"The deadline for Matthew Hulsizer to close on the Blues' sale passed at midnight without a sale, meaning the fate of the franchise now rests in the NHL's decision to give Hulsizer more time or allow Tom Stillman to take over the purchase agreement.

Hulsizer is expected to continue his efforts to buy the Blues, but whether he has control of the process will be based on whether the league enforces a deal struck with Stillman two months ago, sources have told the Post-Dispatch.

It is believed that Hulsizer's group has asked the NHL for more time to complete its purchase of the Blues. Multiple sources have indicated that the sale has been close to completion; it appeared as recently as 10 days ago that the deal might be consummated in time, but there remain unsettled financial obstacles. The group has attempted to obtain three different types of financing structures, but none has been able to satisfy the league, according to sources."