NHL commissioner Gary Bettman knows how to stay on message, no matter how Baghdad Bobly the message. During his weekly radio show, Bettman insisted Atlanta Thrashers ownership is still taking a look at its options as it seeks to unload the team, despite it being plenty clear to every observer that the Atlanta Spirit Group is shipping the team to Winnipeg, and soon.

Bettman dismissed reports of there being viable local buyers that the ASG overlooked, as have several Atlanta media outlets.

Nothing new from Bettman on the Thrashers front, of course, not that you'd expect to hear anything new. He continues to insist the deal hasn't been completed yet. That much does appear to be accurate, based on reports.

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