Winning Priority No. 1 for New Sabres Owner Terry Pegula

Filed under: Sabres, NHL Economics, Sports Business and Media

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- You can bet Buffalo general manager Darcy Regier and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff have probably never heard what they heard Tuesday when billionaire Terry Pegula was introduced as the team's new owner.

"If I want to make some money, I'll go drill a gas well," said Pegula, who paid $189 million for the team. "Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup."

Imagine that, an owner willing to turn a pretender into a contender, at his own expense.

Regier was admired around the NHL for getting the most of owners more concerned with the bottom line than winning.

And Ruff earned the respect of his peers for getting the most out of a lineup that doesn't have a star attraction.

Under previous owner Tom Golisano, the Sabres had slashed the budget for the scouting department, relying heavily on video scouting.

Those days are over.

Les Archer Nicolas Aubin Rene Baeten David Bailey John Banks