nfreeman

You're right about the rules and that the PE investors don't have control -- but they will still have the ear of the controlling owners and will certainly try to convince them. These are skilled, articulate professionals who create presentations and financial models for a living and they are going to be constantly banging the drum on this. I could be wrong, but I think the 10% limit is the total permitted PE ownership for each team -- so there wouldn't be a few different 10% PE investors.

$560MM and climbing! I still can't believe TP agreed to fund all overruns -- although I seem to remember that he fired the guy who negotiated the deal with the state not too long after the deal was signed -- maybe that was the reason. As for the "will the team leave" discussion -- I'd guess we're safe on that for as long as TP owns the team, and after that for as long as the team is good -- but when winter comes, as it always does, the risk will escalate precipitously. If the team stinks, that stadium will be half-empty for the games in the 2nd half of the season and it will produce 75% less revenue than stadiums in bigger markets produce. The PE investors will be smart, persuasive and insistent about moving the team, and there will be plenty of buyers interested in writing a huge check if they can move it to Toronto or other big market. Nothing lasts forever.

Well, I was lucky enough to be at the stadium today. What an incredible day. One great play after another, on both sides of the ball. I think every seat was occupied until the very end. And JA's TD run to put the game away, especially against that defense and that team, was one of the best football plays I've ever seen live. That was legit Michael Jordan beating the Cavs in game 5 at the buzzer stuff. Also, I freaking love the Ralph, warts and all. Go Bills.

Respectfully, you guys are missing the most important points about Hollins: - He doesn't wear shoes. - He doesn't use elevators -- not out of a phobia, but because he doesn't want to rise to a level that he hasn't earned. - He doesn't use silverware when he eats. He's an authentic free spirit, and I'd guess that everyone likes him and he makes the vibe in the room better.

So Joki is just a permanent healthy scratch now? In a contract year? Trade request incoming.

I think there were very few FAs last summer who both were good enough to be difference-makers in a playoff quest and were willing to come here. So I think it's pretty uncertain whether just spending more last summer would've given them a better chance at making the playoffs. If Lindy is able to fully right the ship, get them into the playoffs and get them to play a smart, tough, professional game, then the home games will be fun and raucous and next summer they'll be a much more desirable destination and have many more options in FA and trade. We'll have to see, if that happens, whether TP is willing to spend on a pricey acquisition. I also think it's at least 50/50 that Quinn turns things around in the next month or so, has a really strong 2nd half and makes it clear that he's good enough for a big contract. I could also see them keeping one or both of Greenway and Zucker next year at more or less their current salaries.

Geez. Thanks for letting us know SDS. God bless him and his family.

I agree with the broader point about not spending to the cap, but not with these examples. As noted upthread, Byram was more expensive than Mitts when acquired and almost certainly on his next contract as well (and I expect the Sabres to keep him). And neither Vegas nor Florida was going to give up one of their expensive stars in the Eichel/Reino trades. OTOH, all of this is fair. Still, if Lindy gets them into the playoffs this year, I expect them to give fat extensions to JJP and Byram, and possibly Quinn if he removes head from rectum, and perhaps sign a solid FA, and overall get much closer to the cap.

Exactly the info I was looking for. And if it wasn't clear what a hopeless Sabres optimist I am...I just started UPL today in fantasy over Jake Oettinger (although to be fair, Dallas is in Winnipeg, which has won 13 of 14 to start the season). Come on Sabres. Give those fans a good show so they come back for more.

I'm not optimistic yet, but they have 4 winnable games in the next 8 days (Flames, Habs, Blues and Flyers). If they win 3 of those, they'll have won 5 out of 6 and gotten back to DeLuca .500 -- after most of us were ready to leave them for dead yet again (and deservedly so, to be sure). And Dahlin, UPL, Cozens and Quinn are looking much better, Benson is back and looking pretty good and a number of guys are playing with some fire in the belly...

Just for yuks, I'll point out that the longest field goal record, at 63 yards, was held for over 40 years by Tom Dempsey, who made the kick while playing for the Saints but who finished his career with the Bills. Dempsey was born with no fingers on his right hand and no toes on his right foot, which was his kicking foot. His kicking shoe was squared off in a pretty striking manner.

Well, I'm not throwing Lindy over and I still have enough optimism about the players that I'm not willing to trade them for an average roster. So that leaves TP and KA. I think the Sabres have unquestionably gotten below-average GM'ing from KA. For TP, I think it comes down to whether you think the average owner is substantially more likely than TP is to move the team or sell it to someone who will. If the question assumes that the average owner is the same as TP on this point or better (i.e. less likely than TP to move the team or sell it to a pirate) -- then the answer has to be trading TP for the average owner, since the team has utterly fallen off the table on his watch. If the question makes no assumptions about the average owner on this point, then I'll keep TP and trade KA, because my biggest ownership issue by far is franchise security, and #2 is willingness to spend to keep good players, and I have no doubts about TP in these areas, whereas I think the average owner would be much more suspect than TP on these. YMMV, of course.

