Not exactly an exit interview, though we'll count it as such for the sake of this series of interviews, but owner Len Barrie, from whom we haven't heard much this season, said he plans to be more involved with the team in the future. That was the message this week as he continues to work towards the sale of his Bear Mountain resort in Victoria, British Columbia.

"I wanted to be hands on, but with the whole real estate world blowing up, I had to be hands off," said Barrie, referencing the worldwide economic crisis. "I want to help them more. I feel bad I haven't been able to. But the world seems to be settling down now."

Barrie, 39, was front and center with Oren Koules when they and a group of minority investors bought the team and the St. Pete Times Forum lease for $200 million from Palace Sports & Entertainment. But with Barrie based in western Canada, most of the team's day to day operations are handled by Koules and general manager Brian Lawton.

But Barrie said condo sales at Bear Mountain lately have been good, and a long-in-the-making sale of the resort to a group in Dubai has regained momentum, and he expects next month to travel to the middle eastern country. Though Barrie said there still are "a lot of ifs" to the transaction, "we're going to flush it out one way or another," which should, he added, allow him to concentrate more on the team.

"I haven't been there, and I'm not a micro manager," Barrie said. "I'm doing my own job right now. I'm a hands-off owner. I want to be hands on."