Earlier today reports from Ken Campbell of The Hockey News suggested that the Dallas Stars are on the verge of being sold to a group led by Bill Gallacher for 225 million dollars.

Tonight those reports have been dubbed "inaccurate" by Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.

What does the evidence suggest? It suggests that a sale is close, if not imminent. Heika didn't report that the sale isn't close. He reported that the story was inaccurate. My guess is that what is inaccurate is the price. The initial price Tom Hicks was seeking was in the neighborhood of 350 million. 350 million was probably a bit much, but not 125 million too much. The inaccuracy appears, to me at least, to be the price.

The Stars have a favorable arena set up. The Stars are in a market which has shown time and again that it will support a winner. The Stars have several very good players under contract and a wealth of salary cap room. Whoever ends up purchasing the Stars walks into a glorious situation. That situation isn't going to cost 225 million dollars. My guess is closer to 275-285.

The first question that came to my mind with the news was "What about Modano"? Theoretically, if the Stars sale is completed within the next month, what would keep the Stars from extending him a contract offer? I don't know if he still wants to come back, but if this moves quickly I don't think it is out of the question.

The thing to remember through all of this is a little nugget Joe Nieuwendyk let slip two weeks ago on BaD Radio. He told them he expected the sale to happen two to six weeks later. We're in that period now, and it appears headway has been made. We'll keep an eye on it and let you know if any news breaks.

[email protected]

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Roster cutdown complete

» 2-1, 5-2, Lehtonen, I won a book, and roster cuts

» Stars go down 4-2, and plenty of notes

» Lines, lines, everywhere are lines

» Neal and Niskanen re-up