Wilson: team won't be shopped

Lightning CEO Tom Wilson believes it was the right thing to do to speak out about the direction of the franchise now that Absolute Hockey Enterprises proposed $200-million deal to buy the team has fallen through. Wilson said fan nervousness is "understandable'' but that it will be business as usual as long as the team remains the property of Palace Sports & Entertainment.

Wilson said Tuesday he has "some degree of optimism'' Absolute Hockey's main players -- Jeff Sherrin and Doug MacLean are suing Oren Koules -- can resolve their differences and resurrect the proposed purchase that also included the St. Pete Times Forum lease and 5.5 acres of land near the stadium. If they cannot, he said the team will not be shopped.

"We're not hiring a broker to see who might have interest in the Tampa Bay Lightning,'' Wilson said. But he added that any offers that "fall from the sky'' will be considered.

"And that's consistent to where we were five years ago,'' Wilson said. "Until this isn't our club, this is our club. We have certain standards we want to hold to. We want to win. we want to be as good as we can be. If we're still there, we're as committed as we were.''

That means, Wilson said, no slash and burn tactics with personnel or payroll.

Wilson talked of other things, as well. He denied, for example, that Palace Sports ever went behind Sherrin's and MacLean's back to forge a relationship with Koules. And Tom Scarritt, the attorney for Sherrin and MacLean reiterated they did. It's all part of a long soap opera that is about to unfold.

There will be more in tomorrow's paper.

But as Lightning center Chris Gratton said Tuesday, "Most players are just like, 'Tell me when it's over.' ''

 

Comments

[Nils]

They didn't have sufficient funding with Sherrin; they surely don't have it now.

Could Wilson be more disingenuous? They are shopping this team. Offers "falling from the sky?" Sounds like Chicken Little to me.

As for denying secret negotiations, he's in the middle of a lawsuit. What else is he going to say?

He left unanswered whether the organization will make moves, i.e. spend money, to improve the team. Doesn't the Bay area press feel obligated to ask the obvious questions?

Gratton's comment confirms Lisa's conclusion that all this BS is taking a toll on team morale.

[alistair]

I don't recall reading if MacLean is a co-defendant in the lawsuit. If he hasn't been named why would he hook up with the tainted Koules and open himself up to fraud conspiracy? What a mess!!!

[Nils]

I think you read it wrong. MacLean is a plaintiff.

How in the world would anyone believe they "can resolve their differences" after this, anyway? Mbab and Sarasota Bill have a better chance of returning to this board.

[Hockey Chic]

What a distraction for the guys. This is the last thing that the team needs.

I think the current management made the right move buy annoucing that the deal was off for now.

Anyone that has been in mergers and cquisitions can tell you it can take months if not years to complete depending upon the size of the deal and the number of properties, accounts and investments the entities hold.

So that being said, I was surprised that it took that long for the deal to fall through. Usually the investors and their money backing the deal is checked up front. I am not sure if it is different in dealing with team purchses, but it sounds like management was so excited to have a potential buyer they over looked that this is a business and not a trading card transacton.

Lets put this rotten deal to bed and concentrate on what is important. HOCKEY FOLKS.

Lets go to chi town and detroit and come back with two wins. Lets get er done.

60 minutes of pure flat out in your face hockey.

[goldenbolt]

Pre-Season several of us got into the conversation and were admonished for the 'off hockey' blog about the potential investors. I stated show me the money because No one had any ca-ching and the deal would fall thru. The blowup of the mortgage/lending environment put the nail in the cofin. Think of it this way if major corporations can't find the funding to finance purchases where do you think the nickle and dimers of this buyout group to go? Hockey is not a money pit except for a couple of teams like the Rangers, Toronto and others. This gives the media and bloggers a chance to write for a few weeks till we move to the next significant event.

