klos63 Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 G & Q get a hold of this team you will never ever see a winner. On top of Drury and Briere, Brian Campbell the following year left. With those 3 players you could cup contend every year I'm not saying they did things correctly with free agency, but do you think it's reasonable to sign Campbell, Miller, Vanek , Briere, Drury, Tallinder... as free agents and still have cap space to put a full team together?
Omar Little Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) G & Q get a hold of this team you will never ever see a winner. On top of Drury and Briere, Brian Campbell the following year left. With those 3 players you could cup contend every year This is wrong on multiple levels. Edited May 4, 2014 by Heisenberg
Steve O Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) One of my best friend's older brother was best friends with TG in high school. He actually asked this person to start Paychex with him. Instead, after making a few million in Rochester, he went off to Colorado and started a restaurant with Billy Kidd (famous skier in the 60's). That didn't turn out so well, he returned to Rochester and got back in to the ski business. After TG bought the Sabres he gave his old buddy a job as sales and marketing director. Long story even longer, my friends brother told us that TG's attitude was that the "team" started with him (TG) and ended with Lindy. The players were interchangeable. This attitude resulted in pretty much what everyone else has said. Hopefully since he is getting on in years he'll be more interested in winning than profit but I'm hoping ownership goes a different direction. Edited May 4, 2014 by Steve O
Big Turk Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Goilisano wasn't the worst owner but he didn't spend money freely either. It's hard to judge TG because of his "mini-me" Larry Quinn. Who knows what decisions were made by TG or LQ or both? The biggest fiasco of the TG/LQ Sabres era was losing both Chris Drury and Danny Briere, two players that were the heat and soul of a Sabres team that went to the Cup semifinals two years in a row. Allegedly Drury was all set to sign a deal around $5M/yr when (allegedly) Quinn held off hoping to drive Drury's price down some more. I'm less clear on what went down with Briere. Ironically Quinn & Regier missed out on a golden opportunity right after when Edmonton tried to sign Vanek away as an RFA. If the Sabres let him walk away they would have gotten the Oilers next four 1st round picks. I don't know if Vanek would have helped them but the next 4 drafts the Oilers picked at or near first. But after the shock of losing Briere and Drury, the Sabres weren't about to risk a full on riot letting Vanek go too. In hindsight it would have been the right move. PTR I don't think the same issues hockey had regarding payroll and income would be relevant in football...the NFL is a cash machine and he the way he operated would be a lot more successful with expanded money I'm reading the same news as everyone else today. Not being a hockey fan, I know nothing of these guys. It seems to me most people like Golisano, but not Quinn. Just curious to hear why that is. Why did Golisano sell the team? I got the impression that most Sabres fans were excited for Pegula, which led me to believe Golisano was no good. I doubt it actually happened. Everyone knows when they go out to dinner its at Tempo...
kasper13 Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Larry Quinn is like a cockroach. He was fired after the Rigas fiasco and somehow resurfaced for the Golisano years. What went down in 2007 is this: Sabres had just gone to the Conference Finals for the 2nd straight season. Briere and Drury were both UFA's. During the season, Briere had said he would resign for 5 years/25 million. Sabres refused to negotiate during the season and didn't bother to negotiate after the season and let him walk. He ended up with the Flyers on the first day of free agency (7/1), signing an 8 year/52 million contract. Drury had actually verbally agreed to a contract extension but Darcy Regier never sent the paperwork into the NHL office and never mentioned it and Drury never signed. Story goes is that Regier and Drury agreed to a contract extension, Quinn vetoed it on Golisano's orders and they threw Regier under the bus with the paperwork failure. Drury signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2007. Oilers then signed Vanek to a 7 year offer sheet on July 3rd. Sabres panicked after losing Briere and Drury and matched the 7 year 50 million offer right away. If Larry Quinn ever told the truth, it would be the first time. He lied his ass off about anything and everything to protect his job. What happened at the end of the Golisano ownership was he wasn't interested in having a winning team if it cost him money. His orders were the team could make any trade or signing as long as they didn't lose any money. The NHL had a salary cap and the Sabres had their own salary cap which was much lower. The team had a budget which it could not go over but sure go ahead and build a winning team somehow. The conference finals teams were dismantled and they let Regier "build" what you see today. It was a great day when Golisano sold the team and Larry Quinn got the boot. If the ONLY option for the Bills to stay is Tom Golisano buying them, then beggars can't be choosers but don't expect a winning team for another 15 years if Larry Quinn is involved in any way.
