'While Bettman would prefer not to have the league take over the franchise, such a takeover may be the most feasible way of finding new owners, sources close to the Sabres' situation say. Otherwise, any potential investors in the Sabres would have to buy the team directly from John J. Rigas and sidestep all the financial and legal land mines – including expected Bankruptcy Court proceedings – surrounding the troubled Adelphia empire, which the Rigases controlled until recently.'