What really is at stake here is the state of the game and the goofballs who are now in charge. Let them sue each other for a couple years then they can do the makeup kiss and buy a coffin for the franchise.
The greater question for me is when does the NHL step up and resolve the issue with the refs? Yes, it is part of the game but Jackson and other incompetents are destroying the game. I have watched hockey for 40+ years and each year the zebra's are becoming more of the game. I'm tired of going to games paying significant dollars, watching the NHL network to see game after game taken away due to a five hole ref who can't make the obvious call. I no longer marvel at the skills of the player but look to see who is in the stripes to determine quality of game. It is obvious to me and many others the game has lost it's luster when you are more concerned about the refs than the players.
There will be more empty seats in the Forum and other avenues because no one can explain the rules to a new fan when the men making those decisions can't or won't for whatever reason. For me the greatest sport in the world now looks like a bad SAW - 6 film, worthless and no longer the joy it was to watch.
No, I do not have answers, but I do have frustration and anger at how Bettman and the Refs have destroyed the game that I so loved for so many years. Shrink - do you have a slot available on the couch!!!.

All of you have a great day - Go Bolts.

[wiggy]

Thanks Absolute Hockey and Palace Sports, two greedy entities who could care less about the players and fans:

Ilya Bryzgalov, the Phoenix Coyotes new starting goaltender, will try to win his fifth straight game and the Coyotes look to snap a three-game skid in Minnesota when they meet the Wild on Wednesday night to begin a four-game road trip.

Bryzgalov, was named the NHL's second star of the week on Monday

Since being acquired off waivers from defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim on Nov. 17, the former backup to Jean-Sebastien Giguere has yet to lose. With a 25-save effort in a 5-1 win over Toronto on Friday, Bryzgalov improved to 4-0-0 with a 1.22 goals-against average and one shutout for his new team.

"He is truly one of the pieces of this puzzle," Coyotes (11-10-0) coach Wayne Gretzky said. "He's helped us turn this team around, and maybe our franchise."

[ignatz]

How could the bloggers expect anything negative about the ill-fated sale until it hit the courthouse records when Cristodoro acts like an arm of the Palace Sports PR machine.

Read today's article. Sounds like a Palace press release. Does he just stand there taking notes and nodding his head?

[Another Joe]

I just have this feeling someone else will step up to the plate and buy this team. Maybe a group led by Koules and or someone else who now knows the team can be had!

[Fred]

You're right Joe. Wilson magnanimously says the Lightning won't be shopped and wouldn't hire a broker. They don't need to now that the whole world knows the team is for sale.

[leo]

43 saves last night! Record stands at 6-2-1. You want a goaltender? He's the cream of the crop.
I keep coming back to this because I KNOW we can get him. This team HAS to move, has to do something before we turn into Toronto. You wanna be like Toronto now? That franchise has to blow itself up; it has no other choice. It is MIRED by it's lack of depth, no farm system and bloated contracts. Ring a bell? Don't let us come to that.
We can get the new Patrick Roy. It'll cost Vinny, though.
Yes, it'll hurt, but not for long.
With the Kid, we go for the cup.

[Nils]

leo, if you're not the kid's agent or his mother, you need to see the shrink.

[leo]

I'm listening, tell me why.
Let me guess: heart of the team, soul of the community, best player in the league for a minor-league nobody? Something like that? We'll lose the team if we trade him? You think so? No one will go to the games anymore? You think so? Bull. People will come to the games if we WIN, bottom line.
Nobody knew who Vinny was before 2004, now we have the 6th best attendance in the league. Why? Cause of Vinny? In part, sure. But it's mostly because we won the STANLEY CUP!!!
I'd rather have a Vincent Lecavalier as goaltender than as forward and so would you, regardless of what you say.
The goaler is the LAST LINE OF DEFENSE, the ULTIMATE game-breaker.
The Kid is the Future. And I'm not talking in a year or two, I'm talking in a MONTH or two. The only reason he's not full-time now is that Huet is playing balls to the wall. (He can read the writing on that wall.) Do not be surprised when the Kid takes over and Carries them to the play-offs, and beyond.
Do not be surprised.
Wanna save the team? Wanna BE a team?
Then we have to think with our heads and not our hearts.

[dwight]

In contrast to the lame coverage by the SPT, read the Trib today. Good story in business section and great column by Martin Fennelly. The Trib was late to the party too but at least they are on top of it now.

