"The group attempting to buy the Blues missed a deadline Friday, a date scheduled to provide a commitment letter from its bank, but a league source said the development would not hinder the sale process.

Tom Stillman's group, which signed a purchase agreement in January, remains on track to complete the sale, according to the source. That corroborates what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the All-Star festivities last weekend in Ottawa when asked about the progress of the sale.

"Based on the pulse that we're taking of the transaction and the things that need to be done, we're optimistic that (the sale will be completed) hopefully in the not-too-distant future," Bettman said. "In order to finish a transaction of this magnitude, and ultimately get board approval, it takes some time. But we think it's on a timely track, and so we are pretty optimistic based on everything we're hearing, including from Tom, this should be a go."

Stillman's group has a 75-day exclusive period to finalize a sale with the Blues, a period that would run until mid-March. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly estimated last week that the sale could close in March."