Will the Sabres become a better team under Pegula?

[donteatyellowsnow]

Are the Portland Pirates part of the deal? or are they their own entity?

 

Somehow, someway I see the Sabres and Rochester Americans reuniting in the very near future.

[Two or less]

Are the Portland Pirates part of the deal? or are they their own entity?

 

Somehow, someway I see the Sabres and Rochester Americans reuniting in the very near future.

 

No, the Pirates have their own owner.

 

It may make sense for him to try to land back with the Amerks, but if the new proposed arena in Portland does get build, i don't see how Sabres could leave them? Portland has been excellent to the Sabres and with a brand new state of the art arena being build, it will be a premier AHL destination. Sabres are lucky to be with the Pirates.

 

Amerks owner demands wins and cups. He wants vets on his top lines and if a player struggles, he doesn't want him to play.

 

AHL is for development and the kids should play on big roles and play through slumps. I think that is one reason why the Sabres have such a success rate with players who come up because Sabres make sure they play in their roles at the AHL level.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Why don't we have a tennis match for ownership of the team?

 

Monica Seles vs. Ms. Pegula

 

Seles wins....$170 million sale

 

Pegula wins....$150 million sale

 

Charge $50 a seat, bring in Anna Kornakova to bend over for some pics and Johnny MaC to waive to the crowd......it'll be a barnburner!

[korab rules]

Why don't we have a tennis match for ownership of the team?

 

Monica Seles vs. Ms. Pegula

 

Seles wins....$170 million sale

 

Pegula wins....$150 million sale

 

Charge $50 a seat, bring in Anna Kornakova to bend over for some pics and Johnny MaC to waive to the crowd......it'll be a barnburner!

What about Max A's sister? Can she play for the rigas clan? And ralph's wife for the Wilson family!

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

What about Max A's sister? Can she play for the rigas clan? And ralph's wife for the Wilson family!

 

And Mike Schopp can do play by play.

 

And we can sell Billy Jean King corndogs at the concession stands.

 

 

This can go places.....

[R_Dudley]

Christmas may be coming early this year for you guys. I figured there would a thousand threads today and SDS/LabattBlue would we closing repeat threads left and right.

 

In regards to making Sabres a better team? Hands down, yes. Any business decision wouldnt be to run it into the ground...

 

Sounds like this is perfect scenario for TG & LQ, they get their payday and go back to their real jobs. win-win. Pegs can come in and play owner. Doesnt seem like there is much dirt on him, the NHL just needs to approve. Git-r-dun!

 

I leave the board alone for a few days and look what happens. I might have to put the keyboard down more often.

 

I absoultely agree even if it's just pure speculation on my part. From what you can know about this guy (public info available) it's hard not to imagine a fan of hockey running it better unless he makes knee jerk decisions reactions like some of the fans on this board.

 

Being a successful businessman like he was I say not likely.

 

Will they be better? No data.

 

Will they be run differently? Almost definitely.

 

I would expect that he'd take over the "team president" role that LQ currently occupies. Although if LQ isn't bought out, I wouldn't be surprised to see that transition occur in the off-season. I also wouldn't be surprised if DiPofi stays on as CFO COO, even if he's bought out of his ownership stake.

 

Based on his background (the very limited amount of it I've read about in the past day) and the $'s he put into PSU to build a Div I team, I would expect him to try to transform the Sabres into another Detroit. Will he get the right hockey people around him to make that happen and will he be patient enough to let them do the job (and get out of their way) if he finds the right people? That's the $150MM question.

 

Great post, points and right on. I could see this guy bringing past players back around, celebrating the history and successes this team has enjoyed and build a true winning attitude and atmosphere.

 

The buffalo news said that the only issue with Quinn's denial is the 150 million dollar pricetag. They went on to say that the price was actually considerably higher. Which means this guy overpaid. Which means he wants the franchise. You don't overpay to turn and make a profit. You overpay if you really want the franchise. So if he's not in to make a profit, and he really wants the franchise. I can only see the other option being he wants to win.

 

Pretty interesting point and one I can also agree with.

 

One things for sure TG was never in it for the long haul, this guy could bring back some of the Knox mystique which is what really defined this team so quickly as an expansion franchise to a SC contender by 1975 finals. If this guy has even 50% of the love, passion and knowledge for hockey the Knox's had then Bring it on Buffalo you deserve it.