[leo]

Never said I saw that deal taking place. I said I WANT that deal to take place.
Yes, I love the bolts.
No, I'm not a habs-troll.
I love Vinny.
But I love the Stanley Cup much, much more.
The Kid will hold it aloft within the next 3 years, if not next year, if not THIS year.
Crazy? See for yourself. Look at him play! Then tell me.
But please,
Be civil.
I understand that my proposition is shocking and yes, and the end of the day, what can I CONCRETELY accomplish? Not much.
My opinion. Open to debate, of course.
Civilized debate, mate.
Peace.

[Mike13]

Yes, it does sound a bit Morpheus-esque.

Hey Damian, any word on who's in the lineup tonigt again the Blackhawks? I'm guessing the line combos are gonna be:

Prospal-Lecavalier-St.Louis
Hlavac-Richards-Ouellet
Karlsson-Gratton-Darche
MacDonald-Tarnasky-Roy

O'Brien-Ranger
Lukowich-Lundin
Smaby-Janik

Holmqvist

[Mike13]

I think I posted that in the wrong blog. Oops.

[SarasotaBill1]

Hey Kids!! I guess it can snow in hell!

I have looked in from time to time just to see the comments and I have to say I never understood the big hoopla about the sale. Shortly after the sale was announced, investors were added. It doesn't take Einstein to surmise that when the purchase offer was proposed that the money wasn't in order. I think it's obvious to everyone that there was a continuing search for investors. I can't understand why that is news or should be news. The obvious rarely is. So you give Mac and the boys time to find the investors. If they do, they do. If they don't, they don't. That's the only story on the sale. It's been that simple from the get go.

As for the lawsuit, like way too many, it's frivolous, baseless, and vindictive. I'm sure the Absolute Hockey attorney recommended it. It provides him with a fantastic salary for the next 2 years regardless of the outcome. Too bad it won't fly.

Let's look at this a minute. Koules has been accused of going behind MacLean and Sherrin's backs trying to work his own deal. Did that happen? Maybe, maybe not. If it did, try proving it. Only Koules and PSE know for sure and one has a lawsuit against him and the other would lose all credibility in future business dealings. Is either party going to admit it if it did indeed happen? Hardly. Good luck taking mere speculation before a jury. Unless there was a tape recorder strapped to a fly on the walls a s s there is no proof.

Breech of Contract? This one's pretty simple. If one party breeches the contract, the others are released from their obligations. Just like having your roof fixed. You sign a contract that says a roofer fixes your roof and you pay him. If the roofer doesn't fix your roof, you have no legal obligation to pay him. I know, weird analogy, but it's the simple concept of a contract agreement. Who actually breeched this contract first? Koules entered this agreement as a certain percentage investor. Then it all changed. MacLean told anyone who would listen that he had "unnamed Toronto investors." Seemed odd at the time. In retrospect, I think it's clear those investors were non-existent and would be replaced by investors he hoped to find. It's my guess Koules was told the same story. As time goes on, with no "mystery" investors surfacing, they reach to Koules. He responds by bringing in his movie partner. When they need more, they go to Koules again and he finds himself providing 80% to 90% of the front cash, responsible for obtaining financing (it was reported he was to be the "point man" in the financing) and he has a minority voice in the franchise?

Exactly who breeched the contract? The terms certainly changed from the original agreement when Koules was asked for more money with no change in the hierarchy. I can't blame the guy for backing out. However, it's important to remember he didn't back out from the original contract. He agreed to increase his financial stake but Absolute didn't want to give up control. Terms change from the original contract, no new agreement, it's done. End of story.

Fraud? I'm surprised Sherrin and MacLean would even touch that. Who was actually defrauded here? Was Koules sold a bill of goods when he signed on or can Absolute prove they had investors in their pocket? Fat Chance! If they did, they wouldn't be asking Koules for more money. There has been talk about PSE not doing their due diligence before accepting the deal. Davidson didn't become a billionaire by accident. PSE, and other assorted entities under the Davidson umbrella, have been extremely successful. Once again, not an accident. I'd be inclined to believe that PSE made a decision based on what they were presented. That raises the question as to how truthful Absolute was in presenting the deal. Absolute could be opening up their own can of worms here.

