Terry Pegula Becomes New Owner Of The Buffalo Sabres

Added on Feb 23, 2011 by J Merrill in

NHL

It would seem that the NHL did its due diligence when they made sure the person who bought the Buffalo Sabres was a fan of hockey. Today it was made official that the Sabres had a new owner, and he had a profound love of Sabres Hocker. Terry Pegula declared “I’m the guy who lived in Houston, Texas in 1979 and listened to that horrible (playoff) overtime loss to the Penguins. A friend of mine in Olean, N.Y., held his phone to the television and I listed to the game on the phone. I’m the guy who used to sit on an overpass in Pittsburgh in the early 80s to listen to Sabres radio broadcasts as they faded in and out.”

An emotional Pegula turned to Sabres alum and Hockey Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault, and with tears in his eyes he said “You’re my hero. That’s my hockey genesis right there.”

He continued to say that he has one goal now that he has bought the Sabres, and thats to be the very best. Pegula said “Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres’ reason for existence will be to win the Stanley Cup,” he said.

Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement, “This franchise was not for sale. It was Terry’s persistence that got Tom to sell it. Terry is passionate about the game of hockey. He’s invested in our game at a number of levels, including the collegiate level. He was a long-time Sabres season-ticket holder. He believes in Buffalo and Western New York. He loves the game and this is a dream come true for him and it’s also a dream come true for us at the League because we know this franchise is in great hands. The great work that has been done to date will be built upon and he’s as committed as anyone ever to bringing the Stanley Cup to Buffalo. It’s a great day for hockey in Buffalo.”

Pegula said they would be making some changes, but not to the staff of the Sabres. He said “Darcy (Regier, GM) will run a hockey department that I have previously said will have no financial mandates. We’re cutting the chains off and he’s free to run with whatever he wants to do with scouting, player development, working with Lindy (Ruff, coach) and the coaches. We’re going to pour some resources into that area of the team.” He continued “I am a Lindy Ruff fan and will be for a while. Lindy and I have talked and Lindy ain’t going nowhere. I’m also talking about his coaching staff, too.”

Pegula was very optimistic about his plans moving forward. He noted “There is no salary cap in the National Hockey League on scouting budgets and player-development budgets. I plan on increasing, working with Darcy and the guys, increasing our scouting budget with bodies on the ground in areas we might not be hitting, and enhancing our video department. Starting today we will bring in more player development coaches to help these guys become better hockey players, work on their weaknesses or whatever the coaches think. We will aspire to be the best in the League at finding, developing and keeping our players in their new Buffalo Sabre family.”