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Bolts Notebook: Commissioner Says Sale Is On Track

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

BOSTON - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday everything is on track regarding the sale of the Lightning, although he believes the members of Absolute Hockey Enterprises have yet to file all of the necessary paperwork to complete the first step in the process.

'Everything that I'm hearing is that it is on track and there shouldn't be any problems, that's what we are being told,' Bettman said from the press box atop TD Banknorth Garden. 'We are not yet at the stage where we can start doing our due diligence.'

Bettman's beliefs, however, contradict those of Doug MacLean, a prominent member of the Absolute group trying to purchase the franchise from Bill Davidson.

'They're well on their way on due diligence,' MacLean said via text message. 'We are on schedule.'

The announcement of a sale agreement was announced Aug. 7, and Absolute members, who also include real estate developer Jeff Sherrin, Hollywood producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg, and Tampa lawyer Steve Burton, have been trying to line up additional investors for the approximate $200 million transaction.

'The last report I got was it is still being worked on,' Bettman said. 'Nobody was telling me that there were any problems, but it wasn't done. But, there was no reason to believe that things won't continue to progress.'

Although a vote of the league's Board of Governors could be completed via fax, the board will hold a meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif., at the end of November. A full vote by the 30-member board also could be held and the sale approved at that time. A deadline of Dec. 31 is in place for the purchase to be complete.

'It depends on how they progress on the transaction,' as to whether it will be voted on at the board meeting, Bettman said. 'It depends on things that are not currently within my control. When they finish everything they need to do then we can progress from our standpoint in terms of league procedures.'

RAMMER: Craig Ramsay walked off the ice at TD Banknorth Garden on Thursday morning toward the Boston locker room looking to go about his business.

But the former Lightning associate coach, who spent six seasons behind the Tampa Bay bench before he was fired during the summer, stopped before reaching the doors to shake hands and swap golfing stories.

In his first year as an assistant coach on Claude Julien's staff with the Bruins, Ramsay is finding his new surroundings to his liking.

'It's been good, the players are good, this is a great city and we have a good group of guys here,' Ramsay said. 'The coaching staff is great to be around - we are still all trying to feel each other out a little big - but we're very pleased with what's gone on.'

NUTS AND BOLTS: D Matt Smaby was a healthy scratch. ... Tampa Bay has allowed the first goal in three of the five games. ... The Lightning outshot Boston 15-3 in the second period. ... RW Michel Ouellet was bumped down to the third line, while Jason Ward moved up to play wing with Jan Hlavac and Brad Richards. ... After being called for nine minor penalties Saturday at Florida, Tampa Bay was not called for any Thursday.

Erik Erlendsson

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