hammerbillsfan
07-24-2006, 03:54 PM
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=172216&hubname
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Last year, the Buffalo Sabres were the model for how a small-market team can function in the NHL. With a payroll of just $29 million US, $10 million below the league-wide salary cap, the Sabres came within a game of reaching the Stanley Cup final.
That on-ice prosperity, however, has brought some off-ice financial pain this off-season, as the team continues to get stung by the high price of success. Buffalo's bottom line took another big hit Sunday after an arbitrator awarded co-captain Daniel Briere a one-year, $5-million contract. The Sabres can reject the award, but would risk losing the player who many feel has become the face of the franchise.
Buffalo general manager Darcy Regier was unavailable Monday to comment on the team's financial plight. Over the next 11 days, Regier and the Sabres will go to arbitration with seven more players, including last season's leading scorer Maxim Afinogenov.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Last year, the Buffalo Sabres were the model for how a small-market team can function in the NHL. With a payroll of just $29 million US, $10 million below the league-wide salary cap, the Sabres came within a game of reaching the Stanley Cup final.
That on-ice prosperity, however, has brought some off-ice financial pain this off-season, as the team continues to get stung by the high price of success. Buffalo's bottom line took another big hit Sunday after an arbitrator awarded co-captain Daniel Briere a one-year, $5-million contract. The Sabres can reject the award, but would risk losing the player who many feel has become the face of the franchise.
Buffalo general manager Darcy Regier was unavailable Monday to comment on the team's financial plight. Over the next 11 days, Regier and the Sabres will go to arbitration with seven more players, including last season's leading scorer Maxim Afinogenov.