We Will Win Stanley Cups

Today at 11 AM EST, Terry Pegula was announced as the new owner of the Buffalo Sabres.  I can say that I was very surprised to to the start of the press conference.

Who would have thought, that Terry Pegula would scan the crowd of alumni players present for the presser, and break down into tears.  He literally could not control the emotions that were flowing through his body.  To regain composure, he called out probably the most famous Buffalo Sabre – Gilbert Perrault.

"Your my hero."

Those words said it all.  The emotions, the tears showed it all.

He’s been a Sabres fan since 1975, and he wants the media and the fans to get on board – because the Buffalo Sabres will be engraved on the Stanley Cup.

The words came out of his mouth, the chains are off, there is no salary cap on scouting, player development will be increased to the point that this team will win.

While leadership at the top of the organization has changed, Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff are not going anywhere – and the tools that are being utilized to help them do their jobs will be increased to the point that prior owners were not willing to do.  It doesn’t sound like he is interested in losing money – but at the same time he doesn’t seem to shy about spending money in order to have the ability to lift the Stanley Cup in June.

Ted Black asked people to be patient, it may not happen this year, next year, or the year after – but they are dedicated to hitting the ground running and change the culture of this team.   He also put a calling card out there to all players in the league – players should want to come to Buffalo because Buffalo is now Hockey Heaven.

Terry Pegula has brought exactly what this team needs, and that is the passion to win.  I am actually speechless as to what commentary to provide on this, because I don’t want to make light of what is probably the biggest day in Buffalo Sabres history, just behind the day that Gilbert Perrault donned a Buffalo Sabres sweater.

The Terry Pegula era has started, and I think, I believe, it has started on the right foot.  From the sounds of things – Terry Pegula does not want to rebuild this organization from the ground up, he wants to add what he can to give the current team and reshape the culture of the organization.

I am more excited now about Pegula Day in Buffalo than I was several hours ago.  I would to read your comments and reactions.  Mr. Pegula got in front of the Sabres Nation today and said all the right things, and put some pieces into the right place.

Watching the facial expressions on Darcy, Lindy, Terry, Terry’s family, Gary Bettman was priceless.

The best question of the day came towards the end of the press conference; when the columnist for Art Voice asked about ticket prices, if we were going to end up with sticker shock come next season, and from what I gather; I don’t think that Terry Pegula is going to severly raise ticket prices to help offset his spendings – but I think we will see very similar pricing matrixes come out for each game.

The Pegula era has begun – what would you like seen done immediately or in the near future?