The Hockey News: Ken Campbell's blog: THN.com Blog: Tampa in-fighting puts team in flux

THN.com Blog: Tampa in-fighting puts team in flux

Oren Koules of the Tampa Bay Lightning announces the first pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Ken Campbell
2009-06-24 13:47:00

So, it appears NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has stepped in and, at least temporarily, quelled the spat between the two parties in the most dysfunctional ownership group in the NHL.

But everything is far from OK for OK Hockey and its principals, Oren Koules and Len Barrie. Everyone from Barry Melrose to John Tortorella to Dan Boyle has had nasty things to say about the way these guys do business and there is no doubt there is little love between the two.

According to Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune, Koules and Barrie met with Bettman in New York Tuesday and emerged from the meeting with their business model intact, meaning Koules still has final say in the direction of the team.

But if Koules is in charge, why is Barrie conducting a cash call for the Lightning, looking for investors in the team at $5 million a pop? THN.com has learned Barrie began soliciting investors for the team in early May and has also obtained a copy of a confidentiality agreement Barrie sent to prospective investors that certainly appears to freeze Koules out of the situation.

Part of the confidentiality agreement, which is dated May 5, reads: “You agree that (i) communications regarding the Transaction, (ii) requests for additional information, (iii) requests for facility tours or management meetings, and (iv) discussions or questions regarding procedures, will be submitted directory only to Len Barrie, President or Brian Rogers, Executive Vice-President.

“You further agree that under no circumstances will you or your Representatives discuss or otherwise communicate any aspect of the Transaction to any member of the Company without the express written permission of the Company.”

Does that sound like somebody who is getting along with his business partner? Having people ask about the particulars of the company without being able to speak to the owner and governor of the team?

In any event, it reeks of desperation, said one businessperson who was asked to pass on the confidentiality agreement to another party. These disclosure agreements are generally used to qualify investors in advance, but a source said it’s certainly not the ideal way to raise money.

“They are in dire financial straits,” the source said. “When someone sends this through a third party, it shows the total recklessness of trying to find money. They should be much more stringent with parties when looking for money for a team ownership in a professional league.”

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Which was undoubtedly part of Bettman’s talk with Koules and Barrie Tuesday. The team’s ownership has been a mess since the day it was conceived and Bettman, whose governors approved the ownership group, has an enormous stake in making things right in Tampa Bay.

But with these two butting heads, how can that be possible? Tampa Bay continues to be dismantled and the organization is in disarray. A team that just a few years ago had a championship roster, robust attendance and balanced finances is now a league bottom-feeder that pads its attendance numbers and is bleeding money.

Koules’ answer to the problem is to rid the Lighting of its 11-year, $85 million commitment to Vincent Lecavalier, which might be a good long-term move, but would set the franchise back even more in the immediate future.

With Koules still at the helm, does that mean the draft could be usurped by the Vinny Lecavalier sweepstakes? If it’s true Koules is looking to pare the Lightning payroll down to the $40 million range, which would put it at the floor of the salary cap, a good place to get started would be the draft floor in Montreal.

Think you know your prospects? Enter THN.com's Free NHL Draft Predictor contest for your chance to win an RBK Edge jersey.

Ken Campbell, author of the book Habs Heroes, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Wednesday and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (10)

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singollo Posted
(2009-06-25 15:17:40)

Camdog is right. This has nothing to with contraction, or economic hardship of a particular locale. The issue at hand here is that, once again, the NHL ends up with a whole heap of egg on its face because it has approved the sale of a franchise to another owner who is fiscally unable to run a successful franchise. Bettman's NHL always seems more concerned about whether prospective owners would be able to play nicely with the good ol' boys than whether or not an applicant has the appropriate financial wherewithal and hockey passion to run a franchise.

camdog Posted
(2009-06-25 11:45:17)

myronpro what the hell does Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa really have to do with this? It was Montreal that was facing economic ruin that changed the way the NHL did business. Calgary was in far better economic shape then was Montreal! And competing with a 60 cent dollar is completely different than a Commissioner that welcomed another bunch of idiots into the Ownership Ranks. Me thinks Bettman makes all prospective owners take a IQ test before they can own a franchise. If they have a higher IQ then Gary then they are subsequently rejected into the Ownership Group. And this has nothing to do with the viabilty of the Tampa Franchise this has more to do with a league not doing its homework when accepting prospective owners into the fold.

