Just some housekeeping:

Norfolk right wing Mark Parrish cleared waivers today, was signed to a one-year contract pro-rated to the rest of the season and has been assigned officially to the Admirals. The Lightning has 30 days to bring him to Tampa Bay if it desires before the clearance expires, though there is no immediate indication that is the plan. ... Read more

Boiling down a 25-minute interview for a newspaper article is difficult. Obviously, a lot has to get left on the cutting room floor. So, in order for you to get an even better idea of who is Jeff Vinik, who on Friday signed a purchase agreement to be the Tampa Bay Lightning's fifth owner, here is the entire interview. Vinik, 50, a Boston hedge fund manager, who probably prefers money manager, grew up in Deal, N.J., and moved with his family to New York when he was in the eighth grade. Here is how and why he has come to be the Lightning's next owner: ... Read more

It is not yet a done deal, but a tentative agreement apparently has been reached in the proposed sale of the Lightning to Boston hedge fund manager Jeff Vinik. More work has to be done and final signatures still are needed, but the process occurring at the NHL offices in New York seems to be in its final stages. The money still has not been revealed but it is believed it will be substantially less than the $170 million reported by the Hockey News. ... Read more

Meetings that went through Monday and into Tuesday morning at the NHL offices in New York apparently have brought Boston hedgefund manager Jeff Vinik much closer to buying the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Details are sketchy, and it was unclear how much more work has to be done. But Lightning co-owner Oren Koules apparently attended the meetings and at least representatives for co-owner Len Barrie and Vinik.

The deal would include the team, the St. Pete Times Forum lease and 5-1/2 acres around the arena.