Montreal Canadiens sold to Molson family

For the third time in the last 50 or so years, members of the Molson family have bought the Montreal Canadiens.

They owned the team from 1957 to 1971 and sold it to the Bronfman family. They bought the team back in 1978 and sold it in 2001 to George Gillett. Now three Molson brothers - Andrew, Justin and Geoffrey, all in their late 30s or early 40s - are buying it back from Gillett for somewhere in the neighbourhood of $540 million.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/molson-brewing-family-reaches-deal-for-montreal-canadiens/article1190922/

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman commented on the deal after addressing the National Hockey League Players’ Association in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon.

When asked about the Molson family agreeing to buy the Canadiens, Bettman said: “That’s what I heard, subject to board approval.”

When prodded further, 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.”

Wonder what he'll say when he finds out the Molsons plan to move the team to Hamilton?

I'm totally kidding.

 

Patrick Roy's gotta come back now, no? Where is Ronald Corey?

 

In a slightly but not really related note, there will be no similar comeback for the lost Smythe generation in Toronto. Not that it was ever going to happen, but we were hopeful.

Tommy Smythe, who was screwed out of his inheritance - ownership of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens - by his drunken father and his father's sleazy business partner, Harold Ballard, died a week ago of cancer at age 63.

RIP Tommy.

http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090618.OBSMYTHE18ART2053/BDAStory/BDA/deaths

 

Good to hear, at least Quebecor didn't win the bidding process.

 

Excellent news.

Now, if we can just slide Gillett out of NASCAR ...

 

Fixed...