Archive for August 1st, 2007
Freeman, local owners have binding letter for Preds
David Freeman has made a $10 million deposit and signed a binding letter of intent to buy the Predators from Craig Leipold.
Purcell attending Preds conference
Mayor Bill Purcell is reportedly at today’s news conference. That’s an encouraging sign since the mayor has been noticeably quiet about the team’s future here.
NHL.com: Preds have solid on-ice future
They may not have the same owner six weeks from now, but the Preds will still be a solid team in the foreseeable future, according to NHL.com writer Bill Meltzer:
[T]he same system depth that enabled the Predators to trade prospects and draft picks to gird up for the playoffs last season by acquiring impending free agent Peter Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers will also help the Predators stay competitive in the NHL with younger talent.
Despite ranting about a fire-sale and a free-fall in the standings, not everyone expects the Preds to struggle on the ice this fall. Broadcaster Pete Weber, known for objectively covering the team’s games without donning biased Preds-colored glasses, thinks this year’s squad is more talented and has more firepower than the team’s original playoff roster in 2003-04. I think Weber is probably right about that, and that’s great news for Preds fans … and for whichever owner is looking to sell tickets this season.
The Zone to carry Preds announcement live?
I’ve also heard that 104.5 The Zone may be carrying today’s announcement about the Preds’ local ownership group offer live at 2:30 p.m. I’ll be listening in, and I know I won’t be the only one.
Local Preds suitors, along with Del Biaggio, announcing today
PredJoe broke the story yesterday that a letter of intent, possibly binding, will be signed today by the local aspiring Predators ownership group. Two Pauls (McCann and Nicholson) are saying that a news conference will be held at 2:30 p.m. today, and I’ve heard that separately as well. Meanwhile, TSN is reporting that Kansas City NHL suitor Boots Del Biaggio is now a part of the local group led by David Freeman and Chase Cole.
According to TSN, Del Biaggio is in the mix so that the group has a “back-up plan in the event long-term efforts fall through. ” Del Biaggio is currently a minority owner of the San Jose Sharks, so I will be curious to see how this develops further. Obviously he will likely have to sell his stake in San Jose, but how invested will he be in Nashville? Still, this sounds like good news for Nashville and for Preds fans, but I’m curious to hear the details.
Karl Dean is typing too fast
You know it’s almost election day when typos are landing in the first sentences of campaign messages. There are definitely worse errors out there, but Dean’s camp skipped a word in their email this morning (above) encouraging voters to get out and vote tomorrow.
I imagine all of us are ready to see, at long last, how things are going to shake out tomorrow, especially the candidates and their supporters. Even with runoffs expected in the mayoral and at-large council races (and some districts), I bet most of us will breathe at least a momentary sigh of relief tomorrow.
