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Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett has had enough of the persistent rumours he is looking to sell the legendary hockey franchise.

"I'm angry that I need to keep denying this," Gillett said after a ceremony to unveil the Canadiens' centennial plaza outside the team's Bell Centre home. The site features bronze statues of Habs legends Guy Lafleur, Howie Morenz, Jean Béliveau and Maurice (Rocket) Richard.

Clearly exasperated by media reports intimating he is struggling financially, Gillett insisted forcefully he has no intention of selling the team.

"As far as I know, no one has ever talked to anyone about the sale of the club," he said, adding he "never authorized anyone, never prepared any materials to that end."

At the same time, Gillett said he might be willing to sell off a small minority stake in his sports properties, which also include famed English soccer club Liverpool, a NASCAR team and several golf and ski resorts.

"We have thought on several occasions of trying to create a way that we might create a strip, or an investment strip, that might enable fans or interested parties in investing in one or more of our sports assets," he said. "I presume that we will continue that inquiry or that process on occasion in the future."

Talk of an eventual sale has been rampant since La Presse in Montreal published comments last month from Ontario technology billionaire Jim Balsillie that suggested the team was up for grabs.

The Montreal news media were also buzzing with rumours of a new deal yesterday — as it turns out, they were incorrectly attributed to a U.S. business magazine.

Gillett initially declined to comment on the sale speculation when approached at the event yesterday, saying it would distract from the commemorations, but later acquiesced.

"I find it particularly troublesome, in our centennial year, why anyone would create lies like that and take away from one of the greatest moments in the Montreal Canadiens' storied history," he said. "We have received many inquiries over the years regarding a possible sale. We have never entertained any of them."

Gillett's disposition toward the media, which has also soured amid the swirl of rumours surrounding his ownership of Liverpool, isn't likely to improve any time soon.

The Associated Press reported yesterday that Gillett's NASCAR team, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports, is seeking to merge with rival Petty Enterprises, which has been a fixture of the racing circuit for nearly 50 years. The proposed talks are sure to draw intense scrutiny from NASCAR's fanatical following