CenterIce 83 Report post Posted June 23, 2009 http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4280470 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted June 25, 2009 From TSN The ongoing saga surrounding the Tampa Bay Lightning took another turn on Thursday afternoon, as all NHL general managers and player agents received a short email message from general manager Brian Lawton establishing his role with the club going forward. "Please be advised that in order to avoid any confusion over the next couple of weeks, as GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning Organization I am the only person authorized to speak on behalf of the team with regard to player transactions," the email read. "No other person is authorized to negotiate player transactions. Any questions, feel free to call." The statement comes just two days after Lightning co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in an effort bid to resolve their differences. It was re-affirmed in the meeting that Lawton is making hockey decisions for the club and for any transactions that would require ownership approval, he is obliged to get approval from both Koules and Barrie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CenterIce 83 Report post Posted June 26, 2009 From TSN It seemed like these guys were going a little too fast when they bought the franchise. They already had a GM at the time, but they signed a bunch of free agents/made trades without talking to him. Then, they brought in a new GM, who had to clean up their mess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted July 14, 2009 From tampa bay dot com / St. Petersberg Times : Another chapter in the story of the Lightning's bickering owners will play out this week, as Len Barrie has a Friday deadline to come up with $10 million to prove he can continue funding the team. The deadline was imposed by commissioner Gary Bettman, who has ordered the participants to not speak on the issue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puckbags 863 Report post Posted July 14, 2009 This has been bad business right from the start....Barrie has owed money since the purchase took place. For those who don't know Barrie made his money off the beautiful Bear Mountain resort in BC, Canada Bear mountain . He has recently been trying to sell the resort and has been negotiating with middle eastern interests. When the economy started to take a dive construction reached a stand still on the resort and rumors around here were that he was trying to sell. It sounds like the sale is getting close and may get even more sped up now that he needs 10 million dollars asap !! Here is a link to our local paper about the progress of the sale. Bear Mt. sale If you have between 2.5 and 3.2 billion you could throw your name in the hat and bid . It is beautiful . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted July 14, 2009 This has been bad business right from the start....Barrie has owed money since the purchase took place. For those who don't know Barrie made his money off the beautiful Bear Mountain resort in BC, Canada Bear mountain . He has recently been trying to sell the resort and has been negotiating with middle eastern interests. When the economy started to take a dive construction reached a stand still on the resort and rumors around here were that he was trying to sell. It sounds like the sale is getting close and may get even more sped up now that he needs 10 million dollars asap !! Here is a link to our local paper about the progress of the sale. Bear Mt. sale If you have between 2.5 and 3.2 billion you could throw your name in the hat and bid . It is beautiful . Len Barrie=Idiot.. Enough said Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted July 20, 2009 From TSN : Len Barrie supplied the National Hockey League with a letter of credit showing he has the funds to maintain his ownership stake in the Tampa Bay Lightning. When contacted by TSN, Barrie said he wasn't able to comment on future ownership but he was very pleased with his meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "The league is satisfied and things are progressing nicely," Barrie concluded. Maybe Barrie is on a short leash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 From tampabay.com / St. Petersburg Times : The NHL apparently has decided the Lightning's ownership situation is unsustainable and set up a process in which squabbling co-owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules can buy each other out. Barrie has the first shot in an exclusive 60-day window that apparently runs out in mid to late September. If Barrie fails, Koules gets his chance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted January 29, 2010 From TSN : The ongoing Tampa Bay Lightning ownership saga may be about to take another interesting twist. According to a report in The Hockey News, the NHL is negotiating the sale of the Lightning, as well as land adjacent to the St. Petes-Times Forum from the OK Hockey Group to Jeffrey Vinik for an estimated price of $170 million. ... ... The 50-year old Vinik is a Boston based hedge fund manager who is also a limited partner in the Boston Red Sox. His net worth reportedly exceeds $500 million. ... Q: How do you make a small fortune? A: First, you start with as large fortune. Then, you buy the Tampa Bay Lightning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CenterIce 83 Report post Posted January 29, 2010 OK Hockey Group Is that OK as in Oklahoma? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted January 29, 2010 Is that OK as in Oklahoma? OK as in Oren Koules. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick Zombos Ghost 82 Report post Posted January 29, 2010 maybe if they get Barry Melrose to coach that will solve their problems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CenterIce 83 Report post Posted January 29, 2010 OK as in Oren Koules. Oh, now that I re-read that, it makes sense. For a second, I thought that is who they were selling to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted January 30, 2010 Oh, now that I re-read that, it makes sense. For a second, I thought that is who they were selling to. "Inspector Gadget" finds new investors for existing teams, not new locations. The concept of moving a team to a new location, where they might actually make money, is foreign to him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted February 25, 2010 From TSN : The Tampa Bay Lightning have made a change to their coaching staff, but the move is not sitting well with the head coach. The team announced on Wednesday that assistant coach Wes Walz had been relieved of his duties, and sources say Rick Tocchet does not like the move. Erik Erlendsson has reported via Twitter that the decision to fire Walz was made by general manager Brian Lawton and that Tocchet was not consulted on the change. ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
