The scenario is a familiar one. Young West Coast guy with plenty of money and powerful urge to own a professional sports team comes to town to buy struggling franchise.

That's the scenario by which Kevin McClatchy bought the Pirates in 1996, and it's the scenario by which Williams "Boots" Del Biaggio is dickering to buy the Penguins.

McClatchy came from Sacramento. Del Biaggio is based a bit more to the south in San Jose.

One big difference, though.

When McClatchy bought the Pirates, many people thought it was his intention to move the team. He constantly had to deny charges that he was a carpetbagger who would swoop up the Pirates and rush them off to Sacramento at first opportunity.

Del Biaggio, if he's an honest man, will make no attempt to deny he'll move the team. In fact, he should make a point of letting everyone know from the start the franchise will be relocated -- if a new arena isn't built.

That's part of the package, whether the team is sold or not. No new building, no hockey team when the lease at Mellon Arena expires in 2007.

If Del Biaggio, who has negotiated a letter of intent to become the majority owner of the Penguins, is the man in charge in 2007 it only will be that much easier to move the team. Mario Lemieux, the current majority owner, has suggested many times the team would have to be moved if a new building was not forthcoming. But, with Lemieux, there was always the chance -- he being who he is -- that he might not have followed through on that.

A new owner will. Gladly.

Houston and Kansas City are two markets looking for an NHL franchise to fill vacant dates in their arenas. The NHL, you might have noticed, has no problem moving franchises. The person in charge of the Penguins could sell the team, most likely at a handsome profit, or reap the bounty of a city eager for an NHL franchise.

None of this is to suggest a new owner wouldn't be a positive move for hockey in Pittsburgh. Much more has to be learned about Del Biaggio. We've seen too many times in the recent past where prospective owners of professional sports teams appeared to have near-perfect credentials, but were, under closer scrutiny, found to be less than satisfactory. But early indications are that Del Biaggio is a legitimate candidate to purchase the team.

What does that mean for hockey in Pittsburgh?

In terms of getting a new arena, it can be viewed only as a positive. With an outsider in charge, the state and regional officials who have the say over whether a new arena is built will understand there will be no chance of the team remaining in Pittsburgh without a new facility.

In terms of putting a better hockey product on the ice, this move also is a positive. The Lemieux group might not have been underfunded, but it did not have the kind of spending power its rivals did. This doesn't mean that Del Biaggio will come in and be a Mark Cuban. It does mean the team should be in a better operating position than in the past.

In terms of acquiring the license to operate a downtown slots parlor, the team also is better positioned than in the past. Lemieux, Pittsburgh's most celebrated athlete and one of its most-respected citizens, will remain part of the ownership group. That's a major plus. When his clout is combined with the new money and with new people who have a can-do reputation, the governing body that will issue the license, expected to be some time next year, might look upon the Penguins more favorably. Certainly, the new ownership can't hurt.

What you have to like about Del Biaggio is he's making this move for perfectly clear reasons. There's no ulterior motive here. The Penguins are a prime acquisition. With the NHL out of business for almost a year, the value of franchises might never be lower. But the future is bright. With an owner-friendly collective bargaining agreement expected to be in place shortly, the Penguins have a chance to compete. With a successful team and a new building, they have a chance to generate a handsome profit.

So why would Lemieux want out of such a potentially lucrative situation?

For one thing, he's not leaving. He plans to keep an ownership stake and almost certainly will remain in some visible position with the team. He is hockey is Pittsburgh.

He never has made it a secret that he didn't want to make the running of a hockey team a life-long job. He's not a 9-5 guy. He likes his golf. This could be the ideal situation for him. His money won't be at stake, he won't be making the major decisions and he'll still be involved.

It looks like win-win -- for Lemieux, the Penguins, hockey fans in Pittsburgh and Del Biaggio.