Peter Karmanos, one of the most venerable team owners in the NHL, is looking for someone to succeed him as owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. Karmanos has hired New York investment bank Allen & Co. to help him find an investor who would be willing to commit "hundreds of millions of dollars into the team but let me control it," he told TSN. Karmanos said he wants to partner with an investor who would buy out his interest in the team over time. Karmanos said he is seeking an investor who would value his team at $420 million or more. "What I am trying to do is set up a reasonable succession plan because Im not one of those guys who thinks I am going to go on forever," Karmanos said in an interview. "Id like to have a partner again...but someone will have to pay dearly for it. (The Hurricanes are) a valuable franchise despite what some of your folk in Canada say about them. I dont see a basketball or baseball or football team coming here. Were going to be the lone ranger here (in Raleigh) for quite some time." Allen & Co. executive Steve Greenberg declined to comment. Only five NHL owners have owned their teams longer than Karmanos. The 71-year-old, who also owns the Ontario Hockey Leagues Plymouth Whalers, has been an NHL mainstay since 1994, when he and some partners bought the Hartford Whalers for $47.5 million. Three years later, in 1997, Karmanos rejected Connecticuts offer of a new $147 million arena and said the team would leave Hartford for a more profitable market. "I had the bad luck of a governor on the take who tried to convince me to build a new arena," Karmanos said. "He ended up in jail for seven years." In Hartford, Karmanos said the Whalers struggled with the "tiniest, teeniest market in the league, surrounded by Boston and New York franchises. Not only were we competing against the Bruins and the Rangers, but also against the Islanders, Devils, New York Yankees, Giants, you name them. They were all after our little marketplace for advertising dollars and fan revenue. When I understood that I developed a plan for us to move." Initially, Karmanos, who grew up in Detroit, was approached by William Davidson, the late owner of the Detroit Pistons. Davidson suggested Karmanos move the Whalers to the Palace of Auburn Hills, the home of the Detroit Pistons. Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch would have sued him over that move, Karmanos said, so he considered other offers from suitors in Columbus; Nashville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Las Vegas, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. After two seasons in Greensboro, North Carolina, Karmanos in 1999 moved his team to Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 and won in 2006. Last season, the Hurricanes averaged attendance of 15,483, 23rd in the league. Over the past five years, the team has never finished better than 17th in overall NHL home attendance. Sports investment bankers say the team loses millions of dollars a year, a suggestion Karmanos rejects. "A steady team should be able to make money, assuming they spend at the midpoint of the cap, and that they do their work in their market to sell tickets and advertising," he said. "We have improved in the 20 years I have owned the team. This is a real business. Its not a foregone conclusion that we lose money." Several bankers had mixed reaction to Karmanoss claim that his team is worth at least $420 million. One banker said that it was unlikely he would fetch more than $300 million for the Hurricanes. But another banker noted that New York Islanders owner Charles Wang has reached an agreement to sell the Islanders for perhaps $500 million or more. According to a recent lawsuit filed by Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Barroway, Wang had an agreement to sell the Islanders to Barroway for $420 million. Wang later upped his demand for the Islanders to $548 million. He subsequently sold the club to another group of investors. Sports bankers said Wang got at least $480 million for the team. Forbes magazine values the Islanders at $190 million. "I think the Islanders sale puts to bed anything people want to say about how Forbes values teams," Karmanos said. "Its been frustrating over the years, the different values people throw around for teams." Karmanos also offered some insight into NHL expansion and the leagues efforts to grow its $3 billion-per-season business. He said Las Vegas, Seattle, Houston and Quebec City are all viable markets for the NHL. But Karmanos said he has suspicions that a second team in Toronto would face significant hurdles. "You cant guarantee that youd be a revenue contributor in Toronto," Karmanos said. "History has always shown other teams havent been able to match up even in the biggest media market in North America. Karmanos said that in baseball, New York at one time was home to the Giants, Dodgers and Yankees. But both the Giants and Dodgers moved to California to escape the shadow of the Yankees. "No matter what they did they were second fiddle to the Yankees," Karmanos said. "Then you have the New York Islanders and Rangers. No matter what the Islanders do they are second fiddle to the Rangers. Its why another team wouldnt move to Detroit. Because short of winning the Stanley Cup you would never replace the Detroit Red Wings. I dont care where a second team in Toronto might play, the Maple Leafs are in the hearts and minds of all those people... I would feel sorry for a second franchise there." Karmanos said hes been pleased with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmans stewardship of the league, particularly for his ability