GotGibson?
Bench Warmer
Hockey's most storied franchise has been sold, pending approval from the NHL.
Sources told ESPN.com Saturday that the Molson family has agreed in principle to purchase the Montreal Canadiens and Bell Centre from George Gillett.
The deal needs approval from the NHL's Board of Governors. The league needs to do due diligence on the sale and have a board vote, and a source said Saturday that approval of the sale "will be sometime mid-summer at the earliest."
French sports network RDS reported Saturday that the sale was worth $550 million, but a source told ESPN.com that the price was in excess of that.
Commissioner Gary Bettman, who addressed the players during the NHLPA summer meetings in Las Vegas, acknowledged having heard about the Molson family's agreement to buy the Canadiens.
Asked about the Molson family, Bettman said: "I think to the extent that they've been able to find people who are obviously passionate about the game and structure a transaction that makes sense for everybody, that's a real plus for the franchise and the fans in Montreal."
Sources told ESPN.com Saturday that the Molson family has agreed in principle to purchase the Montreal Canadiens and Bell Centre from George Gillett.
The deal needs approval from the NHL's Board of Governors. The league needs to do due diligence on the sale and have a board vote, and a source said Saturday that approval of the sale "will be sometime mid-summer at the earliest."
French sports network RDS reported Saturday that the sale was worth $550 million, but a source told ESPN.com that the price was in excess of that.
Commissioner Gary Bettman, who addressed the players during the NHLPA summer meetings in Las Vegas, acknowledged having heard about the Molson family's agreement to buy the Canadiens.
Asked about the Molson family, Bettman said: "I think to the extent that they've been able to find people who are obviously passionate about the game and structure a transaction that makes sense for everybody, that's a real plus for the franchise and the fans in Montreal."
