There's a big difference between the Rangers and the Penguins - attendance. People still go to Rangers games. They don't go to Penguins games. The attendence for the NHL is way down across the board, and it's even farther off in smaller markets, especially when the team isn't doing well - like the Penguins.
And I'll absolutely agree that Texans got fucked by both the Cowboys and the Rangers. Both of them are two of the most successful (monetarily) franchises in their respective sports, and there was no need for the deals they got.
It looks like the Penguins might get a sweetheart deal from Kansas City.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns
This does a better job of explaining their situation than I did.