At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing Koules create his own group. He certainly has a passion for the game and the enthusiasm he would bring would be refreshing!

OK, I'm done now. I know a lot of what I said is redundant but it was only to explain my opinion of an asinine lawsuit.

Anyone got any good lawyer jokes?

L Rod, sit tight. Had to kill my old e-mail and you can probably figure out why. I do believe I have your other addy at my office computer. If not, I know how to find you.

[keith]

SarasotaBill, where have you been, mate?

Lawyers make the big dinero creating, litigating, and perpetuating these type of scenarios. At the end of the day, no one is any better off, except the lawyer and his kin, emailing from Bali on a nice "end of suit" trip.
Meantime there's hockey to play, an old goalie to beat and a couple of hot hot rookies to stop.

[harvey]

Now there is a blast from the past. Good to see you SB! And especially good to hear your angle on the lawsuit thing. I think you just made koules defense. You get anything for that?

here's one a guy is very sick and is hospitalized. His 3 closest friends come to visit him. The guy has one last request of his friends. He says "I know they say you can't take it with you but I will find a way. I loaned each of you $10k that's due in 2 days. I have no family to leave it to so if anything happens to me before you pay me, toss the cash in my casket just in case." They all agree.

The poor guy doesn't make it and as everyone pays their final respects and just before they close the casket, they are the last 3 in the room. The doctor goes up, pays his last respects and stuffs an envelope with $10k into the casket. The dentist soon follows. The last in the room is the lawyer. He goes up and does the same.

Later on the lawyers wife was questioning him about what he was doing in there. He tells her. She says "WHAT? No disrespect but he has no family and you just threw away 10k. How could you do that?" He says "it was easy. I don't trust these funeral employees nor do I trust the employees at the cemetery. So I took out their envelopes with cash and wrote him a check for 30k."

sorry a little morbid, and old but it's the best I got!

[weezer]

It's pretty easy after the fact isn't it Sarasota Bill? I believe your old posts criticized those who were skeptical of the deal from the outset. Why don't you return to the malcontent blog?

[primal scream]

harvey, first e-mail your suffering friends your lame jokes. secondly, a tip: the payoff has to match the setup. You see the time of my post? I fell asleep at the computer reading yours and just woke up.

[patti]

Lightning is being shopped but nobody is buying. Their value is decreasing because the payroll is the same and they have more points than one team in the Conference and three teams in the NHL. They are headed in the wrong direction.

[jr]

Lack of the usual number of posts means a cruel reality has set in. The Lightning are not a very good team as now constituted. Present ownership, even in their public utterances (lies), have failed to pledge to improve the team.

I have to laugh at the few, very few, posters who said the defense is better without Dan Boyle. Do they understand hockey beyond the fact that the game begins with six men from each team on the ice?

The defense is poor. Lukowich is terrible. Kuba has played well. Ranger and O"Brien have been inconsistent though we keep hearing about their "potential." Janik is marginal. The rookie is learning. This unit needs help.

The pending non-deal cost the Lightning a goalie--a very good one. He gave up 3 goals last night in his least effective performance yet. News accounts say Bryzgalov made several quality saves and none of the goals against him were soft.

The forward lines would be better off if Tortorella wouldn't tinker with them constantly.

It's common knowledge around the league that Denis is unmoveable. No one wants him and his contract. He has questionable ability but worse, he has lost all confidence. The Modin trade and out-of-bounds Richards contract severely damaged this franchise.

In addition, now there is a morale problem. You can read that from the player quotes about the non-sale.

Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control said today that cyber-bullying is on the increase. There's even a new name for it: electronic aggression.

Even though the Lightning Strikes blog has improved from six weeks ago, there's entirely too much name calling here. There are incredibly a couple of instances where one poster wanted to meet another poster to settle accounts. And really, if two people want to have a conversation, why don't they exchange e-mail addresses instead of clogging this blog? It's called common courtesy.

I would say the fans have hope, unfortunately more hope than some of the players. Who knows what the organization thinks or what it is doing? The only thing we know is what they're not doing.

