BREAKING: Sabres' Rick Martin Dies In Car Crash

((HT: AM550 WGR Buffalo))

Former Sabre Rick Martin has died in a car accident in the Buffalo, New York suburb of Clarence. The two car crash happened shortly after noon Sunday. A law enforcement official told the Buffalo News, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that Martin appears to have had a heart attack behind the wheel.

Martin, along with Rene Robert and Gilbert Perrault, was part of the famed "RPM Line/French Connection" that led the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970's.

Here's coverage from our friends at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo...


Here's the tribute that ran before the Sabres-Sens game today at The Crossroads
((HT: NHL))


And FOSG Paul Peck looks back on Martin's career...
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Remembering the career of Rick Martin: wivb.com

Here's a look at the French Connection...
Look out...
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More when we know more...

Pegula Takes Over Sabres Officially

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New Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula says Lindy Ruff will stay on as coach and promises general manager Darcy Regier a blank check for a winning team.

Pegula would also like to retain Ruff as head coach since he turned down an initial idea of a contract extension.

Pegula's now says the Sabres' "reason for being, from now on, will be to win a Stanley Cup."

Pegula introduced Ken Sawyer as the team's senior adviser and Ted Black as president. Sawyer's a former CFO for the NHL and also a former president and chief executive of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pegula says he'll also hire more scouts and player development coaches.

Here's Part 1 of the Pegula presser...

Pegula Set To Take Over Sabres

The NHL is expected to approve Terry Pegula's purchase of the Buffalo Sabres franchise in the next couple of days, according to those close to the situation...

They're anonymous at present, but the "they" are pretty confident about it.

The NHL still has not announced a timetable on the sale process since Pegula reached a deal, pending league approval, to purchase the team for C$189 million from Tom Golisano earlier this month.

Part of Pegula's commitment is to keeping the franchise in Buffalo, and that was what Golisano was looking for in an owner.

Here's a talk Pegula had with WIVB'TV's John Murphy a few weeks ago...

Pegula: We're gonna win the Stanley Cup: wivb.com

DEVELOPING: Pegula Signs On The Dotted, Team Stays In Buffalo

((HT: WGRZ-TV Buffalo))

Sabres owner Tom Golisano said in an afternoon press conference that he preferred to sell the team to Terry Pegula rather than move the team from Buffalo.

The $189 million sale is expected to close within 30 days, pending NHL and governmental approval.

Golisano says he got an offer for $70 million more from someone he wouldn't identify, but that would have meant moving the team. He bought the team out of bankruptcy back in 2003.

Minority owner Larry Quinn will step down as managing partner.

Here's the first part of the announcement...


Pegula released a statement to the fans of the Sabres and to western New York...

"As diehard fans of the Buffalo Sabres, the Pegula family would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn on their commitment to the hockey fans of Western New York and their dedicated stewardship of the franchise. Without their generosity and perseverance through tough economic times and league labor issues, there would not be a team for the Buffalo hockey community to support. We will be forever grateful for their efforts in developing one of the best markets in the National Hockey League, and providing the foundation for future successes. My wife Kim and I are hopeful that the league's approval process of our intent to purchase the franchise will move swiftly and we can begin the next era of Buffalo Sabres hockey in the very near future."

BREAKING: Sabres Sale Complete, Ruff Declined Extension Offer...

((HT: WGR-AM550/Sportsnet Radio Fan 590 Toronto))

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that Tom Golisano has reached an agreement to sell the team and everything related to it to Terry Pegula.

Majority owners Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn will hold a press conference on Thursday at Noon in the HSBC Arena in Buffalo...

As a sidenote, unrelated or otherwise...

Lindy Ruff told the media this afternoon that like, Darcy Regier, he too was offered a contract extension but declined it.

Ruff did say he wants to stay in Buffalo.

The HQ guesses he's trying to gauge interest of Pegula when he takes over as the big boss before he commits to anything long-term...

More when we know more... but until then here's Adam Benigni's conversation with ESPN's Pierre LeBrun about the situation...
((HT: WGRZ-TV Buffalo))

Sabres Sale Complete, Pegula Announcement Soon

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Looks like the long-anticipated sale of the Buffalo Sabres to Terry Pegula is this/close to being announced as a done deal.

Pierre LeBrun tweeted that the sale price is in the neighborhood of US$189-million and that the announcement could be by the end of next week.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that Pegula met with the NHL's Executive Committee Saturday when Bettman addressed the sale at his state-of-the-state news conference at All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"Terry Pegula who has obviously expressed interest in buying that franchise was interviewed today by the executive committee but this process and this transaction are not yet near being done. No votes were taken this was just a preliminary step."

Adam Benigni catches up with LeBrun...

Sabres Sale Update: Think Next Week

((HT: WGR-AM 550 Buffalo))

Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News is reporting in his columnthat his NHL sources confirm that Terry Pegula has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Buffalo Sabres.

The news came out last month, but that idea was denied and otherwise poo-pooed by minority owner Larry Quinn. Gleason's sources allow that there has been a letter signed with a price tag of $175 million.

Gleason speculates the sale could be finalized in as soon as six weeks.

BUT... and we put that conjunction with caps on purpose...

WGRZ-TV's Scott Brown reports that the sale is expected to be announced some time after the World Juniors come to a close next week. Brown reports the timing of the sale is being determined by current majority owner Tom Golisano.

Golisano just doesn't want the fireworks and prestige of the tournament placed on a back burner by his news...

Here's Scott's update, thanks to our friends at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo...

DEVELOPING: Pegula To Buy Sabres...???

((HT: WIVB-TV Buffalo))

Right now, depending on who you believe, the Buffalo Sabres may be headed from the hands of Tom Golisano to Terrence Pegula. The Hockey News is reporting it, but the Sabres are not...

Here's Channel 4's early report...


Terrence Pegula founded East Resources, an independent oil and gas producer based in Pennsylvania. The company was sold last summer for nearly $5 billion.

Pegula was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and recently donated $88 million to Penn State to help fund a new hockey program and arena.

Tom Golisano pulled the franchise out of bankruptcy for $92 million in 2003.

WGRZ-TV caught up with Sabres players to catch their vibe on the whole thing...


More when we know more...