Report: Vanderbeek close to deal to retain control of Devils

In its Thursday report, the New York Post cited sources which stated the
proposed pact will allow Vanderbeek two more years to either refinance the
team's debt or sell the franchise.

According to the paper, details were still being formulated, but the crux of
the deal involves combining the club's massive debt with loans taken out on
the collection of concession revenues into a single loan of $160 million.

Vanderbeek has come under fire since last September, when the Devils failed to
deliver an $80 million loan payment, but the former Wall Street executive had
dipped into his own coffers to pay off lenders who did not wish to join the
new restructuring effort, said the Post.

Despite the financial turmoil, New Jersey appeared in its fifth Stanley Cup
Final in June, losing a six-game series to the Los Angeles Kings.