[Mike13]

At one point, I did write that the defense had been performing better without Boyle. Indeed they were. But it is clear that they need him back. What's more, they need to be as aggressive defensively as they were during the 2 winning streaks. Each of the 2 loosing streaks have been fueled by the defense being non-aggressive with the puck-holder...Giving up too much space as they enter our zone, poke checking instead of taking the body, pinching at the end of a powerplay, not clearing the zone during the PK, taking too long of shifts, etc.

While I'm absolutely unconvinced that Boyle's return would help any of the above situations, his absence clearly hurts the team in terms of outlet passes and such.

[Alabaster Cat]

Anyone who thinks that this hockey team is being well-minded by its absentee owners, its front office, and its coaching staff needs to reconsider that opinion in the light of these baleful losing streaks. Clearly, this neglect has reached crisis proportions.

Regardless of how one might feel about Tortorella, Feaster, and Davidson, the signs of highly aggravated problems are everywhere in connection with this franchise.

You cannot trade an owner (maybe he'll just sell the club and go away on his own), but, like it or not, the coach and the GM are starting to remind one of the Fram oil filter ads.

[Alabaster Cat]

Also, thanks to "jr" for saying most of the things that I expect many of us are thinking!

[jr]

I agree in toto, AC.

I had been placing the burden of non-action on the shoulders of the purchasing group because it was obvious they did not have the resources to close the deal.

My rethinking places at least equal responsibility on the present owners. Perhaps what happened in 2004 under the Davidson regime clouded my judgment. They certainly deserve credit for providing resources to bring the Cup here but it's been a shameful chapter since then. They are certainly desperate. Maybe Davidson's balance sheet has taken a wallop because of real estate and stock market woes.

Tom Wilson has abolutely squadoosh credibility. Who can believe ANYTHING he says at this point?

Hockey blogs and newsletters are abrim with speculation about the Bolts. February 26 is the trade deadline. We know Boyle won't be resigned. Lecavalier is the only real asset that doesn't have a "no trade" clause.

[ajax]

Franchise in limb, disarray, helter skelter etc etc.
Feaster has hands tied, but considering the past few years, that might be the best move on him.
We need players, not just Boyle although he would be immense. Ranger and O'brien inconsistent? You get that when you play 28 minutes a night for the first time in your career. O'brien looks totally dead at the end of the game. The heart is willing but the legs ain't.
We will have maybe 4 forwards get 15 goals. We had 7, get 20 the year we won the cup. None of the last 5-6 forwards would get any minutes on one of the better teams in hockey.
Homer has a terrible flaw, he is on his knees about a sec or two before he needs to. Stand up man!!
Torts??, I think he is asking way to much of his stars(minutes) but who do you put out there? I really have to let him off the hook because he is trying to win games with 10-12 players.
I think reality is this: This is not a funk, or a stage. This is it. We are at best a .500 club.
There have been a million scenarios.
The only real one I think the Bolts have is to cut their losses and make some major moves.
They will not spend so we can't spend anymore time on that. I believe 100% they are not going to spend. So help is not on the way. The minors are a joke. If we had anyone they would be up long ago.
Have to resolve Denis deadlock. He is dead weight. Someone will pick him up for 50% off. That frees 1.6 mil. I really think this is an obvious business decision at this point. Why don't they?? I think they are hoping some other goalies get hurt and they will move him then. We can not wait for other peoples misfortunes.
I said it two years ago, I said it last year, and I will say it one more time. They need to be on the phone 20 hours a day and move one of the big 3 to get some help with the roster.
Anyone have confidence Torts can turn these 20 guys into a contender??
Will everyone be happy to finish 8th?
If that is the goal of management they are cheating all of us.
And Leo, leave Price out of it and give us some do able options. My suggestion is stuff Price into a tuna can. Smiles Leo.

