Ken Whitehouse at Nashville Post just broke a shocker:

NashvillePost.com has learned that Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Research In Motion (makers of the Blackberry electronic communication device) is purchasing the Predators from Wisconsin businessman Craig Leipold. Leipold has owned the club since it first took to the ice in 1998.

The sale of the Predators, Nashville’s first major league sporting franchise, was apparently discussed today in New York at a meeting of the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors. It is believed as of now that the team will remain in Nashville for the forseeable future.

I want to believe the last sentence of that quote, but this information about Balsillie from Wikipedia has me cautious about this move:

On October 5, 2006, Balsille made a bid to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins, an NHL franchise, for US$175 million from former player Mario Lemieux and his partners.

At the Penguins’ home opener that evening, Balsillie appeared in the TV booth with broadcasters Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey during the second period. Upon hearing that Errey was from Peterborough, Balsillie’s hometown, Balsillie responded with an expletive that went out over live TV[1].

The announcement came at a time that the Penguins were attempting to build a new arena. The team had reached a deal with casino operator Isle of Capri Casinos, where a new $290 million privately-funded facility would be built across the street from Mellon Arena, should the company receive a slots casino license from the state of Pennsylvania.

While Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell created an alternative to the funding plan should the casino proposal fail to materialize, Balsillie said that only the Isle of Capri plan would guarantee the Pittsburgh Penguins’ future in the city.

His statements drew skepticism from fans, who believed Balsillie intended to move the team to Canada. While Balsillie refused to rule a move out, he asserted his commitment to Pittsburgh, should a new arena be built.

On December 15, 2006, Balsillie withdrew his bid to buy the team[2]. He made the decision after receiving notice from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that the league would restrict Balsillie’s control over the team. The move was geared at preventing Balsillie from moving the team. [Emphasis added]

Though he has been candid about the Preds’ struggles throughout the team’s nine years in Nashville, Leipold has been playing things a little closer to the vest lately, especially not saying one way or the other whether the team would exercise the clause in its contract that could lead to the city paying for unsold tickets and ultimately to the team’s relocation. Even though there have been rumors of the Preds’ being for sale over the years, none of them have had any weight until now. I am very curious to see how Leipold, the team and its new owner spin things at an expected news conference tomorrow morning.