Bid for Sabres Put on Hold

Buffalo businessman Mark Hamister suspended his bid to buy the bankrupt Buffalo Sabres on Monday and might withdraw completely now that his partner has pulled out.

Hamister’s decision puts the team’s future in jeopardy beyond the end of this season. The announcement came hours before he faced a fourth and probably final deadline from the NHL to sign an asset purchase agreement to complete his conditional purchase of the Sabres.

Hamister’s majority partner, Todd Berman, president and founder of New York City-based Chartwell Investments, had withdrawn his financial support from the bid.

“Given the uncertainty and complexity of the entire process in addition to Chartwell’s decision, I need to step back and reevaluate whether it makes sense to move forward,” Hamister said.

Hamister estimated that he and Berman spent about $2 million in legal and consultants’ fees on their bid.

Hamister’s decision leaves the Sabres in limbo, much as they were when the sale process began, after the league took control of the team in June.

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Mario Lemieux, out of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup for all but a few minutes of their last 11 games because of a sore groin, is expected to play tonight against Vancouver.

“I felt great today on the ice and I was able to do all the drills,” Lemieux said after an 80-minute practice.

Lemieux leads the league with 68 points.

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Center Doug Weight of the St. Louis Blues has a deep bone bruise in his left ankle and will be out seven to 10 days.

Weight was injured during the third period of the All-Star game Sunday.