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Koules Has The Final Say
by Paul on 06/23/09 at 03:47 PM ET
Comments (11)
from Erik Elrlendsson of Bolts Report,
Lightning co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie held a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at the league offices in New York on Tuesday to determine who has the final say in team related decisions. A source close to the situation said this afternoon that everything remains on par, with Tampa Bay general manager Brian Lawton in control of the team decisions and Koules, who also serves as the team’s governor, having the final say in what direction the team takes for this weekend’s draft and the start of free agency next week.
The decision by Bettman, who has intervened in Lightning ownership disputes twice in the past 18 months, may have an immediate impact on the future of captain Vinny Lecavalier.
added 8:26pm, via Bob McKenzie of TSN,
In terms of the longer-term reationship between Koules and Barrie, who are at odds, it is believed Koules and Barrie have a few weeks to sort out their differences and either find a way to work together or buy one or the other out.
In any case, the situation is expected to be resolved one way or another by mid July.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Len+Barrie, Oren+Koules,
Comments
Adios Vinny and Malone.
Posted by Andrew Mack on 06/23/09 at 03:52 PM ET
And perhaps even Martin St. Louis. However, I doubt that Steve Stamkos is going anywhere.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/23/09 at 03:16 PM ET
What a disaster, though trading Vinny seems like an unfortunate necessity at this point.
Posted by Atheris on 06/23/09 at 04:01 PM ET
This is awful for the NHL. Bettman has to know how bad people are talking about Tampa since these owners have bought the team. He should had given it to Barrie in hope he could fix this mess. I guess that’s not going to happen now. Goodbye Vinny & Marty and hello number 30 in ranking next year.
Posted by Josh from Tampa on 06/23/09 at 04:20 PM ET
Well, on the bright side, getting four straight really high draft picks worked out very well for Tampa. They just need to find the next Malkin, Crosby, Staal (I think?), and Fleury, right?
Poor Bolts fans. :(
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/23/09 at 05:26 PM ET
Well, maybe Gary Bettman will come back and tell the Bolts who to draft next, right?
Posted by HockeyinHD on 06/23/09 at 06:18 PM ET
[chuckles]
I have this vision in my head right now of Koules taunting Barrie, “I told you so. Nyah nyah nyah nyah,” while Barrie stomps his foot, crosses his arms, and pouts and then storms off to his room to cry into his pillow.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/23/09 at 06:27 PM ET
Poor franchise, how many more big names they are gonna trade. B.Richards, Boyle, Modin and now lecavalier. i think khabibulin/goaltending messed that franchise up by not signing with them after the lockout
Posted by Oilers Rock from Edmonton, Alberta on 06/23/09 at 11:37 PM ET
A slow and painful death.
I’m sure the players have roots in the are, but leaving that place will do their careers a lot of good. They will, at least, have brought a Cup to the franchise before jumping away from the sinking boat.
Posted by Osrt on 06/24/09 at 01:52 AM ET
I can’t remember but I think it was all downhill after trading Richards, but it could have been re-acquiring Prospal and certainly could have been the refusal to get a suitable number 1 goalie or trading away serviceable d-men or…
Posted by stoneman from vegas on 06/24/09 at 07:20 AM ET
Isn’t st. louis a 4 mil/yr. player? Holy trade bait batman! Tons of players crappier than him making more.
Posted by stoneman from Vegas on 06/24/09 at 07:30 AM ET
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Adios Vinny and Malone.
Posted by Andrew Mack on 06/23/09 at 02:52 PM ET