Stars Get Gagliardi As New Owner, Probably...

The Dallas Stars have signed an agreement to sell the team to Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi and have filed a prepackaged bankruptcy plan to help facilitate the transaction.

The Stars said Thursday that the deal is subject to a court-approved auction and NHL approval. The other team once owned by Tom Hicks, the Texas Rangers, pulled the same track to expedite the sale of the baseball team when Hicks declared the same financial fate with them...

"Today's filing culminates months of cooperative effort by the League, the Club, the Club's lenders and Dallas Arena LLC," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. "It represents an extremely positive step toward what we expect will be an orderly transition to new ownership for the Dallas Stars."

Gagliardi has tried to get the Stars before, but it hasn't worked out until now. He's a co-owner of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League and is big in the hotel and restaurant industry in Canada.

A court hearing is scheduled for Monday, when the Stars are expected to present customary motions for court approval.

George Riba of WFAA-TV says his sources are calling the Gagliardi bid a "stalking horse bid."

From Riba...

That means any individual who wishes to get involved in the bidding must up Gaglardi's bid for the team by at least $10 million. The source said Gaglardi's agreement would allow him to buy the team for around $230 million from the Hicks Sports Group, which defaulted on loans in 2009.

More when we know more...

Paille Gets 4 For Blow To The Head

Daniel Paille of the Boston Bruins has been suspended for four games for his blindside hit to the head of the Dallas Stars forward Raymond Sawada last night.

Here's the hit...
((HT: NHL/FSStars/NESN))


Paille was assessed a match penalty for illegal hit to the head and a 10-minute misconduct.

"Paille delivered a lateral hit where the principal point of contact was his opponent's head," said Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy. "Additionally, the injury suffered by the Dallas player was a factor in this decision."

Sawada suffered injuries to his nose and shoulder as a result of the hit.

Murphy handled the hearing in place of NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell, whose son Gregory plays for the Bruins and was involved in Thursday's game.

"It was a bad hit," said Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference after the game. "We can't be hypocrites when your own team does a hit like that which the league is trying to get rid of."

Paille is eligible to return February 15th against Toronto.

80 Seconds, 3 Fights, 2 Goals, And A Goal Change

((HT: NESN/NHL))

The Bruins and the Dallas Stars squared off tonight in Boston...

And, boy, does the HQ mean "squared off..."

Jack Edwards is on his game and enjoying his game...

December Contender: NHL Fight Of The Year

((HT: Hockeyfightsdotcom/NHL/FSStars))

The HQ presents the Dallas Stars Jamie Benn and the Calgary Flames Jarome Iginla...



Compubox Stats give the fight early to Benn ((landing the blow that drew blood)) with Iginla's staying power giving him the round 10-9...

Crosby Drops The Gloves For Real

And he actually does it and serves a penalty for it instead of one of the 4-gazillion other times he's exhibiting chippy behavior on the ice and they observe the "Crosby Rules."

Last night in Dallas, the Pens got beat by the Stars 5-2, but Crosby felt he had to come to the aid of Kris Letang after his scrap with Brendan Morrow.

Evidence below...
((HT: NHL/FS Stars))


It was Crosby's fifth fight ever...

Brad Richards Makes A Hole

((HT: NHL Video/FS Stars))

And, to do that and not break the whole sheet of plexi is pretty talented...

Kings and Stars...

Ready, aim, fire...

10 Years Later: It's Still No Goal

((HT: WIVB-TV/Paul Peck))

Ten years ago, most of us were watching the same thing on television, game six of the 1999 Stanley Cup finals.

Now some members of the Buffalo Sabres are talking about the triple overtime thriller that ended with "no goal."

June 19, 1999 turned into June 20th when game six of the Stanley Cup finals went to a third overtime.

At 1:30 a.m., Brett Hull grabbed his own rebound, and with his left foot in the crease, beat Dominik Hasek for the series clinching goal.

As the Dallas Stars celebrated, the Sabres realized that the goal should not have counted.