YoloinOhio Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 LOL BrandonSpikes51 @BrandonSpikes51 33m Sinatra's flow Jay Skurski @JaySkurski 19m Sinatra's is the new Tempo.
section122hero Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 The Sabres were Stanley Cup contenders IN SPITE of Golisano/Quinn. The Drury/Briere fiasco was a direct result of their micromanaging. +1
nucci Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Larry Quinn is like a cockroach. He was fired after the Rigas fiasco and somehow resurfaced for the Golisano years. What went down in 2007 is this: Sabres had just gone to the Conference Finals for the 2nd straight season. Briere and Drury were both UFA's. During the season, Briere had said he would resign for 5 years/25 million. Sabres refused to negotiate during the season and didn't bother to negotiate after the season and let him walk. He ended up with the Flyers on the first day of free agency (7/1), signing an 8 year/52 million contract. Drury had actually verbally agreed to a contract extension but Darcy Regier never sent the paperwork into the NHL office and never mentioned it and Drury never signed. Story goes is that Regier and Drury agreed to a contract extension, Quinn vetoed it on Golisano's orders and they threw Regier under the bus with the paperwork failure. Drury signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2007. Oilers then signed Vanek to a 7 year offer sheet on July 3rd. Sabres panicked after losing Briere and Drury and matched the 7 year 50 million offer right away. If Larry Quinn ever told the truth, it would be the first time. He lied his ass off about anything and everything to protect his job. What happened at the end of the Golisano ownership was he wasn't interested in having a winning team if it cost him money. His orders were the team could make any trade or signing as long as they didn't lose any money. The NHL had a salary cap and the Sabres had their own salary cap which was much lower. The team had a budget which it could not go over but sure go ahead and build a winning team somehow. The conference finals teams were dismantled and they let Regier "build" what you see today. It was a great day when Golisano sold the team and Larry Quinn got the boot. If the ONLY option for the Bills to stay is Tom Golisano buying them, then beggars can't be choosers but don't expect a winning team for another 15 years if Larry Quinn is involved in any way. Not that it matters but I agree with this.
thewildrabbit Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) Obviously I'd be happy with any owner that keeps the Bills in Buffalo first and foremost. But I'd sure my cake and eat it too with an owner keeping them in Buffalo and one with the fire to win. Seriously agree, and not sure what to expect if TG buys the team. All I want is to see a winning Bills team take the field in Buffalo. Larry Quinn is like a cockroach. He was fired after the Rigas fiasco and somehow resurfaced for the Golisano years. What went down in 2007 is this: Sabres had just gone to the Conference Finals for the 2nd straight season. Briere and Drury were both UFA's. During the season, Briere had said he would resign for 5 years/25 million. Sabres refused to negotiate during the season and didn't bother to negotiate after the season and let him walk. He ended up with the Flyers on the first day of free agency (7/1), signing an 8 year/52 million contract. Drury had actually verbally agreed to a contract extension but Darcy Regier never sent the paperwork into the NHL office and never mentioned it and Drury never signed. Story goes is that Regier and Drury agreed to a contract extension, Quinn vetoed it on Golisano's orders and they threw Regier under the bus with the paperwork failure. Drury signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2007. Oilers then signed Vanek to a 7 year offer sheet on July 3rd. Sabres panicked after losing Briere and Drury and matched the 7 year 50 million offer right away. If Larry Quinn ever told the truth, it would be the first time. He lied his ass off about anything and everything to protect his job. What happened at the end of the Golisano ownership was he wasn't interested in having a winning team if it cost him money. His orders were the team could make any trade or signing as long as they didn't lose any money. The NHL had a salary cap and the Sabres had their own salary cap which was much lower. The team had a budget which it could not go over but sure go ahead and build a winning team somehow. The conference finals teams were dismantled and they let Regier "build" what you see today. It was a great day when Golisano sold the team and Larry Quinn got the boot. If the ONLY option for the Bills to stay is Tom Golisano buying them, then beggars can't be choosers but don't expect a winning team for another 15 years if Larry Quinn is involved in any way. Yikes, after reading some of the posts in this thread I'd almost rather see Donald Trump buy the team. At the very least we could be assured he would want a winning team, and wouldn't tolerate all this losing. Edited May 5, 2014 by FeartheLosing
C.Biscuit97 Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Golisano didn't care about the Sabres. He did Buffalo a favor. The NHL is a crappy, poor league. A lot of the teams lose money. He won't have the problem in the NFL. He saved the Sabres and put them in a better place. I'd welcome him in a second as our new owner.
