Michael82
01-15-2006, 09:39 PM
The divorce of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in 2001 sent shock waves through the entertainment world.
The hockey world would be equally stunned if the sport's seemingly perfect affiliation marriage — the one between the Rochester Americans and the Buffalo Sabres that has lasted 27 years — ends this summer.
And while such a divorce seems illogical, it could happen.
Under owner Tom Golisano, the Sabres are trying to formulate a business model that will make the NHL team profitable. Cutting development costs in the American Hockey League is part of their money-saving equation.
"They have their philosophy and it seems to be working really well right now, so I'm not one to question it," Amerks president and managing partner Steve Donner said.
That doesn't mean it's best for his team, however. Donner is convinced the Amerks will lose money if they don't have a highly competitive team on the ice.
"If we have a successful team, we'll sell tickets and create revenue," he said. "If we don't have a winning team, we won't sell tickets."
Thus, as far as Donner is concerned, winning in the AHL must be a priority for the Amerks' NHL parent because the parent team supplies the players.
A mix of talented veterans and top-notch Sabres prospects has been the perfect blueprint for success in Rochester. The Amerks have made 16 consecutive playoff appearances, double the length of the next-longest streak in the AHL.
Which is why, when the working agreement with the Sabres expires after this season, Donner and his partners — Walter Turek and Randall Latona — will want assurances that winning in Rochester will still be important to the Sabres.
"Our preference is to have an organization that is committed to winning at both levels," Donner said.
If the Sabres want the Amerks to be kids only, the partnership would most certainly end and prospects for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers or Colorado Avalanche might call Rochester home next season. The Rangers could be leaving Hartford. Edmonton and Colorado are actively shopping for a new home for their prospects. The Avalanche are sharing a team in Lowell; Edmonton's prospects are scattered about.
"One thing I know for certain is we can't have purely a development team or our fans will run away," Donner said.
http://www.rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060115/SPORTS02/601150353/1007/SPORTS
The hockey world would be equally stunned if the sport's seemingly perfect affiliation marriage — the one between the Rochester Americans and the Buffalo Sabres that has lasted 27 years — ends this summer.
And while such a divorce seems illogical, it could happen.
Under owner Tom Golisano, the Sabres are trying to formulate a business model that will make the NHL team profitable. Cutting development costs in the American Hockey League is part of their money-saving equation.
"They have their philosophy and it seems to be working really well right now, so I'm not one to question it," Amerks president and managing partner Steve Donner said.
That doesn't mean it's best for his team, however. Donner is convinced the Amerks will lose money if they don't have a highly competitive team on the ice.
"If we have a successful team, we'll sell tickets and create revenue," he said. "If we don't have a winning team, we won't sell tickets."
Thus, as far as Donner is concerned, winning in the AHL must be a priority for the Amerks' NHL parent because the parent team supplies the players.
A mix of talented veterans and top-notch Sabres prospects has been the perfect blueprint for success in Rochester. The Amerks have made 16 consecutive playoff appearances, double the length of the next-longest streak in the AHL.
Which is why, when the working agreement with the Sabres expires after this season, Donner and his partners — Walter Turek and Randall Latona — will want assurances that winning in Rochester will still be important to the Sabres.
"Our preference is to have an organization that is committed to winning at both levels," Donner said.
If the Sabres want the Amerks to be kids only, the partnership would most certainly end and prospects for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers or Colorado Avalanche might call Rochester home next season. The Rangers could be leaving Hartford. Edmonton and Colorado are actively shopping for a new home for their prospects. The Avalanche are sharing a team in Lowell; Edmonton's prospects are scattered about.
"One thing I know for certain is we can't have purely a development team or our fans will run away," Donner said.
http://www.rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060115/SPORTS02/601150353/1007/SPORTS