Report: NHL orders Lightning co-owner Barrie to come up with $10 million

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has ordered Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner Len Barrie to come up with US$10 million by Friday, the St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday.

The newspaper reported that the money is to cover Barrie's share of the team's projected losses for the current fiscal year, as well as to provide a financial cushion for the troubled hockey club.

Consequences for not complying were unclear, though the report speculated Bettman could take away Barrie's managerial rights.

Barrie and Oren Koules bought the Lightning last year, but they have been arguing lately about the direction the team should take. Koules is reported to favour cutting salary while Barrie wants to spend more to keep the team competitive.

The bickering owners met with Bettman in June in an attempt to resolve their differences.

The Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004 but have seen their on-ice performance decline in subsequent seasons.