The primary objective of the Penguins’ sale, according to two sources involved in the process, is this simple: Get Mario Lemieux the payday of his lifetime.

And that means, according to both of those sources, that Lemieux’s friends and closest associates — including current co-owner Ron Burkle — are clearing a path to make that happen rather than putting in their own bids.

In other words, look for this buyer eventually to come from the outside.

And to come with a blow-the-lid-off offer.

And, in all likelihood, to assume majority control of the franchise.

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TORONTO — When visiting a vibrant, diverse metropolis, there’s much to see. That means plenty of walking, which can work up a hearty appetite.

Luckily, on Thursday afternoon, I happened upon a food vendor at the corner of Front and John streets, near the CN Tower and Rogers Centre, and wait … isn’t this …?

Yes, it is! It’s the hot dog stand Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons infamously identified last week as Phil Kessel’s favorite spot for a midday snack during his time with the Maple Leafs!

All right, time for full disclosure: I didn’t haphazardly come upon the stand, unironically named Ted’s Gourmet. In fact, I planned my sightseeing day around it, even though the Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets essentially debunked Simmons’ claim with a little bit of research. (It helped that my wife was curious, too.)

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Jim Rutherford had a boss kind of week.

And not just because of the Phil Kessel trade, though it’s become almost universal consensus continent-wide that he pulled off an absolute heist in adding one of the NHL’s top five wingers, doing so at an affordable rate, not giving up any of his top young defensemen, and not sending out anyone of value save, perhaps, Kasperi Kapanen.

All of that was awesome, sure, but Rutherford actually was boss in another, bigger way.

First, some context: When Rutherford, his four lieutenants and the coaches present engaged in that now-infamous hour-long discussion at the draft table last weekend in Sunrise, Fla., they raised way more antennas than they should have. Fact is, such events occur all the time, and much more spirited and emotional than that one. Those happened under Ray Shero. They happen under Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin over on the South Side. They happen under Neal Huntington on the North Shore.

My goodness, I’ve heard tales, specifically related to the Pirates, about disagreements at meetings like that one that would blow your mind. People screaming, pointing fingers, storming out of the room.

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BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

No, the Steelers’ new defensive playbook won’t fit on the front of an index card.

That’s why Cam Heyward, among others in the fold, have bristled when asked during offseason workouts if Keith Butler’s system will be simpler than that of his predecessor, Dick LeBeau, for the sake of the defense’s many youngsters. As Heyward put it during minicamp this week, “That would be pigeonholing the whole team. It’s up to the younger guys to study their playbook and grasp the concepts.”

Undoubtedly, that’s true.

But equally undoubtedly, the playbook will be smaller.

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BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

SAN DIEGO — Roundup of a lot of randomness from a lot of time around our teams …

• So, how did Brandon Saad, once again a sensation in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Blackhawks, get away?

Simple: Ray Shero had the only vote that mattered.

This is the truth about the 2011 draft, as described by a man who sat at that table and remains with the organization today in pristine standing …

The Penguins’ scouts had made up their collective mind that their choice was Saad, the Gibsonia native, not at all because he was local but entirely because they were stunned he had fallen so far after being a consensus top-five pick, and there he was all the way down at their No. 23 position. They knew Saad’s plunge had much to do with a groin injury that season, but they also knew more about him than most teams, partly because of his proximity, partly because he’d just been invited to Consol Energy Center for a personal visit and tour a month earlier. They couldn’t believe their good fortune.

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