Look, I’m over the old ownership, so I’m not really going to get into my thoughts on the Sabres and Darcy Regier’s contract extension. I really want to turn over a new leaf with this hockey team when it comes to being more optimistic. Frankly, nothing shocks me with Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn. When they are involved, you better check your wallet or the gold fillings in your teeth. Was it some sort of parting gift with Regier’s extension? Maybe.
I do believe that the Sabres sale didn’t come out of nowhere like some people would like to believe. Larry Quinn admitted in the past that while the team wasn’t for sale, they were always listening. Frankly, I think they circled this year on their calender because they had the WJ’s coming to Buffalo, and the franchise didn’t have to do much of anything besides have the ice crew paint “World Juniors” on center ice.
I’m just speculating (Hey, I’m a blogger and that’s what I do), but maybe the Sabres were asking for more money the previous years because they were still a hot ticket item at the Arena, making the playoffs and kicking ass in selling slug jerseys. I think they would want more because the franchise was a cash cow from 06-08. As I’ve said before, Golisano is done squeezing this lemon, because there isn’t anymore juice in it. That’s why I believe he is selling. I mean, it’s not like Terry Pegula doesn’t have a history with being a Sabres fan, and he obviously didn’t become a billionaire over night.
Anyways, I’m looking to the future and I’m over trying to figure out the hidden motives of Quinn and company. So, now that we know Terry Pegula should be taking over the Sabres soon, I’d like to give Mr. Pegula a schedule for what needs to be done when he gets into office. No, it’s not trading Ryan Miller for Steve Stamkos, but here is just a little guide for what he needs to do from now until the end of the season.
4) Have a nice press conference: Whenever Terry Pegula has his initial press conference for detailing what he plans to do with the Sabres, I really hope that he gets Sabres fans excited. For too long, we have heard excuse after excuse as to why this team is not contending for a cup. Now, my dream scenario of Pegula spending money on the Sabres as if he were a 80-year old tycoon, who was trying to wooh in Pamela Anderson, took a slight hit today. Pierre LeBrun from ESPN said the following:
“I was also told yesterday it doesn’t mean he’s (Pegula) going to spend to the cap every year. He’s rich because he’s made smart business decisions in his life. Buffalo remains a small market no matter who owns the team. Still, I think there will be less penny-pinching with him on board”
Um, okay. That doesn’t exactly jive with my parodies of Terry Pegula. Ah, forget it. Terry is going to sign Chris Pronger and Sidney Crosby 😉
Anyways, I’m not looking for Pegula to reach into his wallet and pull out 5-million bucks to give to Darcy Regier, and then have the GM be thrown off the property (OK, maybe I do). I just want an opening statement that isn’t going to be about status quo. Better yet, tell me about my hockey team without mentioning the following terms: Money, market, money, money, mulligans, money and more money. Just tell me that the goal is to win a cup and mediocrity is a thing of the past. Just put me in a happy mood.
3) A real evaluation: Look, I know most Sabres fans are hoping that Pegula will just walk in and play the role of a cyborg like in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. I’ll admit, the thought of Pegula going Ari Gold on the current regime would be quite comical (Think of the episode in which he shot everyone with a paint ball gun who was going to get fired). However, the smart thing to do is for Pegula to have a top-to-bottom evaluation. Interview everyone. Ask Darcy and Lindy what have been the biggest problems for this team. Figure out if the franchise needs more scouts. Figure out why MSG doesn’t have a road postgame show. Just evaluate and more importantly: Learn on the job.
Bottom line: Pegula has never owned a hockey team and he has to first understand what the day-to-day operations are like in the NHL before he makes a major front office shakeup. That was one of Tom Golisano’s biggest mistakes. It took him forever to realize that he was working in the sports world and not some company that pays 50,000 a year to its employees. Pegula needs to understand what it takes to be an owner of a sports team. Look for the Sabres to really make moves at the top sometime after the season ends. Frankly, I don’t really need Pegula to do anything for the rest of the season, besides buy the team.
For the record, I think Regier should get canned because even if his hands were tied by ownership, he should have left or said something about it. By not doing that, it tells me that he’s nothing more than a “Yes, man.” Maybe, that’s why he got the extension.
2) Sell, Sell, Sell: Look, as I wrote last week, I think the Sabres need to sell at the trade deadline. Now, before we get there, Pegula and Regier need to figure out which impending free agents they want to keep. If they don’t want to pay Steve Montador 3-million bucks a year, then you trade him. Nothing is going to happen between now and the end of the season to really change the value of Montador. Regier should know by now if he wants to keep him. I really don’t want to lose a guy like #4, but I would really be ticked off if they let him go without any compensation. As for the other players: 55, 20, 25, 27, 55 (Not a typo for mentioning him twice), 29, 28, 19 and pretty much everyone else (Besides Myers and…maybe, Miller), should be on the block, or Regier should be listening to offers for them. This team hasn’t won anything, and I don’t think the majority of the players on this roster have entitlement for not being moved.
1) Figure out what to do with R&R: Frankly, I don’t think Pegula has to do player evaluations when it comes to this roster. There is so much dead-weight here that an evaluation for most of the players should take about, oh, say…3 SportsCenter highlight reels. As for the coach and GM, Pegula has until April to figure out the deal. If Regier gets canned, then the soon to be new GM should have the final say on what will happen with Lindy Ruff.
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