Former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam will become the new owner of the NHL's Nashville Predators "over a period of years," an NHL source tells ESPN.

Sporitco reported on Thursday that Haslam, whose brother Jimmy owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns, was nearing a deal to purchase the Predators. The franchise's current ownership group is led by Herbert Fritch but incudes no less than 17 others.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the sale was "discussed generally but not specifically" at Thursday's Board of Governors meeting in New York.