Are the Amerks and Sabres in play?

WGRZ is reporting that Terry Pegula may soon be purchasing the Amerks.  We should have seen this coming from a mile away, based on Ted Black’s statements about the Penguins owning their own minor league affiliate.  Heck, I can’t believe I didn’t jump all over it upon reading Darcy Regiers’ comments in this article by Kevin Oklobzija. (Die by The Blade)

Mind of Joe

I’ll be honest, I really don’t give two craps about where the Sabres AHL affiliate plays. As long as the players aren’t delayed by travel if they are called up to Buffalo, all is well with me. As a fan, unless you plan on going to Rochester games or you’re from that region, I really don’t understand why people get all gushy and happy about the minor league team playing in Rochester. I get that it may have to do with growing up with that sort of arrangement, but I just don’t get the jubilation. I doubt Yankees fans care about where the minor league team plays. Hell, I can’t recall talking to Sabres fans who had gone to hockey games in The Garbage Plate Capitol of the World. Yes, I’m in NYC and that totally factors into me not caring if the AHL team is playing in Rochester, Albany or Lake Erie. Of course, I’ve never really cared about the Sabres prospects like others do. To me, until they come up to the parent club, they don’t even exist to me.

Now before I get hate mail from Rochester or Sabres fans who have Luke Adam posters on their walls, I agree with everyone when it comes to why the move makes sense. I just think people act as if this is like huge news, when I don’t really think people are going to see these games unless they are living in Rochester.Yes, if you plan on going with family down there, ah salute. Again, I don’t have family, I don’t get excited about minor league hockey and I’m like 6 hours away.

Anyways, I’ll tell you what I like most about the move. No, it’s not about proximity or getting a garbage plate at a minor league Sabres game. It’s how Terry Pegula is a billionaire, who will do whatever is best for the franchise and their management team. You know how much it will cost to get out of the agreement with Portland? Pegula doesn’t care. Hell, he’s buying the damn team!

Yes, even though I could care less about the affiliate move, it makes sense. On off nights, Lindy and Darcy can pack the old 74′ Chevy with Labatt Blues and Bison Dip, and travel to Rochester to see their prospects play. “Road trip, bitches?!”

Also, it will help matters in marketing the team in Rochester, especially since the Amerks haven’t really had a full blown Sabres squad since before the lockout (Prior arrangement was Panthers/Sabres players.). Everyone knows that the Sabres popularity has skyrocketed since the lockout, so, this can only help develop more fans in Central NY. I can only imagine that if the team gained so many new fans in WNY, it’s probably the same case in Rochester.

However, this all goes back to the bottom line, which unlike the last owners, Terry Pegula doesn’t give a rats ass about. The arrangement between Portland/Buffalo is suppose to last until 2014. My guess is that Pegula will probably write those owners a check and say, “Here’s a fee, adios muchachos.” Darcy probably went up to Pegula and told him that having our prospects in Rochester is more convenient. Darcy asks; Pegula delivers. That’s what I like to hear. Hell, our last owner couldn’t even give Darcy an extra 200K for Tim Kennedy or an extra year for Hank. Pegula just pulled what Bruce Wayne did in Batman Begins. “Oh, so we can’t sit here? Well, you see, I’m buying this hotel, and uh, setting some new rules about the pool area.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tijtbm9qKgQ&w=425&h=349]

So, if this is a preview to the drunken sailor image of the Sabres on July 1st when it comes to free agents and trades, then it’s going to be a hot summer.