papazoid Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 we could do worse than Golisano.... I still prefer Pegula.
C.Biscuit97 Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Seriously agree, and not sure what to expect if TG buys the team. All I want is to see a winning Bills team take the field in Buffalo. Yikes, after reading some of the posts in this thread I'd almost rather see Donald Trump buy the team. At the very least we could be assured he would want a winning team, and wouldn't tolerate all this losing. The Sabres nearly went to the Finals one year and had the best record the next year under Golisano. And spending money does not equal winning. we could do worse than Golisano.... I still prefer Pegula. I really like Pegula too but I think he's more of a hockey guy.
Jerry Jabber Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Golisano & Quinn didn't believe in long-term contracts either, which is why the Sabres lost their Top 2 defensemen to FA [Lydman & Tallinder].
Jerry Jabber Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 If people thought Ralph, Littman, and Overdorff were cheap, wait until Golisano & Quinn are running the Bills, you can bet the Bills will be recycling talent as the only rookie contracts they'll extended on will be lower round guys who won't cost a lot of money to resign.
Buftex Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Good post. These anti Golisano posts are far out of touch with reality. Here was a guy who's purchase saved the Sabres. Now the Bills are looking for a savior and Golisano isn't the guy? Agreed. I think people are over-simplifying the Golisano/Sabres situation. Golisano did Buffalo (or at least Sabres fans) a great service, and really did save that franchise. Sure, it is possible, if he hadn't somebody else might have, but that is not what happened. He purchased them, with no intention of keeping them long-term... they needed somebody to step in, and he did it. Not sure why so many have animosity towards him. He always made it clear that he wasn't really a "hockey guy", but was getting involved for the good of the community. I blame the Drury/Briere fiasco as much on Darcy and Drury as I would Golisano.
May Day 10 Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Golisano.... tough subject. On one hand, the team was as successful popularity wise and on the ice as they were in the mid 70s. You cant really fault him too much for sticking with Quinn, Regier, etc... They stupidly dismantled a great team by betting on the wrong horses (Kotalik, Afino, Connolly, Vanek, etc instead of Dumont, Briere). They also learned by fire that their policy (that was once lauded) of short term contracts and players 'earning it' was a disaster. They did get back there and won the Division in 2009-10 and made the playoffs the following year (possibly fueled by Pegula-mania)... but as time proved, that team was built on a house of cards. You cant really fault Golisano for keeping a formula that was apparently very good for a market challenged team trying to stay at even-money. However, as a fan, Quinn and Regier had worn out their welcome and it started to get ugly. Quinn with his blue ice, circular nets, slug logos (the worst logo in the history of hockey and not in a good way).... It makes me shudder that Quinn and Brandon were dining with Golisano as a possible potential owner
thewildrabbit Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 From everything I've been reading the Sabers were gone if TG didn't step in and save them. However, the Bills appear to have several people looking to buy the team who will keep them in Buffalo. The very last thing I want to see is an owner who wants to maximize profits over winning games. I want to see someone come in and change this culture of constant losing.
seq004 Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 My biggest question is who in his family would succeed him? I don't want to go through this again in 10 years.
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