[Stoner]

Been thinking about how an owner with deep pockets and a knowledge of and passion for the game could come in change the culture.

 

This fell into my lap. Lindy said after practice today: "Tomorrow we'll be back on special teams, this building is tougher to operate a power play with the smaller zone so we'll get back in our building to do that." I assume he's talking about the former Pepsi Center. The Sabres can't effectively practice the power play in that facility?

 

Gee, do ya think Pegula could build a state of the art, best in the league, world-class practice facility? When athletic officials from PSU and Terry visited various college hockey arenas, they saw something they liked at Notre Dame -- two puck shooting ranges. "It’s a 30’x 12’ synthetic ice surface, made out of Lexan polymer with Glycol film on top. It includes a machine called a RapidShot. It’s a goal with an attachment that shoots you a puck. Then a target lights up and you hit the target. It measures not only how quickly you release the puck but how soon it gets to the target and your accuracy," said Joe Battista. "We'd like one those." I think Terry made sure that would happen with his gift.

 

Do NHL teams have such ranges? Why not?

 

The Sabres should have the best training facilities, trainers, medical staff, nutritionists, psychologists, strippers, whatever the players need. Why invest upwards of 60 million dollars a year on these guys and pinch pennies in supporting them?

 

Divorce rates are high in professional sports. Has any team every put together a program to deal with this issue? Specialized counseling services? Does the team offer child care so spouses can attend games and not deal with the kids?

 

Is there any reason to continue video scouting?

 

Is there any reason not to increase the size of the front office? Why not more coaches?

 

Can the Sabres travel better?

 

Some teams have hyperbaric chambers to speed recovery from injuries. They're expensive, but...

 

I mentioned the ice yesterday. What would it cost to have the best ice in the league?

 

Just brainstorming here.

 

It's sure fun spending someone else's money. There certainly isn't a cap on what owners can spend on their organizations. And you can't take it with you.

 

I'd like to hear other peoples' ideas. Basically, how do you reinvent the Sabres franchise to bring it into the 20th, I mean 21st, century?

[will]

i think a lot of the success of the franchise from this point forward lies in the front office, and duh, i know that is not news to anyone. having the right people on staff is essential to building a winner, and you need to look no further than teams like detroit, the loulam devils, and the dale tallon built blackhawks (who made a remarkable turnaround in just a few seasons). darcy is not a top-notch gm, and while i have been a regier apologist for a very long time, being hamstrung by ownership to some degree, you don't hand out the kind of money he has to players like tc, hecht, goose, and stafford (embarrassing). at this point, i wouldn't shed a tear if he were shown the door with new ownership (right along with those players). i'm sure some other team would pick him up in some capacity in short order. so i guess what i'm saying is, at the top of my shopping list would be a new general manager who's actually played the game, doesn't take sh!t from anyone, and knows what it takes to have a locker room sorted with the perfect mix of role and star players, all being paid exactly what they deserve. i look at what's happening in tampa bay, and all i can do is shake my head, wondering why so many other gm's are having so much trouble accomplishing what a recent player has done in one season. granted, i realize many of the pieces were in place already, as they are in buffalo, but he's changing the philosophy down there. a change in philosophy is needed in buffalo, and a new owner can do this not only by taking control of the franchise, but by bringing in a quality management group. it all starts at the top, and that's where things need to change right now.

[R_Dudley]

Been thinking about how an owner with deep pockets and a knowledge of and passion for the game could come in change the culture.

 

This fell into my lap. Lindy said after practice today: "Tomorrow we'll be back on special teams, this building is tougher to operate a power play with the smaller zone so we'll get back in our building to do that." I assume he's talking about the former Pepsi Center. The Sabres can't effectively practice the power play in that facility?

 

Gee, do ya think Pegula could build a state of the art, best in the league, world-class practice facility? When athletic officials from PSU and Terry visited various college hockey arenas, they saw something they liked at Notre Dame -- two puck shooting ranges. "It’s a 30’x 12’ synthetic ice surface, made out of Lexan polymer with Glycol film on top. It includes a machine called a RapidShot. It’s a goal with an attachment that shoots you a puck. Then a target lights up and you hit the target. It measures not only how quickly you release the puck but how soon it gets to the target and your accuracy," said Joe Battista. "We'd like one those." I think Terry made sure that would happen with his gift.