I think you're right, and I think Lindy likes Cozens, and I would be pretty surprised if he were scratched. I was just offering up an example of a bold statement.

Gilbert and Kulich in for... Samuelsson and Quinn? Or maybe a much louder statement: Bryson, Gilbert, Kulich and Benson in for Byram, Samuelsson, Quinn and Cozens? Either way -- they played one of their worst games of the season last night, then had to travel and play a road game tonight against a motivated opponent. If they lose tonight they are 4 and 8 and the season is already slipping away -- because teams that end up 4 games below DeLuca .500 don't make the playoffs or draw good crowds for home games. Nor do they deserve them.

Loser teams give up a goal right after they score one, and loser teams take dumb penalties while trailing with 10 min left in the game. The stink of losing is still well soaked into this team.

Yes, I realize that he was hurt. That gives me some reason for hope that he'll improve as he heals. But I don't think his "numbers" make a GD bit of difference. He's been a complete JAG this season. Again, I think it's reasonably likely that his mediocre play has been injury-related. If not, though, and if this is all the Sabres get from him, it's a disaster.

Heck yes Dahlin should be included. I'd bet Lindy thinks so too -- he sure didn't hesitate to throw Dahlin under the bus after the loss to Florida. Dahlin has the huge contract (something like top-3 in the NHL for defensemen) and the C. He's supposed to be their best player and be a force all over the ice every night. I'm still waiting for him to deliver even 1 game like that. He's been OK -- nothing more.

It's well past time for the Sabres to get what they need from: Dahlin Samuelsson Cozens Quinn Those are supposed to be 4 of their core guys, and each has been a big fat zero this season. I'm interested to see the reshuffled lines, but let's not kid ourselves: Lindy is doing this because the poor play of Cozens and Quinn has forced his hand. Dahlin did seem to be moving better and more assertive with the puck vs Florida, but he needs to bring it on both ends and he needs to be a leader. That's what an $11MM captain is supposed to do. He's been miles away from that level this year. The good news is that I do not expect them to come out on home ice like they aren't aware that an NHL game is going on. They will play hard. We'll see. If they win tonight and the new lines look good -- which they might -- they'll be 1 under DeLuca .500 with reason for optimism.

Let's keep the politics in the politics club please.

Good post. I'm kinda struggling with how to think about Diggs at this point. He was my favorite guy on the team, and I have his jersey, but I couldn't bring myself to wear it to the game I went to earlier this year and I don't think I'm going to wear it to the next one either. I'm just so disappointed in the way he conducted himself towards the end here. He put his grievances, whatever they were, before team success. And the fact that the Bills were willing to take such a huge cap hit to get rid of him tells me that he must have created an intolerable situation behind the scenes. He was exactly what they needed when they got him, and I think he made a huge positive difference in JA's development into the Terminator, but he squandered a ton of goodwill with the diva act. And it wasn't an act -- I think he really was an unbearable, self-absorbed diva. All good things come to an end.

I agree with all of this except the part about NAK -- I think a guy in his situation is pretty happy about getting a shot with a "higher" slotted line -- kinda like a promotion. Whoa. He's a young player who has shown great potential but who is off to a slow start. It would be insane to trade him at this point.

Well it's good to see your smiling face again! Back posting so soon -- I wish the Sabres were half as tough as you are.

Ugh. Hang in there sir. We're thinking of you.

OK, so they've played 4 home games, and played better in each one than in any home game last season that I can remember. Lindy has them focused and determined from the opening faceoff, not to mention playing with much more speed and structure. They've found a good chunk of their scoring touch, and the top line looks terrific. Quinn and Cozens are still out to sea, though, and goaltending has been spotty after a strong start. Now they're facing the defending champs who have one of their stars back and will probably start their top goalie and bring their A game. They had a bigger crowd on Saturday than in the previous game, and the fans had a good time and went home reasonably happy and excited. I'm guessing they'll have a decent crowd again tonight. Come on boys. Play hard from the get-go, give the fans another W, maybe dress Gilbert so he can pummel a bastard panther and we'll be on our way to a home ice advantage, with loserville getting smaller in the rear-view mirror.

McD can coach my team as long as he wants. He's going to get the Bills to the promised land. Maybe even this year.