Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Barrie Still Working On Lightning Sale


((HT: TSN))

Len Barrie's ((pictured, thanks Bruce Bennett/Getty)) window to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning from partner Oren Koules closed on Monday night but the former NHLer hasn't given up yet.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Barrie was still working on a deal with St. Louis real estate mogul Anthony Sansone Jr. under the assumption his window didn't close until Wednesday.

Originally, Barrie was given until Wednesday but the report indicates that because he missed multiple deadlines over the last 60 days, the window was moved up to Monday.

The CBC's Elliotte Friedman has details on that here...

Barrie released a statement on Tuesday to address the situation.

"The process is still ongoing and Oren (Koules) and I are working to protect our investments and do what's best for the team," said Barrie in the statement. "I'm still working on a deal, and so is Oren. Both of us want this resolved before the start of the season. Everyone will be advised when the process is complete."

When Barrie and Koules teamed up to buy the Lightning last year, Barrie reportedly invested $40 million of the $200 million purchase price, which appears to be the amount he would like to recoup if he is unable to buy out Koules.

Erik Erlendsson's piece in the Trib is here...

TSN's Darren Dreger maintains, through his Twitter feed, that Barrie isn't "dead yet."

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