 

Do NHL teams have such ranges? Why not?

 

The Sabres should have the best training facilities, trainers, medical staff, nutritionists, psychologists, strippers, whatever the players need. Why invest upwards of 60 million dollars a year on these guys and pinch pennies in supporting them?

 

Divorce rates are high in professional sports. Has any team every put together a program to deal with this issue? Specialized counseling services? Does the team offer child care so spouses can attend games and not deal with the kids?

 

Is there any reason to continue video scouting?

 

Is there any reason not to increase the size of the front office? Why not more coaches?

 

Can the Sabres travel better?

 

Some teams have hyperbaric chambers to speed recovery from injuries. They're expensive, but...

 

I mentioned the ice yesterday. What would it cost to have the best ice in the league?

 

Just brainstorming here.

 

It's sure fun spending someone else's money. There certainly isn't a cap on what owners can spend on their organizations. And you can't take it with you.

 

I'd like to hear other peoples' ideas. Basically, how do you reinvent the Sabres franchise to bring it into the 20th, I mean 21st, century?

 

Nice post and to think that burning smell was all those nuerons firing.

 

Now thats the kind of stuff that can distinguish your team from the other's in NHL and send a message to FA's , I cringe to this bring up here, a enemy team and it is abit long but if you have the time stay in the whole video and check out the parts about what the Pens built into their new arena for their players. This is what makes players want to come to your team.

 

My linky

[spndnchz]

I'll take the childcare/wife question, not that I have either. I'd imagine the Sabres have something like the Bisons have. The Bisons have a room just for the families. Toys, TV's, etc. Someplace for them to hang out before and after games without media, etc. Sabres prolly a bit different being the kids are prolly in bed during games (night et al).

 

I don't see why a big pocket owner wouldn't just turn the lights on at HSBC rather than build a whole new arena. Tonight's different, Mr Bubble is playing at the arena.

[Stoner]

I'll take the childcare/wife question, not that I have either. I'd imagine the Sabres have something like the Bisons have. The Bisons have a room just for the families. Toys, TV's, etc. Someplace for them to hang out before and after games without media, etc. Sabres prolly a bit different being the kids are prolly in bed during games (night et al).

 

I don't see why a big pocket owner wouldn't just turn the lights on at HSBC rather than build a whole new arena. Tonight's different, Mr Bubble is playing at the arena.

 

That was my thought. The arena is not always available.

[korab rules]

I'll take the childcare/wife question, not that I have either. I'd imagine the Sabres have something like the Bisons have. The Bisons have a room just for the families. Toys, TV's, etc. Someplace for them to hang out before and after games without media, etc. Sabres prolly a bit different being the kids are prolly in bed during games (night et al).

 

I don't see why a big pocket owner wouldn't just turn the lights on at HSBC rather than build a whole new arena. Tonight's different, Mr Bubble is playing at the arena.

 

Do they have a separate room for you and the rest of the mistresses? /ducking/

 

The bolded portion is what they usually do. They practice at the pepsi center when the ice is down/unavailable. In order to have the best ice in the league, they need to turn off the heaters and lower the ambient temperature of HSBC arena by about 35 degrees. Players will love it. The fans? Not so much.

[donteatyellowsnow]

Nice post and to think that burning smell was all those nuerons firing.

 

Now thats the kind of stuff that can distinguish your team from the other's in NHL and send a message to FA's , I cringe to this bring up here, a enemy team and it is abit long but if you have the time stay in the whole video and check out the parts about what the Pens built into their new arena for their players. This is what makes players want to come to your team.

 

My linky

 

WOW! The Pens new place is awesome.

 

Yep, it's stuff like that attracts players. $$$$ too of course.

[Stoner]

Thanks for the link Duds.

 

The spokesman said, "We're not capped on how we can treat our players." That says it all.

[donteatyellowsnow]

Thanks for the link Duds.

 

The spokesman said, "We're not capped on how we can treat our players." That says it all.

 

Bingo, his comment says a lot. Not that I think Sabres players are treated poorly, it's just that other teams treat their players better.

[jimiVbaby]

Bingo, his comment says a lot. Not that I think Sabres players are treated poorly, it's just that other teams treat their players better.

In all honesty you are comparing the HSBC arena against the newest arena in hockey and a state of the art facility.