For the players on that Buffalo team, time does not heal all wounds.

News 4's Paul Peck asked Rob Ray if the emotions and anger still come back to him.

Sabres forward 1989-2003 Rob Ray said, "Yeah it is, and I don't think you ever lose it. You realize how difficult it is to get there, and how difficult it is to win."

Sabres captain 1997-2000 Michael Peca said, "You reflect back there after it's mentioned, and it makes you think of a whole bunch of things sometimes you thought were in the past but are just as much in the forefront of your mind as they've always been."

The National Hockey League said the rule had been changed, to allow players to be in the crease as long as they maintained possession. None of the Sabres knew anything about that.

Peca said, "That goal, there was never any video review. I remember watching Bill McCreary the referee at the window of the penalty box, and eventually he just put his hands up and skated off the ice. He figured there was no way we were going to get a review or a call on that goal."

Not winning a Stanley Cup still bothers Rob Ray. Having one taken away from Buffalo's fans bothers him even more.

Ray said, "You just always dreamt of being part of a team that can put a town over the top. That's when you look back and people would never forget you, never be forgotten that way. You feel bad sometimes because you added to their disappointment."

Shortly after the finals ended, the NHL eliminated the crease rule. No team since then as ever had to deal with another "no goal."



Here was the explanation at the time from "Hockey Night in Canada..."
((HT: CBC/NHL))

Crawford Hired As Stars Coach

((HT: TSN))

Well, that didn't last long- the worst kept secret in the NHL is out.

The Dallas Stars have hired Marc Crawford ((pictured, thanks Jeff Vinnick/Getty)) to be their next head coach. The move comes one day after the team announced the dismissal of Dave Tippett.

''I am very excited that we have been able to secure Marc Crawford as head coach of the Dallas Stars,'' said Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk. ''Marc is a winner with extensive experience in this league, and I am confident he will get the most out of our hockey club.''

This will be Crawford's fourth assignment behind an NHL bench. He began his career with the Quebec Nordiques-Colorado Avalanche franchise, and also coached the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings.

''I'm very excited and honored to have been selected as head coach of the Dallas Stars,'' said Crawford. ''This is a winning organization and I look forward to building upon the success that it has earned over the years. This club has a great deal of potential, and I'm eager to get to work in restoring the franchise to among the league's elite.''

He won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 1995, and also won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996.

Crawford, 48, is a native of Belleville, Ontario. He spent the past season as a broadcaster after being fired by the Kings after the 2007-08 campaign.

He has coached in 987 NHL games, with a record of 470-361-156.

Tippett Out In Dallas

((HT: TSN))

After six seasons behind the bench in Dallas, the Stars have fired head coach Dave Tippett ((pictured, thanks Jeff Vinnick/Getty)).

The move comes on the heels of the team naming former Stars' player Joe Nieuwendyk general manager earlier in the month.

While no successor has been named, sources say that the Stars have asked for permission to talk to former Los Angeles Kings coach Marc Crawford, who remains under contract to the Kings. It's not clear at this point whether Crawford has been hired to take Tippett's place or is merely a candidate.

Picked to be a potential Stanley Cup contender this past off-season, the Stars struggled mightily this year, having their season de-railed by the controversy caused by Sean Avery's comments and his subsequent banishment from the team.

The Stars finished the season in 12th spot in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for the first time during Tippett tenure in the Lone Star state.

Tippett was hired by the Stars from the Los Angeles Kings, where he was an assistant, in May 2002 and led the team to two Pacific Division titles.

The Moosomin, Saskatchewan native also played 11 seasons in the NHL and accumulated 93 goals and 169 assists in 721 career games. Following his playing career, Tippett led the IHL's Houston Aeros to the 1999 Turner Cup while serving the dual role of general manager and head coach.

Hicks Would Sell Rangers But Not Stars

((HT: MyFoxDFW))

Tom Hicks is willing to give up control of baseball's Texas Rangers if the right deal comes along but he intends to keep the NHL's Dallas Stars.

