The most surprising thing about former Panthers coach Doug MacLean leading a group, Absolute Hockey Enterprises, to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning is that it was never made public the team was for sale. Apparently discussions had occurred quietly for several weeks before Tuesday’s press conference.

In addition to MacLean, who led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, the Absolute Hockey group includes Coral Springs real estate developer Jeff Sherrin and Los Angeles TV and movie producer and former minor league hockey player Oren Koules.

Former South Florida Sun-Sentinel Panthers beat writer Michael Russo discusses the deal, which still needs approval of the NHL Board of Governors, on his blog.