Boston-Owned Bolts?

In case you haven't seen it yet, word has been floating around today about a potential Boston-based buyer for the Tampa Bay Lightning. From the St. Petersburg Times (the newspaper, not the arena):

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, in his ongoing effort to resolve the Lightning's ownership issues, has recruited Boston hedge fund manager Jeff Vinik to explore becoming either a majority partner or outright owner of the team.

The league declined comment, and several phone calls to the media contact at Vinik's company were not returned. But Vinik's representatives recently were in Tampa doing due diligence and looking over the St. Pete Times Forum, and speculation is if something was to come together, it will happen sooner rather than later.

It was unclear if Vinik would recruit other investors and what roles, if any, Lightning co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, would have if Vinik moved forward. But his involvement adds to a tumultuous and intriguing time for the organization.

The Times article mentions that several parties have expressed interest, but this little tidbit proves to be interesting. Anyone want to buy an NHL team at a discount?

But the landscape has changed somewhat with the news Karen Davidson, widow of former Palace Sports owner Bill Davidson, might sell the NBA's Pistons and Palace Sports, the umbrella company that also owned the Lightning.

The league has made retiring the debt Koules and Barrie owe Palace Sports an imperative for potential owners. There is speculation a for-sale Palace Sports might take less on the dollar to clear the debt, which includes about $67 million in financing of the $200 million sale and another $30 million in operating capital.

Raw Charge's John Fontana, a longtime Bolts fan who's seen the very highs and lows of the franchise, isn't that impressed. For more on this, be sure to keep checking back with Raw Charge.