The deadline for suitors to express their interest in buying the Montreal Canadiens has passed.
It's now onto the bidding war.
The question of who will be the next owner of hockey's oldest franchise is on the minds of many Quebecers, including Jean Charest.
The Quebec premier weighed in Thursday, saying the province's means could be used to ensure a transaction takes place.
The Quebec government "is willing to offer support, which would be general, if the need is there to buy the club," Charest said, adding "one thing is certain and it must be very clear: The Canadiens are going to stay in Montreal."
The team's current owner, George Gillett, has signalled his interest in selling the club, among other assets, by retaining BMO Capital Markets to squeeze as much value as possible out of them.
A list of groups that could be potential buyers of the team that signed confidentiality agreements with BMO was made public last week, with media giant Quebecor having been the most forthcoming in its interest.
Satan out of purgatory
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Miroslav Satan from the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins yesterday.
Canucks sign blueliner
University of Minnesota-Duluth defenceman Evan Oberg signed with the Vancouver Canucks yesterday.
Oberg had seven goals with 20 assists in 43 games.
Giroux named AHL MVP
Left-winger Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears was named the American Hockey League's MVP yesterday.
Giroux has a club-record 57 goals this season, which is the sixth-highest total in league history.
