A perfect opportunity for Triangle and Hurricanes

RALEIGH -- The news that Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos has hired an investment bank to help him find an investor to buy part of the NHL team is no cause for alarm, let alone panic. If anything, it's a long overdue move on Karmanos' part that should only accelerate the process of finding a local partner in the franchise.

After all, Karmanos has been talking for more than six years about bringing in a local owner. The death of his longtime business partner Thomas Thewes in 2008 has given him more incentive.

So far, there haven't been any takers around here - at least, not on Karmanos' terms (another instance in which spending more time here would benefit Karmanos). But Karmanos' decision, provoked by issues surrounding Thewes' estate, to bring in Allen & Co., a high-powered investment bank, may change the playing field. Whatever Karmanos was asking before, the price now is sure to be a fair one.

That shifts the burden in this matter to the Triangle. If there's going to be a local investor in this team, someone who theoretically could keep the team here if Karmanos should ever want out, now is the time for that person or persons to step forward.

At any rate, Karmanos' decision to seek help finding a buyer for Thewes' shares in the team isn't groundbreaking. It's an incremental move forward in a process that has taken too long already.