Pegula Takes Over Sabres Officially

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

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...

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))

NHL Round One: The Day After

Two extremes to cover here...

Here's Lindy Ruff being renewed for one more season in Buffalo...
((HT: WGRZ-TV))


The Buffalo Sabres have picked up the one-year option on head coach Lindy Ruff's contract, which means he will be back for a 13th season.

Sabres minority owner Larry Quinn announced the move Thursday, three days after Buffalo was eliminated by Boston in Game 6 of their first-round eastern conference series.

With a 483-389-122 record, Ruff is the Sabres' winningest coach. He's 17th on the NHL's career list after moving ahead of former mentor, the late Roger Neilson.

Ruff was asked directly what kept him coming back.

"I want to win a Stanley Cup in Buffalo... simple as that."

Good luck in the east there, Lindy...

And here's the hell that the Washington Caps caught hell from everyone
Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin start...
((HT: CSNWashington))


Then, it's Caps owner Ted Leonsis addressing the situation...
((HT: CSNWashington))


Let's hope his players listen... Leonsis is right on a lot of levels...
1-for-33 on the power play will force you to listen to yourself...