Hicks said in late March that he was seeking minority investors to purchase up to 49 percent in each club. About a week later, the holding company that owns the clubs, Hicks Sports Group, defaulted on about $525 million in loans. Hicks said he intentionally made the move to help negotiate with banks.

"With the right partners, I would be willing to sell a controlling interest in the Rangers," Hicks said on Thursday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Not so with the Stars."

His intentions were first reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
That article, by Randy Galloway, is right here...

His key paragraphs:

"What was "adamant" in early spring doesn’t necessarily apply in late May. And for someone in Hicks’ financial circles, things change as much as the ups and downs of a depressed national market. (This will be, promise, my final comment on all things listed under economics).

With, however, Hicks now saying a majority interest in the local baseball team is up for sale, depending on if Hicks is chummy with the potential buyer, then Wednesday’s next ballpark contact was, of course, Nolan Ryan.

As Hicks’ hand-picked, in-charge-of-everything team president, chummy seems to apply here. Plus, it has been speculated many times that Ryan and his longtime business partner, Don Sanders of Houston, would have an interest in buying a majority share of the Rangers. And no interest at all in what was previously being offered — a minority share.

"Knowing nothing about what the details are, and having not been involved in discussions [about being a majority owner], there’s no way I can comment on any of this," Ryan said.

Would it be something he would now explore?

"That’s hard to say," Ryan added, "without having talked to Tom about it."

On the sale of any team, commissioner Bud Selig’s office is involved in determining partners, since it’s a process where all investors have to eventually be checked out and approved by the other owners.

Under those guidelines, Hicks is being advised, and it can be assumed, also being given a list of potential investors by the commissioner’s office. But it’s a hard sell, obviously, when Hicks was offering only a minority interest while maintaining total control."

Hicks bought the Stars in 1996, and the team won the Stanley Cup three years later. In 1998, he purchased the Rangers from George W. Bush's group and Hicks created a stir in December 2000 when the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a $252 million, 10-year contract. Hicks has said he owns 95 percent of both teams.

Two years ago, he combined with Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. to buy the English soccer club Liverpool through a different entity.

Tom Hicks Defaults On Loans On Purpose

To be honest, it's a smart business move on his part...

Banks and a lot of other folks need his business long-term, so he's doing this short-term to renegotiate his current debt load. We do it when it comes to re-financing our homes. Hicks is doing it with a lot more zeroes attached.

((HT: myfoxdfw.com))

The company that owns baseball's Texas Rangers and hockey's Dallas Stars has defaulted on about $525 million in loans, but owner Tom Hicks ((pictured, myfoxdfw.com)) said Friday that he intentionally made the move to help negotiate with banks.

Hicks told The Associated Press the teams won't be affected after Hicks Sports Group, his holding company, didn't pay an interest payment on the syndicated bank loans Tuesday. A syndicated bank loan is one made by a group of lenders to one borrower.

"What we want is the banks to allow us to use our interest revenue," Hicks said. "We need 51 percent approval, which we anticipate. It is hard to get two banks to agree to anything, much less 40 on a timely basis."

A financial news Web site called FINalternatives first reported Friday that Hicks Sports Group did not make its interest payment on a $350 million bank-term loan, $100 million second-lien loan and a $75 million revolving credit facility.

"Like so many other companies and institutions, HSG has been impacted by a global credit crisis which no one could have anticipated," Hicks said in a statement. "The company is not asking for additional money; it is only asking for full access to the interest reserve account and revolving credit line as well as some amendments in the debt covenants."

"This will be a nonevent to players, to the fans, our sponsors, our vendors, anybody," Hicks told the AP. "I just have to reach these agreements with me and these other lenders."

He said that the negotiations have nothing to with his other assets or his family's assets.
Last week, Hicks said he was looking for investors to buy minority interests in the Rangers and the Stars. He said he was willing to let limited partners purchase up to 49 percent of each club, leaving him with a controlling interest. Hicks said he owns 95 percent of both teams.

