New Sabres owner has a plan, but don't expect a fire sale

[Don Cherry]

INSIDE THE NHL
New Sabres owner has a plan, but don't expect a fire sale

3/9/2003




By BUCKY GLEASON
Darcy Regier will remain the Sabres' general manager until further notice, but who's really in charge here? NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman raised doubts a few weeks ago, when he told Regier that trades should be approved by prospective owner Tom Golisano or his chief consultant, Larry Quinn.

Regier is still running the show. He's in charge of daily operations and is making major decisions. Golisano hasn't purchased the franchise and probably won't complete the deal until after Tuesday's trade deadline. But Quinn has resurfaced within the Sabres' power structure and will likely emerge as a major player no matter his job title after the sale is completed.

For now, you can call him a consultant, aide, adviser, whatever.

"We're not big on titles," Quinn said.

Quinn is big on fixing this mess. The Sabres were Stanley Cup finalists less than four years ago but will miss the playoffs for the second straight season. The Sabres are now among the league's worst teams and have alienated their fan base. Changes are expected throughout the ranks, but it doesn't mean the Sabres will hold a fire sale between now and Tuesday.

...MORE... (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030309/1045860.asp)

[Don Cherry]

NHL
From News Wire Services
3/9/2003

CHICAGO - Theo Fleury, the Chicago Blackhawks' troubled right wing who has battled alcohol abuse, was put on waivers, according to several reports.
Fleury said he'd read about the move but had not been told by the Blackhawks. ...MORE... (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030309/4005180.asp)

[Don Cherry]

3/9/2003

By LARRY FELSER
It's crusade time in the National Hockey League. This time, the crusade is against diving, the swoon of a dying swan as it folds itself on the ice in hopes of coaxing a tripping penalty out of an inattentive referee.

The last time the NHL went on a crusade it was against obstruction, the interference with legitimate hockey stars in order to whittle them down to the size of the less-than-mediocre players who clog NHL rosters.

The obstruction crusade was as successful as our traffic law against people who talk on their cell phones while cutting you off on the Thruway.

Diving and obstruction are just symptoms of the NHL's biggest problem. The product is boring. It has become soccer on ice, with massive amounts of time spent doodling between the blue lines with an occasional goal to wake up the customers.

Don't accuse me of watching the Sabres too often. It goes far beyond the Sabres in their mother of all bad seasons. People are complaining about the same thing in Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix - all across North America.
...MORE... (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030309/1005089.asp)