to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players Association that gives mid-market teams a chance to turn a profit and be competitive. Karmanos said he isnt worried whether the NHL develops a more aggressive strategy to build a fan base in blossoming markets such as China, where the National Basketball Association reportedly has partnerships with at least 51 TV stations across the country. "I dont know why you need new money," he said. "Its fair to say were not doing much in China, but Id rather be doing things in other markets were we get our players from. I dont care what basketball does. It may end up being a huge sport in China... I dont look at it as if we have to grow revenue every year. It would be nice, but you cant do it on the backs of your fans." [url=http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-john-brown-jersey]John Brown Jersey[/url] . Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. Neither squad had many chances," Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic said. [url=http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-tremaine-edmunds-jersey]Tremaine Edmunds Jersey[/url] .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-thurman-thomas-jersey.com) - Its fair to call Mike McCarthy one of the best coaches in the NFL but its also more than objective to point out that the veteran mentor bookended the Green Bay Packers season with two, truly awful game plans in Seattle. [url=http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-tyler-kroft-jersey]Tyler Kroft Jersey[/url] . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. [url=http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-jon-feliciano-jersey]Jon Feliciano Jersey[/url] . Ryu (8-3) allowed a run and three hits in six innings and struck out six in his 13th start. In his first 13 starts last season -- his first in the major leagues -- the left-hander was 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA. This was the ninth time this year that Ryu has allowed fewer than three earned runs, and he is 7-0 in those games.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said Friday that he does not anticipate using the franchise tag on any free agents, something the team has done each of the past three seasons. The Chiefs are poised to lose several key players from last years 11-5 team, including Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert, Pro Bowl punt returner Dexter McCluster and starting defensive end Tyson Jackson, safety Kendrick Lewis and offensive guards Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz. The deadline to use the franchise tag is March 3. "Probably not," Dorsey said. "We probably wont use it." The Chiefs used the tag on Albert last season, paying him more than $9.8 million -- the average of the top five salaries at his position the previous year. They could franchise him again but would be on the hook for 120 per cent of Alberts salary, a massive financial commitment for a team that is already bumping along just below the salary cap. Kansas City used the franchise tag on linebacker Tamba Hali two years ago, eventually signing him to a long-term contract. The same story unfolded last year for wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who signed a $56 million, five-year contract one year after receiving the tag. Dorsey did say that hes having "ongoing conversations" with representatives of all of the Chiefs free agents, including Albert, but refused to get into the specifics. "We will continue to have ongoing discussions with his representatives here at the combine," Dorsey said. "Weve done is weve reached out to every representative for every unrestricted free agent that we have, and weve also talked to Alex Smiths representative as well." Smith wont become a free agent until after the 2014 season, but signing him to an extension would not only lock hiim up but also offer some salary cap relief.dddddddddddd Smiths number this is season is $8 million, but the Chiefs could trim that roughly in half with an extension. The Chiefs have already waived defensive back Dunta Robinson to free up salary, and its likely they will either restructure current contracts or part ways with some of their veterans in order to create more off-season flexibility. "I dont think its fair to talk about a players contract in a setting like this," Dorsey said. "I think thats not the proper business that you like to do." Dorsey did address several other issues at the combine, including his belief in building through the draft. Thats the same philosophy followed by his mentor, Ted Thompson of the Green Bay Packers, and one espoused by Chiefs coach Andy Reid. That means that the Chiefs are unlikely to be quite as active as they were in free agency last year, when they turned over roughly half of their roster. Free agency begins March 1. Still, there are plenty of holes to fill, especially along the offensive line. "We look at everybody right now and make sure that you cover all the positions," Reid said Thursday. "One of the tricks of the draft is that you take the best players available, if you can stay that disciplined to do so and make yourself a better football team." Other positions of need include free safety, where Lewis struggled much of the season, and wide receiver, where the Chiefs kept shuffling through options with little success. "We have a pretty good group of young players to form a nice nucleus," Reid said. "I look forward to adding guys too, and Im a big believer that you build your team through the draft. Free agency can be a bit of a tease at times, and I think you have to be real careful." 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