Controversial NHL owner is reportedly selling his team in favor of an NBA franchise

According to a report from Carolina Hurricanes insider Mike Ozanian, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is seeking to divest himself of the team, at least partially, in order to purchase a stake in the NBA's Portland Trailblazers.

Ozanian reports that Dundon is close to selling off a significant stake in the Hurricanes, valued at over $2 billion, and will purchase the Trailblazers for $4 billion.

As an aside, it's crazy to me that we're talking about NHL teams being valued in the BILLIONS now. Just 10 years ago the average NHL team was worth roughly $500 million. The Hurricanes were valued at just $225 million 10 years ago and are now apparently worth nearly 10 times as much. Dundon purchased the Hurricanes in 2017 for $420 million.

He's been a successful, if not controversial owner, over his 8 seasons as the Hurricanes' owner. He has not shied away from making big transactions and committing big money to players, if he feels that the fit is right. Conversely, he's not afraid to walk away from players due to inflated contract demands. Personally, I think Dundon has done an excellent job in establishing a culture where the team comes first and individuals come second. Has it cost them a few good players over the years? Certainly, but Dundon has also shown that he's not afraid to spend money and make a splash either. This isn't simply the case of a cheap owner who won't hand out big contracts. Dundon will spend, but on his terms.

He may have come into the league a bit hot and ruffled some feathers around the hockey world, but there's no denying the fact that he has transformed the Hurricanes into a perennial playoff threat, all while stabilizing the team's bottom line. What the future looks like in Carolina now remains to be seen.