Yes, the Devils own the franchise, and a local person/group runs the business operations - similar to Utica. I wasn't speculating about them, I was just disputing Tommy's assertion that Vegas is looking at NHL owned/operated teams exclusively, when the articles have said they are doing the opposite. The fact that they have a local operator likely gets them lumped in with the independents by those who are speculating about them.
I suppose if Vegas ran out of actual locally owned and operated options they might ask the operator in Bingo if he is willing to take a payoff to end his contract with NJ, and also ask the Devils if they would sell their NHL franchise and affiliate with Chicago. Seems more unlikely than other options, but every option has a reason why it supposedly won't happen.
In the end it seems like somebody is going to do something that most people think they won't do - probably because Foley paid them enough money to change their mind. Sort of like on the show American Pickers. When Mike wants to buy something and the owner doesn't want to sell it, he asks "What is the crazy price that would change your mind?". Maybe Foley eventually decides he doesn't want to spend "it's not for sale money" and goes back to Chicago.