Calgary businessman Max Chambers yesterday said that Blues ownership has rejected his "offer of $167 million to buy the franchise and is seeking a $190 million purchase price," according to Jeremy Rutherford of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Chambers said that he "was surprised the Blues didn't accept his all-cash offer, which was made July 2, and he believes the current asking price is too high." Chambers: "The offer of $167 (million) was my maximum. We think that's the most they've been offered. Obviously, they haven't been offered $190 because $190 was the figure to take it off the auction block." He added, "I think $190 is a little aggressive with the value of the franchise. We felt $167 was aggressive, so their counter at $190 was real aggressive in our view." Chambers said that his investment group, which includes former NHLers Bryan Trottier and Bernie Nicholls, "remains interested in buying the Blues." But he added that he is "uncertain where Game Plan LLC, the firm conducting the sale, stands in the process." Chambers said that his $167M offer "is still on the table, but he doesn't know how much longer it will stand." Rutherford notes in the past, Chambers' group "has shown interest in both the Phoenix Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings, including an unsuccessful offer to buy the Kings last year" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/22). PRO HOCKEY TALK's Joe Yerdon wrote, "Turning down an all cash bid like that either shows the Blues have a better offer elsewhere or they’re going to hold a hard line to get the money they’re looking for. If the Blues are looking to make their own deadline, let’s hope that it’s the former rather than the latter so the NHL can avoid having yet another ownership debacle to deal with" (NBCSPORTS.com, 9/21).
