, 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>