 

I have a hard time saying one way or another how the Sabres players are treated. Not many people really know for sure.

[nobody]

Nice post and to think that burning smell was all those nuerons firing.

 

Now thats the kind of stuff that can distinguish your team from the other's in NHL and send a message to FA's , I cringe to this bring up here, a enemy team and it is abit long but if you have the time stay in the whole video and check out the parts about what the Pens built into their new arena for their players. This is what makes players want to come to your team.

 

My linky

 

 

Don't worry - I had a thread about that video on this site back in August and I wasn't banned. :)

[Wyldnwoody44]

I used to work at the Harbor club at the arena; and many of the players wifes and family members actually would have just a little crappy room in the back of the arena for before and after games. I used to walk by them before and after every game; The arena itself behind the scenes is not all that attractive

 

 

 

 

I'll take the childcare/wife question, not that I have either. I'd imagine the Sabres have something like the Bisons have. The Bisons have a room just for the families. Toys, TV's, etc. Someplace for them to hang out before and after games without media, etc. Sabres prolly a bit different being the kids are prolly in bed during games (night et al).

 

I don't see why a big pocket owner wouldn't just turn the lights on at HSBC rather than build a whole new arena. Tonight's different, Mr Bubble is playing at the arena.

[TheChimp]

I can't wait til it comes out that Golisano is asking far more than what would be a fair price.

[Weave]

I really liked reading this quote from todays Buffalo News;

 

Pegula's favorite sports are football and hockey. He's a Bills fan who has a fondness for the Detroit Lions, but the Sabres are his true sports passion.

 

He was upset when Chris Drury and Daniel Briere left the organization. He couldn't comprehend how the team let Henrik Tallinder get away because he wanted a four-year contract rather than the three-year deal it offered.

 

Pegula wants to purchase the Sabres for one reason -- winning -- even if it means spending more money to get the best people around him.

 

"He's not in this to turn a profit," one friend said. "He's in this to win hockey games. That's what his major concern is going to be."

 

"He wants to win Stanley Cups -- as in plural," said another.

 

All of the passion that the Knox's had and the bankroll to back it up. Where has this guy been all my life?

[korab rules]

I really liked reading this quote from todays Buffalo News;

 

 

 

All of the passion that the Knox's had and the bankroll to back it up. Where has this guy been all my life?

 

The full article is a great read - here is the link.

[Stoner]

Great to see the Tallinder quote. It really doesn't make sense how the Sabres, with a billionaire owner, approach these things, and another billionaire agrees.

 

I am going to give blood this morning, shovel out shut-ins this afternoon and read my Bible all through the evening, and I'm going to be the master of my domain for the rest of my living days.

[bunomatic]

The full article is a great read - here is the link.

 

Nice story. It sounds too good to be true but just what the doctor ordered for long suffering Buffalo sports fans.

[spndnchz]

Great to see the Tallinder quote. It really doesn't make sense how the Sabres, with a billionaire owner, approach these things, and another billionaire agrees.

 

I am going to give blood this morning, shovel out shut-ins this afternoon and read my Bible all through the evening, and I'm going to be the master of my domain for the rest of my living days.

 

How can u b master of your domain at a time like this? It is cause for celebration and blisters!

[Taro T]

Nice story. It sounds too good to be true but just what the doctor ordered for long suffering Buffalo sports fans.

Let's just hope this isn't the latest in the "we'll provide the tools to get the job done", MLB's coming to town, Peace Bridge, Adelphia Tower, waterfront development, etc. grand scheme that just doesn't quite pan out.

 

I've got nothing against TG (from everyone I've spoken to that knows him well personally he is universally highly regarded) and will forever be thankful that he kept my favorite hockey team where it is, but the thought of having a deep-pocketed owner with local ties that knows how to successfully build and run a business that is ALSO a hockey fan (even a Sabres fan to boot, does it get any better?) who has to have at bare minimum a rudimentary understanding of the game (he's been a youth coach, so he probably understands the game) who has a track record of laying the building blocks to possibly (it's way to early to say whether the PSU endeavor will be successful) build a winning sports organization makes me pretty much know what I really want for Christmas.

 

(The Coleco Head-to-Head Football game was cool; but this would truly be sweet. Especially if he turns out to be the Mike Illitch that owns the Wings and not the Mike Illitch that owns the Tigers.)