[leo]

Hidey-ho, ajax.
Doable?
We don't want ten dimes for two quarters. We NEED to move.
But these hopeless ideas for trades that I'm hearing are driving me bananas. Richards for a top goalie? Dream on.
The Kid aside? Ok.
Denis to the minors. At best, he'll recover his game, repass waivers and be claimed elsewhere with only half his salary to worry about.
Dump Richards. That's right: Dump him. It's not the fact that he's marginal, good or very good. For 8 million, you better be dang good! That salary is KILLING us.
Yesterday, I mentioned a deal like Richards for Samsonov (or someone like him). I don't WANT Samsonov, but maybe Chicago could take him (I don't know their cap-space; it's just an example.) and then we BUY OUT Samsonov. Net savings?: 22 million dollars. We're back in business.
Lisa mentioned Huet (mostly to shut me up) and I think that is also an excellent idea. I would love to see Huet here and it sure as heck wouldn't cost us the V. But what can we offer Montreal that would interest them more than a winning goaltender? Who?
We have to stop thinking that we can get the moon for three cookies. If we offer Boyle, Ouellet, Hlavac, Smaby and Ramo to Pittsburgh, think we'll get Crosby? See what I mean? "hey, we're offering 5 for 1!" Yeah, but it doesn't work like that.
You give a little, you'll get a little.
Offer Vinny, you'll SEE something in return, that's a fact.
I don't WANT 3 good NHL starters for Vinny, ajax. You remember my reasoning on this. A deal like that is pointless because no matter what I say here, I am sure you all believe me when I agree to the fact that Vinny's talent is more impactful than 3 good players.
Trade a 4th liner, you'll get equal value in return. Law of the market. Other GM's AREN'T stupid. They're up to date, believe me, BETTER THAN WE ARE, in fact.
Moving marginality around will not HELP, will not CHANGE this status quo of mediocrity.
My deal will. Leave emotion (it hurts me too) at the door and think "Stanley Cup".
Unless you have a better one.
Convince me, mate.

[leo]

Hey, where is the Tuna? He was great. Tuna! Where is ya?!
Virulent insights, strong arguments and classy. Classy goes a long way, man.
Not that you're not, ajax.
Not that none of you aren't...!
I'll shut up, now.

[leo]

oh shoot!
5 dimes.
"5 dimes for 2 quarters".
I'm in Linguistics, not math.

[windy]

Got news for you. Linguistics ain't your forte by a long shot.

You trade Vinnie for a goalie and suddenly you have no one to score the goals and you have a goalie that still lets the shots in because of all the odd man rushes. No Stanley Cup and no wins and no fans. Team moves to Ontario. Bye, bye.

[leo]

Wrong.
You get the Cup.
No goals are scored on our net any more, EVER. See for youself. He's up against Brodeur tomorrow night. SEE FOR YOURSELF.
AFTER THAT, you get new, young, cheap and very talented players in a bonus, and/or first or second draft pick(s) for the next year (or two). That's a BONUS.
AND THEN, you still have 4 million extra.
You turn around and buy SOMEONE ELSE with that bonus.
Oorrrrrrrrr.......
You watch Montreal offer Vinny 50 million for 5 years in two years time when his contract's up. Don't think for a second that WON'T happen. They've SAID it.
Can we match that? With us forced to unload NOW to be able to SELL the dang team? WILL WE MATCH THAT? Romantic ideas of Vinny CHOOSING to stay here out of LOVE are preposterous. Don't you think he also evaluates the team? That he at least compares it to other places where he can WIN? Wealthly at that. When he's 30 years old, what do you think he's going to do?
What would YOU do?
That's why.
Why shouldn't we get ours?! I WANT TO WIN!!!
In 2 years, he's gone and we'll have nothing. And that'll be 10 times worse than what we got now.
You can't, you can't, you don't, you don't trade a guy like Vinny, fine, okay.
But that's all I'm hearing. Emotion.
I'm talking Passion.
And that's the Cup.

[***]

Is there some kind of IQ test we can give potential bloggers like leo before they are allowed to pollute this board? Even a modest 85 would be a formidable threshhold for him to reach.

[bear]

Sooner or later the transition begins.

How long before the Bolts become a trap team just to be competitive?

[leo]

True.
And I also have the courage to stand by my opinion (right or wrong) by POSTING MY NAME.
Like a man.
Instead of at cursing me, TELL me your point of view using reason and civility.
Like a man.