brian_kemp Posted
(2009-06-25 08:54:16)

And here come the calls for contraction, or maybe calls to move the team, maybe to Southern Ontario? When are the board of governors going to learn to properly investigate the people they are letting into the club? Here's a clue on what to look for. When people say the prospective owners name, do they always follow it with "Billionaire"? If they need the help of their friends to buy the team, don't bother. Especially if their friends are douchebags. Also, the best way to stop this crap from happening over and over again is a good national TV contract in the U.S. When TV pays a good chunk of each teams salaries, we won't see the revolving door of owners on these franchises anymore. What's the best way to get a good national TV contract, you ask? Being as geographically diverse as possible, and making sure ownership and management is sound and competent in all markets. Step one, Check. Step two...well, they're still working on that one.

myronpro Posted
(2009-06-24 23:49:55)

Before we pack up the Lightning for a trip north of the border, lets not forget the league intervening on behalf of teams in need in Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa in the not too distant past.

petergriffin Posted
(2009-06-24 21:31:55)

I feel bad for the Tampa fans. But, I love the fact that this is another black eye for Bettman and his cohorts. Who's next? We'll find out soon based on the clowns that he approved for ownership.

bioimplant Posted
(2009-06-24 21:06:18)

I'm not a big fan of Melrose, but when Tampa fired him after just 3 games I knew they were done! What Tampa win last year? 20-22 games? LOL ... better than that, that kept Rick on as head coach for next year! Now thats a team in trouble! Lrague is too big anyway, dump Tampa and Atlanta. This in turn will provide (more) better talent to the rest of the league. Then fire Buttman! I've never heard of any major sport campaign for only a single team (Pitts). Especially before they're champs. What team will the NHL (Buttman) shove down our throats next season?

joesays Posted
(2009-06-24 16:27:35)

what's been going on in Tampa in the last year has been scarier than any of the "Saw" movies produced by Koules...

matthew_sawtell Posted
(2009-06-24 15:42:31)

For those folks in the peanut gallery, the hint about Tampa was when Bill Davidison (R.I.P.) owned the team. While he invested in the team and made them competitive, he still viewed it as an investment. As it stands TB is a nice, small market city which can probably support the Rays (MLB), and maybe a couple of minor league teams. The NHL (along with the NBA/MLB/NFL) is going to face consolidation - whether anyone likes it or not. Small market cities (Columbus, OKC, etc.) are not going to have the public, or private, funds to support more than one team - which means that the four "major" leagues are going to be competing against each other to try to either hold ground (NY,LA,TO, etc.) or expand to new locations before the others get there (Vegas).

deanofnucks Posted
(2009-06-24 15:09:16)

"OK Hockey has been a complete disaster, and we as a small but unbelievably loyal fanbase deserve better... much better. Back to back LAST PLACE finishes is inexcusable, considering the amount of hype these idiots tried to woo us with here in Tampa." Crooks come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately for your fanbase you have a pair of them that had enough money to play with a once awesome team lineup. That said ... The sheer numbers of fans in Tampa and for that matter Florida does NOT warrant the placement of an NHL team... ridiculous. Again - this is the eventuality of the NHL and Gary Bettman pursuing expansion fees instead of having any foresight in placing teams in areas where the local populous actually has first hand experience with the Canadian transplanted sport... At least some history. The NHL needs to move teams closer to WINTER sports markets instead of existing in these fringe niche areas (also Atlanta and Carolina as examples) where loosing translates into disaster. Being at the bottom is usually a part of the cycle of being in the NHL - unfortunately Tampa's is mroe a result of these shady character's financial woes. deanofnucks

brianb23 Posted
(2009-06-24 14:53:40)

I was almost to the point of tears this morning when I awoke to read this in the St. Pete Times. My beloved Lightning are falling apart faster than the Obama Administration, and that's really saying something considering the era we are living in. OK Hockey has been a complete disaster, and we as a small but unbelievably loyal fanbase deserve better... much better. Back to back LAST PLACE finishes is inexcusable, considering the amount of hype these idiots tried to woo us with here in Tampa. I dare say these are the worst owners in the history of the NHL, perhaps even professional sports. They way they conducted themsevles during the Dan Boyle trade, spouting off to anyone who would listen that we were going to "win the division"... what jerks. GET OUT OF TAMPA! WE DONT WANT YOU! Leave Vinny here for us!