"It is simply not true, that it is not a fait accompli," a source of true North - negotiating with the Thrashers group to bring the Winnipeg Team - ESPN.com said.
A source at True North did, however, confirms Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com Thursday evening that negotiations are underway with the Thrashers.
“We receive reports, speculation, that the team s gone. And there is no agreement. I can say with certainty that there is no agreement for this team to move. I say that it will never be or that there is at some point in time? No, I do not say nothing or it does not exist.
"clo - nhl Gary bettman"
The Commissioner of the NHL Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly also denied that the agreement had been reached.
In his Thursday night weekly radio program, Bettman said that no deal has been made to move the Thrashers to Winnipeg.
"We have reports, speculation, that the team s gone", said Bettman. "And there was no agreement." I can say with certainty that there is no agreement for this team to move. I say that it will never be or that there is at some point in time? No, I am not saying there is or there is no. ?
The Globe and Mail of Toronto reported Thursday the agreement had been completed and an announcement would be made Tuesday.
True North is led by the Winnipeg Mark Chipman businessman and billionaire David Thomson, whose family owns the Globe and Mail.
Even if no agreement is final, the stay for Atlanta could be short-lived. One of the owners of lead from the Thrashers, Bruce Levenson, said that his first priority was to find a buyer that would keep the team in Atlanta.
The search for two years for a buyer to keep the team in Atlanta has not been successful.
Winnipeg lost Jets in 1996 when the team moved to Phoenix due to financial problems. Atlanta has lost a team in a city in Canada in 1980 when the flames moved to Calgary, Alberta.
Bettman, aligned Thrashers fans calls during his show, said that the League would consider moving a team only when there is no owner who want to keep the team in its current city.
"The key of this can be in the final analysis, if someone wants to have the team in Atlanta," Bettman said. "In the absence of the current group continues to own and operate property or someone stepping forward who wants to buy the club, which became the situation we or any sports league.".
"We only leave a market - in this case, Atlanta, picking up on the appellant's statements - if we must." "And we hope that the current property group will figure a way out of what is logical for everyone."
The Thrashers are still planning an event select a seat to the noteholders of season at Philips Arena on Saturday. Fans provide a rally before the event.
Levenson would not say Thursday if Atlanta fans can still have an impact with a high rate of participation in the rally on Saturday.
"I understand their frustration, but as I have said it does not comment on discussions with potential buyers and we must carry on the business as usual until we find a solution" Levenson said Associated Press.
Bettman will follow the rate of participation by the Thrashers in the Saturday rally fans.
"It will be interesting to see how many people show at the Saturday rally," Bettman said.
Levenson did not comment on the report of Toronto or the status of talks with any potential buyer.
True North is the owner MTS Centre in Winnipeg, which would be home to the Thrashers if the transaction is finalized and the Manitoba of the American Hockey League Moose.
Bettman said "time is short" If an agreement can be concluded in time for the Thrashers to go forward for the 2011-2012 season.
The Thrashers this season average attendance has been 13,469, 28 30 teams. Attendance declined in the Thrashers, who made his debut as an expansion franchise in 1999, have done that only one of the playoffs, some fans became impatient with the team management.
The property group led by Levenson, Michael Gearon, Jr. also owns the NBA Atlanta Hawks and the rights of exploitation of Philips Arena.
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