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08:30 AM ET 08.18 | Oren Koules was a proud father at the NHL's Research, Development and Orientation camp -- son Miles was among prospects picked to try out the rules changes -- but also talked about past and, possibly, future franchise ownership. There was every reason to believe he had the chance to be hockey's answer to Mark Cuban: Someone from outside the 'old boys club' that could inject some new vibrancy into the League's leadership. But that success didn't transfer over to his stint in the NHL from 2008-10, even if some of his provocative ideas did. "I had two problems. I had a partner that went bananas and the second problem is that the economy kicked us [below the belt]," he said. As for his time with [Len Barrie]: "I signed documents to say I wouldn't talk about it."

Vincent Lecavalier, Getty Images

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August 18, 2011 08:41 AM ET

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Sure Oren, blame the other guy. Especially after signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Stupid article.

Stranger

Pearl City, HI

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August 18, 2011 09:51 AM ET

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all i hear is Gwen Stefanni singing...........not a great tune to get lodged in ones noggin

Harry Crack

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August 18, 2011 10:13 AM ET

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Here's a "provocative" idea: put a winning team on the ice. See how it worked for you predecessor?

goCanada!

Sudbury, ON

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August 18, 2011 11:24 AM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 10:13 AM ET 08.18 by goCanada!

Here's a "provocative" idea: put a winning team on the ice. See how it worked for you predecessor?

I've always disliked that mentality tho. Everyone loves a winner. A team's success as a franchise shouldn't be measured by what it's like when they are winning. It should rather be measured by what happens when they aren't winning.

The Leafs haven't been that successful on the ice, but it's hard to argue the success of the franchise when they pack the house night after night even when they are losing. Winning teams SHOULD bring out the fans. Log playoff runs SHOULD bring out the fans.

If you are in a slump and all of a sudden your barn is emptying out, it's hard to argue success as a franchise. Building a strong loyal fanbase should be the overall goal of any franchise. Its unfortunate that many teams ou there seem to alienate their fans more than cater to them. I understand its a business and the bottom line is money. But fans equal money.

cromster

New London, By Way Of Philly, CT

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August 18, 2011 11:44 AM ET

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Just what hockey needs a Mark Cuban owner. He'll be walking out on the ice complaining.

shiprock

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August 18, 2011 11:56 AM ET

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...This is the same moron that signed Barry Melrose and Rick Tocchet as head coaches? The same spendthrift who threw an 11-year $85 mil contract at Vinny? Please. Cry me an FN river...

icehound01

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August 18, 2011 01:21 PM ET

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your partner went bananas yeah he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar at the resort that he got all those ex-NHLers to invest in

Swamp Dragon

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August 18, 2011 01:35 PM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 11:24 AM ET 08.18 by cromster

(...) The Leafs haven't been that successful on the ice, but it's hard to argue the success of the franchise when they pack the house night after night even when they are losing. Winning teams SHOULD bring out the fans. Log playoff runs SHOULD bring out the fans. (...)

That says a lot more about the intellectual quality of Leafs fans and the shrewdness of Leafs management who know they don't have to care about the product on the ice to rake in the money.

Stranger

Pearl City, HI

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August 18, 2011 02:16 PM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:41 AM ET 08.18 by Stranger

Sure Oren, blame the other guy. Especially after signing a non-disclosure agreement.Stupid article.

I concur. Who cares? They even put a photo of Vinny to fool us...

cmh_phx

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August 18, 2011 03:00 PM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 11:24 AM ET 08.18 by cromster

I've always disliked that mentality tho. Everyone loves a winner. A team's success as a franchise shouldn't be measured by what it's like when they are winning. It should rather be measured by what happens when they aren't winning.The Leafs haven't been that successful on the ice, but it's hard to argue the success of the franchise when they pack the house night after night even when they are losing. Winning teams SHOULD bring out the fans. Log playoff runs SHOULD bring out the fans. If you are in a slump and all of a sudden your barn is emptying out, it's hard to argue success as a franchise. Building a strong loyal fanbase should be the overall goal of any franchise. Its unfortunate that many teams ou there seem to alienate their fans more than cater to them. I understand its a business and the bottom line is money. But fans equal money.

I agree with your feelings, but it can hardly apply to expansion franchises that don't have the history with their fans that has been built up in Cdn cities and others like Philly. The 'bolts aren't exactly part of the fabric of the city of TB the way the Flyers or Wings are in Philly and Det. They've gotta earn it, and the only way is to go on an extended spree of eliteness in the league. Even the Flyers needed the BSB to really hit it off with the city. The Isles were the toast of NY for 6-7 years there.

I've got all the respect in the world for fans that stick with their teams through thick & thin, but can hardly blame a guy who's team has only been around a decade for jumping ship if the organization turns pathetic. You've gotta build up the fanbase before expecting them to show loyalty. And Florida sounds fickle. I hear Heat fans would only be at the games for the middle 2 quarters just so they could say they were there.