Davidson’s widow was so desperate to sell that Bettmen (the league) did not properly vet the prospective owners. One was a con man who used other people’s money for his investments; The other was less of a con man that used other people’s money for his investments/projects. A background check would have revealed that is the way the pair have historically done business. Declining attendance (already a given) and the dramatic decrease in the value of the land involved in the transaction made meeting expenses and paying debt service a pipe dream. Biggest loser was Palace who lost at least $64M in the deal. The SPT, who has been behind the curve on anything that occurs off the ice, reported Koules as the big loser. That shows a complete lack of understanding of what happened. Barrie put up nothing and Koules put up next to nothing to acquire the Lightning. Palace held most of the paper to float the transaction. The Times also reported that the recession was to blame. That’s hogwash. The recession was clearly upon us when OK came on board. Bettman’s main interest was to perpetuate the illusion of the high worth of NHL franchises and to placate the widow Davidson. If the self-described “cautious” new owner does not jettison the GM and head coach by draft day, the fans will be subject to the same crappy product.

 I’m seriously excited about our new boss…….and I think the team is too (there’s a fresh step lately. I love this team !!! We have the nuclious with Vinny, Marty &(have u seen) Steven to be competitive with any other teams stars. I haven’t heard a lot from Phil & his thoughts, but I hope Vinik keeps the teams daddy & his experience on board. YEP, I’m excited,,,,,,,I think the fans are gonna be happy. my one complaint that needs fixin is change the name of the forum back to thunder sumptin,,, I’m tired of directing people back to tampa from st pete.

Note to the new owner: Brian Lawton sucks. Especially in the draft. Meanwhile, Jay Feaster is still unemployed, still in town, and has a Cup on his resume. Please give him a call.

One, Feaster is not unemployed. He has a personal services contract with Palace through the end of this season. Two, The Lightning won a Stanley Cup under his stewardship, something the pseudo cognoscenti refuse to give him credit for. He supplied the missing pieces that put the Lightning over the top. Three, where is Dudley? Associate GM of the Thrashers. "Nuff said.

Fontana’s defense of Lawton is mystifying. He drafted second. The player he drafted in the first round is ranked 14th among rookies by The Fourth Period. As for the other rounds, he should have done fairly decently getting the jump on 28 other teams. All his trades have been horrible. The Lightning did not receive even the same value in any of them for what they gave up. He signed some good free agents…but anyone on this blog could have replicated that or done better. (Actually, he overpaid for two or three of them). Lastly, GMs throughout the league don’t want to do business with someone having a history of untrustworthiness unless, of course, they clearly get the upper hand in a deal. So far, their strategy has succeeded 100 percent of the time.

I predict Tocchet will never be a head coach at the NHL level after the Bolts let him go. He would have a tough time being hired as an AC. No one will hire Lawon as GM. No one.