When Terry Pegula bought the team from absentee owner Tom Golisano last February, he brought a renewed sense of optimism that had been lacking throughout the fan base in recent years. The fans were used to being the "small market" team; a second rate organization for the most part. Golisano bought the organization in 2003 and rescued them from bankruptcy and a possible move, which should not be forgotten among fans. However, Golisano did little to improve the franchise in his seven year tenure. He inherited a struggling team with a lot of potential. That potential was promptly realized following the lockout, and then quickly destroyed in Golisano's unwillingness to spend the money to lock up Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, or Brian Campbell long term (not to mention Jay McKee, JP Dumont, etc). The team Pegula inherited was a shell of it's former self, but he is taking the right steps in rebuilding that team.
Recently, as the Sabres struggle through one of their most difficult and disappointing seasons in recent memory, there has been an outcry from fans for Pegula to do something. Some fans calling him a "fanboy" with the inability to separate himself from friendships to make a difficult business decision, hence the tentativeness and complacency. The man who built a $4.7 billion oil drilling power house off of a $7,500 loan from friends and family to start the company 27 years prior does not have the ability to make a difficult business decision. I'm sure he did it all by being a "fanboy" of his employees and being scared to make any difficult decisions. Make no mistake, behind the unassuming and genuine man that bought the Sabres, there is a shrewd businessman who is more than capable of making difficult business decisions. You don't build a $4.7 billion company without having the ability to separate friendship and business.
The two most efficient ways to improve the product on the ice is to draft well and attract the best free agents. Pegula promptly (nearly) doubled the scouting staff, and began renovations on the players' facilities to try to change the negative stigma that's been attached to Buffalo for the last decade; small market, ugly city, tight pocketed GM, no commitment to the players, etc. Pegula also contacted Robyn Regehr several times prior to the trade with the Flames, and eventually convinced him to waive his no trade clause to come to Buffalo. That shores up the third and final way to improve your team via player personnel, through trade.
This stigma is not going to change overnight but Pegula has made a variety of changes including showing his willingness to spend money on players, his willingness to eat contracts (Kotalik and Morrisonn) for the betterment of the team, and his willingness to spend money to give players top notch facilities. Unfortunately, there's only so much the owner can do for the on-ice product but it's safe to say he's exhausted nearly all of those possibilities. Pegula cannot control the fact that 19 different players have missed time with injury this season. Pegula cannot control the fact that Stafford went from a 40 goal pace to a 14 goal pace in the matter of one off-season. Pegula cannot control the fact that Miller's play went from that of Vezina candidate to below-average starter in the span of one off-season. Pegula cannot control the fact that the teams #1 center is currently on pace for 48 points.
At a certain point a distinction needs to be drawn between results of the team on the ice and the status of the organization off the ice. Is the team on the ice better than last February? On paper they are, in the standings they are dead even. Is the organization better off than last February? Without a doubt. There is more to building an organization than simply winning. Fans do not like to hear that but it is true. Rome was not built in one day but Pegula has taken steps to ensure that progress is being made.
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