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Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- It's been a team effort here at WGR Sports Radio 550 and here is the latest information that we've learned about the potential sale of the Buffalo Sabres.

Sabres owner Tom Golisano has indeed been in serious talks with Terry Pegula to sell the team to him. There has been no letter of intent signed. As of Wednesday, Golisano hadn't even reviewed a formal offer from Pegula.

It's been widely reported that Pegula will be introduced next week at the NHL's Board of Governors meeting. Multiple NHL sources and sources within the team say that just is not happening.

READ ARTICLE:
http://www.wgr550.com/HAMILTON--Sabres-are-not-Pegula-s-yet/8695480

Letters of intent are no longer a valid ownership measure after the Balsillie/Moyes/Coyotes debacle, as reported by Globe & Mail (not surprised WGR doesn't know this). In order for Pegula to be considered a valid candidate, he has to be introduced to the BOG and approved by them. Until the meetings come and go and he isn't there, I'm of the opinion he's gonna be there.

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mechaphil

and isn't the BOG meeting next week... so we will be in a holding pattern until then... nothing can move any further until the BOG meeting?

So the 6 easy steps to owning the Sabres, if you have multiple billions of dollars....

1 - Tom and Terry talk and negotiate... negotiate and talk

2 - Terry is introduced and meets with BOG (next week, I think)

3 - If approved at BOG (no reason he can't or shouldn't be approved), letter of intent can be signed

4 - Tommy and Terry finish negotiating and talking finalize the deal

5 - Quinn GETS THE F OUT! (before the trade deadline?, possible?)

6 - Terry brings lord stanley to buffalo!

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so wait, is pegula going to be at the BOG or not?

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Im a little worried about the fans expectations of Pegula, a Cup cannot be guaranteed by any means, a lot of our future still relies on how our players play.

Nobody knows for sure either way.

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Wheelhouse

very true, but, an owner that cares, and would be willing to spend to the cap, will greatly help

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FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMAN

"on the ice now for buffalo, looking for the pass, and gets it, afinogenov, couldnt get the shot away, now HE DOES, HE SCORES!!!! HOLY MACKEREL ROLE THE HIGH LIGHT FILM, MAXIM AFINOGENOV, WHAT A MOVE!!!!.... thats not fair... that was unbelievable"
-R.J. and Lorenz

I made the comment as a tongue-in-cheek... its obviously going to be dependent on the TEAM! And thats from the top down... from scouting, to the GM and coaching staff and players... BUT if some believe that Tom has been a little more concerned with the bottom line than a championship (self imposed cap)... would it give the team a slightly better advantage in winning a cup is Terry decided to put a little more money into say the front office (scouting) or pushing to the cap a little more... Again it still all needs to click from top down and obviously we don't want to end up like NJ, being to hard against the cap and we don't want a Snyder type that thinks you can buy a championship... BUT I am of the belief that there is a lot of talent on the roster and in the wings.... I believe that Darcy and Ruff are two of THE BEST in the league.... AND of the belief that without the Quinn-cuffs on Darcy we would see a bit of a different Sabres team... I want to see what an un-caged Darcy can do... Is he the GM I remember him to be (remember Dougie Gilmore).... can he regain that form... or has Quinn beat him so badly over the years he forgot how to be that GM?

If I were Terry, after the deal closes.... Quinn GTFO... and I sit down with Lindy and Darcy and simply ask.... what do you two need? and give it to them... see what they can do...

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Another thought... would a new owner, one as passionate as Terry seems to be for hockey and the Sabres breath a little life into Darcy and Ruff? Does anyone think that maybe having an owner like Tom, who is obviously is a good guy and decent owner, but not really as passionate about the game, maybe wares on the GM and coach? Maybe knowing he might be a bit more concerned with the bottom line than the championship?

Could an owner with a pure passion for hockey and the Sabres actually enliven Darcy and Lindy?

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From The Buffalo News;

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article271298.ece

"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."


"Golisano spends most of his time in Florida. Pegula also has a home there, in Boca Raton, but his confidants say he would be more involved than Golisano with the Sabres and surround himself with sound hockey minds.

"He's smart enough to know that he doesn't have all the answers in whatever he's doing," one former business associate said. "And with him, there's no ego -- none. He's a guy that never forgot where he came from."


The more I read about this guy, the more I like him...

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

And if you're winning, you're mostly making a profit, so that is a bonus to him.

We make the playoffs year in and year out that is extra revenue from both playoff merchandise and ticket sales.

I like this, I really hope he buys the Sabres and turns them into Stanley Cup's Winners.

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not true necessarily. most teams break around the conference finals. even then its not a given. the sabres have lost money 8 out of the last 9 years.

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Well, until things are more official I'm not gonna get my hopes up too much. Pegula has already tried once to buy the team and failed. Hopefully he learned from that do sway TG to sell.

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I don't believe that. Golisano is a businessman. If that was really true, Larry Quinn wouldn't be here anymore. He'd look for somebody who could make the club turn a profit.

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Wheelhouse

Any money the Sabres may lose is covered by the Bandits and profits made from other HSBC Arena events.

They're fine.

Something about these quotes bugs me a little.

When a very successful BUSINESSman is said to not be concerned with turning a profit, I have trouble swallowing that.

And the quote about winning "Stanley Cups"....

Less hyperbole lends itself to more credibility. The guy has never owned a sports franchise, so talk of not just a Cup, but "Cups" sounds a bit.....naive and goofy.

I'll just chalk it up to his friend(s) getting excited and carried away.

So the guy should just say:

I want to win no cups. I want to teabag this franchise for all it's worth. I'm not going to do anything but get the cheese.

I would much rather him say he wants to win cups.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

they are most certainly fine. its not big losses, but yeah, they have lost money in 8 of 9 seasons according to forbes. nothing major. but arnt the sabres and HSBC completely separate? i mean the sabres pay a lease, right?

im certainly sure overall HSBC pulls in quite a profit, and im sure golisano is absolutely fine.

wait, golisano assumed control of HSBC as part of the package, didnt he?

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Only 14 teams from the 2009-2010 season made operating profits.

Here are the Sabres rankings from Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/31/hoc ... 3362.html#

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/31/hoc ... _rank.html

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