Terry Pegula isn't selling the Sabres.

We'll get that question and answer out of the way, even though one of our readers, @rmitro8 on X, is justified in asking if there's a chance a different owner will save the franchise.

There's a realistic scenario in which Pegula sells a minority stake of the Sabres, but he's not walking away. His love for the sport began before the Sabres' inception in 1970 and blossomed into a passion during the era of the French Connection.

Pegula watches video of draft-eligible prospects and poses questions to the scouting staff during meetings. He signs the checks, so a significant free-agent signing like the one involving Taylor Hall in 2020 doesn't happen without Pegula's approval.

Pegula has influence on every consequential decision. The owner won't take his hands off the steering wheel and he wants his opinions to be considered. The Sabres' repeated failures − perhaps none more maddening to this fan base than this season's collapse with Lindy Ruff back behind the bench − aren't the by-product of an absentee landlord.

Pegula is as involved as ever, even when he's tending to the Bills' stadium or his other businesses. He routinely talks to Ruff and Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams. Pegula cares, but he doesn't know how to fix the mess that he created through years of bad decisions.

Another lost season may lead to another firing or two, but it won't convince Pegula to change his approach or abandon the hockey team that he purchased nearly 14 years ago

10 comments

  1. Want to know why we’ve been bad for so long? Summed up pretty well in these few sentences:

    >Pegula has influence on every consequential decision. The owner won’t take his hands off the steering wheel and he wants his opinions to be considered.

    >Pegula cares, but he doesn’t know how to fix the mess that he created through years of bad decisions.

    >Another lost season may lead to another firing or two, but it won’t convince Pegula to change his approach or abandon the hockey team that he purchased nearly 14 years ago

  2. Not an absentee landlord, just a bad one. The type who promises to renovate your old kitchen but then stops half-way through and leaves you without a stove or fridge.

    The problem is that there’s no evidence that Pegula’s opinions and instructions are correct or worthwhile. And actually a lot of evidence that if he’s the one steering this ship, that his opinions and instructions are bad. But when he’s the boss, signing the paychecks, holding everyone’s careers in his hands, who is going to push back or overrule him?

  5. I don’t think the team would be here if he didn’t buy it. But for christ sakes hire a president of hockey operations. Sure, LaFontaine was an ugly bust but try again.

  6. No one thinks the problem is that he’s absent. The problem is that he is too fucking involved and doesn’t know shit about how to run a hockey team. Add in the fact that he’s a cheap piece of shit and you have a 13 season playoff drought. I’d be shocked if the drought doesn’t reach 20 years, if he stays as involved as he currently is.

    I honestly think the only hope for the Sabres to ever make the playoffs again, is for Terry’s health to take a massive decline so that he CANT be as involved. Fuck. Terry. Pegula.

  7. Idk if the NHL has owners meetings like the NFL does, but Pegula has to be a god damn laughing stock amongst his peers. Sticking to your guns after 14 years of repeated failures is the definition of insanity. Nothing will change until the man in charge changes. Whether that’s a hockey ops guy or selling the team. RIP our playoff hopes and dreams as long as Terry is owner

  9. I’ve always said the reason he’s a better football owner than hockey is because he keeps his damn hands off the football team. He’s too involved when he needs to fuck off and let hockey people make hockey decisions.

  10. I want an apology from people who said to me here Terry wasn’t interfering with the team

Leave a Reply