As much optimism for the future that Pegula brings to this franchise, credit for whatever success is in store for the rest of this year still belongs to BTG. These are his (or Larry's) guys, both veterans and rock-solid rookies, who are poised to make a run. How much more favorably will history (and Buffalo) judge BTG if this team goes deep into the playoffs? 6 years, franchise rescued, 4 playoffs, 2 ECFs, 1 ???

Yeah, they've played really well since the transfer of ownership, but I don't buy into Pegula having much of anything to do with that. To me, it's been about the maturation of the young guys (Gerbe, Weber, Ennis, Enroth, Mancari) and great coaching to overcome serious adversity.

And Kudos to Slesh, if you're still on the boards, for calling 7th place back in December (though I still don't believe you believed it...)

I think I disagree a little here. BTG and Larry would NOT have made the move for Boyes... they took on salary to bring in the double B... Yes its a solid team, but do not discount the energy Terry brought in short order with making that move and the other "small" things to show the team he cared about winning... not about breaking even... it is not by chance the team went what
16-4-4- since Terry took over... that easily could have slid in the other direction...

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Honestly, despite all he did to 'save' the team and keep them in buffalo, i'd argue that it was never *really* his team. Maybe on paper, not in spirit. If it is HIS team, IN SPIRIT...then he keeps his word and eats the microphone after missing the playoffs.

They were turning it around well before Pegula came on board. I think the reversal of the team's fortunes has a lot more to do with Gerbe, Ennis, Enroth, and Weber than Boyes. These guys being professional athletes and coaches, you have to look at hard work and motivation as primary reasons for success during the 2nd half of the year, as opposed to some psychological boost delivered by a new owner. It probably helped a little, but it was icing on the cake more than anything else.

They're Pegula's team and have been since the new ownership changed the atmosphere in the building.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Didn't Golisano buy the team in an attempt to get elected to political office or something?

IMO that was all he was interested in.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

And I also wanted to add Gerbe, Vanek, POminville, Myers, Connolly and a few others didn't play half as good as they did once Terry took over.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

It's Regier's team. He's the one who assembled it the best way he could with all the no's he was given by BTG.

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Wheelhouse

I don't think we as fans have a place to discuss this as we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. We hear random tidbits, but that doesn't give a look into the bigger picture.

No.

I think it's fair to discuss it. We obviously don't know for sure, but in fairness, TPegs told us straight up we had BTG to thank for Lydman and Tallinder not being here this season.

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Wheelhouse

Come on. Those random tidbits give all of us who have years of experience running NHL franchises a clear and accurate picture of everything that did happen, and could happen.

/sarcasm

Well, the last game of the season I got the CBJ broadcast on CenterIce (so most of you would have missed this).
One of their announcers mentioned he had a chat with Lindy before the game and one of the things Lindy mentioned was since Pagula took over almost all of the UFA's and RFA's have mentioned they don't want to leave and cited new ownership as the reason.

You can't say he hasn't had an effect on the players.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

And before someone argues against that saying they always say they don't want to leave, lets see the RESULTS this time around.

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Wheelhouse

you're kidding, right? with as much political knowledge as you have you don't think a factor in him purchasing the sabres wasn't because he was trying to start his political career? come on. i'm not saying that was the tipping factor, but it certainly made the decision easier.


"fans aren't allowed to speculate because they don't know everything." give me a break.

Golisano ran for governor in 94,98 and 2002.

He bought the Sabres in 03, and hasn't run for political office since. He was recruited to run when Pataki left, but refused to do so.

His political career, at least in the context of getting elected to something, started and ended before he bought the team. He did not buy the Sabres to help him get elected to anything.

i'm pretty sure he was planning on going again but hasn't because of other things. i think it was a just in case move.

he definitely wanted to keep them around. i think he's a fan and a good WNYer, but obviously he's a businessman first.

If we only discussed things who's behind the scenes workings were visible to everyone, what on earth would be left to talk about?

I remember it being a big deal with he went from Independent to Republican after Pataki announced he wouldn't run, because the Republican establishment wanted him to run against Spitzer.

I won't deny that he considered what kind of political bump he could get from it, but I don't think any of that factored into his decision to do it.

Yeah, and generally during those discussions someone brings up the fact that we don't really know what goes on behind the scenes to really comment on it. Sure, we can make observations and cite things that happened to support our speculation, but it's just that. I don't think it's fair to come out and make concrete statements when we don't know everything. It's fine for you to disagree with it, that's just my opinion and I'm definitely not the first one to say it.