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Tampa Tribune: Koules Runs Bolts

June 23, 2009, 3:35 PM ET [ Comments]

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Meeting adjourned.

Oren Koules Still Calling the Shots for Lightning, from Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune

***

From earlier, Turmoil in Tampa: Stability Needed in the Worst Way

“What the hell is happening here?”

That was a text message I received early this morning from the most die-hard of die-hard Tampa Bay Lightning fans I’ve gotten to know over the past few seasons.

Wish I had an answer for you, bud.

Once again I (we) are all left wishing that the focus around could just stay on hockey.

As we wait to find out what becomes of the meeting between Lightning owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, an unfortunate reality begins to set in.

This whole situation is absolutely ridiculous.

With what should be a pivotal moment in franchise history in the NHL Entry Draft just four days away, any fan excitement must now be tempered with the fact that those in charge of the organization are now officially butting heads over who gets to call the shots. The timing here, really, couldn’t be worse.

Of course, if things are as bad as what’s been reported, I guess it’s best to settle this sooner rather than later. After all, sifting through different media outlets, I’ve already read this morning that Tampa Bay management is unsure of what to do with the second overall pick, on different pages in terms of next season’s payroll, torn about trading Vincent Lecavalier and other personnel issues and fearful that each side of the power struggle might sign their own free agents come July 1.

What?

Better get it together, folks. Really.

United we stand. Divided … Well, you know ...

Unfortunately, since the goal of today’s meeting is reportedly to determine who is, in fact, in control of the team, unity certainly doesn’t sound like a possible outcome. Instead, a safe assumption would be big time disappointment for one of Barrie or Koules as the other is granted autonomy.

And then the fun starts.

Should Koules prevail, would Barrie then immediately want out? Despite his being a ghost locally this past season, those are some pretty big shoes to fill in terms of a vested financial interest in the organization. Strap on the safety belts as the search for a new partner begins.

If Barrie gets his way, does Koules hit the road? And what exactly does that mean for Brian Lawton? Several reports have Lawton as Koules’ right hand man, with Barrie not so keen on the general manager. So then what? Barrie runs the club by himself? Hires a new GM? How much change can one franchise take? Who says either man would sell their interest anyway?

And what’s with the pro-Barrie/anti-Koules sentiments I’ve seen here and there all of a sudden?

Personally, I can’t say anything bad about Barrie, though I have only spoken to him twice. He was rarely present at home games this season but that’s not much of a knock at all, really, given his various business interests elsewhere. There are others, however, in NHL circles, who aren’t exactly huge fans.

As for Koules, who I’ve gotten to know just a little bit over the past year or so, I don’t get why anyone would automatically align themselves with option B just because he’s been in charge of the day-to-day since taking over. Clearly, there have been mistakes. No one can deny as much. But Koules has been present, visible and accountable since day one, as promised, right or wrong. That takes guts and demands respect, if nothing else. If he happens to be the driving force behind a desire to trade Lecavalier, so be it. That requires some serious grapefruits right there (but you better get that one right, Oren.) Still, whatever is happening behind the scenes right now is far beyond Vincent Lecavalier.

I was told very clearly at the beginning of the season that there are only three people in the organization making personnel decisions – Barrie, Koules and Lawton. Now two of these three don’t see eye to eye, effectively killing the three-headed, decision-making monster.

Three men at the helm of a ship with questionable direction. Is anyone really surprised that we now have a quarrel on our hands? I mean, that’s just human nature in troublesome, stressful situations, isn’t it?

On the other hand, barring schizophrenic episodes, it’s not often that you have one guy in charge arguing with himself. Right or wrong, he’ll make his own decisions and, as the owner of the club, if he doesn’t perform up to expectations, you can always get rid of the guy and find yourself someone else, no?

Getting rid of a partner, on the other hand? Not that simple.

And the last thing this franchise needs is more uncertainty through yet another transitional period.

The fans want stability.

They want direction.

They want to have faith in the organization.

More than anything, they want the focus to be on hockey.

Please, gentlemen. Settle this as quickly as possible. There are important happenings afoot.

I’ll give you exactly three days.

(Sigh ...)

JJ

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