"I'm bringing in minority partners, so I can pay off the loans," he said Friday. "I wouldn't normally do that. In this particular environment, that's what we should do."

Hicks also owns a 50 percent stake in Liverpool FC in the English Premier League, but that is owned through another entity. He said that he hopes that negotiations with the banks will be complete in a couple of weeks.

"All we want the banks to do is be reasonable," he said.

"Under normal market conditions, it would be a nonevent."

Here's coverage from James Rose and our friends at KDFW-TV...

Habs On The Block...?

((HT: TSN))




The Montreal Canadiens could be going up for sale, reports La Presse in Montreal.

The newspaper, citing Canadiens president Pierre Boivin, reported on Monday owner George Gillett is considering options for many of his assets, including the legendary franchise.

"We're not hiding it; we're going through a very difficult economic period," Boivin told La Presse.

"The Gillett family has retained the services of financial advisers to assess various strategic alternatives to optimize the value of its corporate assets," said Boivin in a statement on Monday.


"In Canada, the family has retained the services of BMO Capital Markets and the process is underway."



Boivin drew a crowd of reporters at a downtown hotel Monday, however he did not give them any substantial information.



"Today, many of you would have liked I would talk to you about the performance of the team or the news of the day in regards to the financial measures taken by our owner," Boivin said. "But you will understand that I will abstain as it's not the time."



Forbes Magazine ranked the Canadiens as the NHL's third most valuable team back in October. The magazine estimated the club's worth to be $334 million. There were reports the club would be placed up for sale late last year, but Gillett and the Canadiens denied their accuracy.



Gillett purchased the Canadiens and the Bell Centre back in 2001 for $181 million. He also co-owns Liverpool soccer club along with interests in the Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR team and Gillett Entertainment Group.



The CANADIAN PRESS is reporting that Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie is among the names being rumoured as the team's next owner. Others include billionaire Cirque du soleil owner Guy Laliberte, media giant Quebecor and Rene Angelil, manager and husband of singer Celine Dion.



The team does not expect the rumour of a potential sale to effect the team on the ice.

In December, Sports Business Journal reported that Gillett was looking to refinance a US$75-million loan he took out to guarantee his involvement in the purchase of Liverpool FC.

Gillett bought the Molson Centre and his majority stake in the Canadiens for $275 million with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the province's pension fund manager.

Darren Dreger reports, at the same time, that Gillett's partner in Liverpool FC, Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks is looking for minority owners for the Dallas Stars. Hicks has no intention of .selling the Stars or his stake in Liverpool.

Ott Suspended Indefinitely Pending Hearing

Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NHL on Sunday pending a hearing for receiving a match penalty in a game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Ott and Anaheim's Travis Moen got into a fight following the Ducks' 4-3 win over Dallas on Saturday afternoon. Ott was given a match penalty for attempt to injure as a result of the incident.

Here's the fight between Moen and Ott, but not before JS Giguere took exception to Ott's shenanigans in the first place...
((HT: Hockeyfights.com))


Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News caught up with Moen and Ott.

Ott ((eye)) gouged Anaheim's Travis Moen in the scrum.
"It was an accident. I didn't mean to do it," Ott said.

Moen said he was upset by the incident.
"You don't like it when a guy eye-gouges you after a fight," he said. "You know, I guess he felt he had to eye-gouge me. I don't know. Maybe it wasn't intentional. Maybe he was just trying to get at me, and was pulling, and got my eye or whatever."

Sean Avery To Be Placed On Waivers

((HT: TSN/Darren Dreger))

The Dallas Stars will place Sean Avery on re-entry waivers on Monday.

The New York Rangers are expected to claim him, failing a rival bid from a team lower in the NHL standings.

If no team claims Avery, picking up half of his remaining salary, then the Stars will consider one of two options:

They will allow him to continue playing in the AHL with Hartford.

Or...

They will allow him to leave while continuing to pay him for not playing.

