"The sale process of the Blues took another drastic turn Tuesday, as the NHL terminated the purchase agreement held by Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer, a league source told the Post-Dispatch.

The deal opens the door for Blues minority owner Tom Stillman, who leads a group of local investors, to buy the club.

Hulsizer, who signed a purchase agreement in October, had until last Saturday to finalize the sale before an NHL-imposed deadline, but that passed without an agreement.

The NHL set the deadline in early November, and recently it appeared that Hulsizer might close the deal in time. But Hulsizer attempted to restructure the financing of the deal several times, according to sources, and none satisfied the league."