Is the Atlanta Spirit Group hammering out a final price to conclude the deal that would move the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnpeg? According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore, it's "unclear" whether the ASG and Winnipeg's True North Sports and Entertainment group have even been given the all-clear by the NHL to begin negotiating such a sale.
Such a decision will need to come quickly for the team to leave the city, though TNSE has had plenty of time to get all its ducks in a row in preparation for the signal to begin talks. We know Thrashers ownership wants to get rid of the team, and we know it would greatly prefer to keep the Hawks and its stake in Philips Arena.
If, as the ASG has made clear, no local Thrashers-only shoppers are able to reach the price tag, all that's left is the wait for the NHL to support the two sides doing business together.
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