Dallas will then officially cut ties with Sean Avery by buying him out during the buyout period this summer.

AHL Next Stop For Avery...?

So, it appears the New York Rangers American Hockey League brethren may be the next go-round for Sean Avery's ((pictured, thanks Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)) sloppy seconds...

From TSN...

The Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL will likely be the destination for Sean Avery's return to professional hockey.

But at this point, the New York Rangers and their top minor league affiliate have yet to finalize an arrangement with the Dallas Stars to provide a home for Avery in the event he clears waivers on Monday.

Assuming an agreement is reached with the Stars, Avery would clear waivers and Dallas would assign him to the AHL. The forward isn't expected to report to Hartford before Tuesday.

The Wolf Pack will host the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday.

Sean Gone In Dallas- Sloppy Seconds Move On

The days of the Dallas Stars having Sean Avery as their Number One Pest are, officially, over.

The team is working on a way that there can be an amicable "divorce" between the two parties.

"Sean needs to focus on his own well-being while the Stars hockey team must focus on playing hockey and competing for a playoff spot," Stars co-general manager Brett Hull said in the statement. "We all need to move forward."

Avery lasted only 23 games in Dallas after being signed for $15.5 million and four years over the summer. The Stars could try voiding the contract by saying he violated a conduct clause, but aren't going to do that, in part because of the likely legal challenges that would ensue.

"The message here is: no distractions," Hull said. "Sean can focus on resolving his personal issues, and the Stars will have closure on this episode."

What's next after the divorce papers are filed...?

Avery and his agent could try finding a team interested in trading for him. If there are no takers, the Stars may not want to waive him because they would be responsible for the balance of his salary, which is US$4 million each of the next three seasons. They could hold his rights the rest of this season, then buy him out for two-thirds of the balance (US$8 million, instead of US$12 million) on or after July 1, 2009.

Avery also could be sent to an American Hockey League team, with the Stars paying his salary; if he didn't show up, he wouldn't get paid. Should Avery play in the minors, he'd go through re-entry waivers on the way back into the NHL. If a team claims him, the Stars and the new team would split the salary.

"We do care about Sean and want what is best for him," Hull said. "We've agreed to do what we can to help find him a place to play hockey once he addresses his personal issues."

While the "sloppy seconds" comment can be found here at OSG HQ, we thought we'd replay the interview he did with the CBC's George Stroumboulopolous on his show, "The Hour."

Required viewing to get to the heart of who Avery ((and his on-ice persona)) are these days...

Avery Suspended Indefinitely-Video Included

It's all about "sloppy seconds..."

Commissioner Gary Bettman suspended Avery indefinitely Tuesday hours after the Dallas Stars pest made "inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game." Avery will meet with Bettman before his punishment is settled. That get-together is likely to happen soon.

Avery's inflammatory comments came following a morning skate in Calgary, where the Stars were playing the Flames on Tuesday night.

Avery approached a group of reporters, asked if a camera was present, then said he wanted to say one thing.

"I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada," he said. "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight."

Avery's ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert, is dating Calgary defensman Dion Phaneuf ((both pictured, thanks hockeybeat.com)) and had been romantically linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery also dated model and actress Rachel Hunter, the girlfriend of Los Angeles Kings center Jarrett Stoll.

All we have to say is: We know Avery is a loudmouth. He's prone to pop off and say things like that. We think it's typical-Avery behavior and not a susrprise.

But "Suspended indefinitely...?"
Get over thyself...

For the record... here's the comments... judge for yourself...
((HT: TSN/the youtube))

Jack Edwards Really Gets Into His Work

Edwards left the four-letter a few years ago to turn in to a Boston Bruins play-by-play guy... it's his true passion...

And this is what happens when you have a passionate guy in a passionate market in the middle of a street fight...

Edwards does have a point...
The Dallas Stars Steve Ott is a punk-ass...just like his teammate Sean Avery. But all of you know that, if given the chance, you'd love to have either one on your favorite team.
((HT: NESN/theyoutube))