'What makes this new agreement meaningful and not just lip service from an erstwhile politician is that the Sabres increased the Amerks’ annual budget by half-a-million dollars, to nearly $2 million. Nobody knows yet how wide the competitive Golisano will open his wallet in Buffalo, but $500,000 extra down on the farm goes a long way. Instead of being in the bottom third of payroll in the AHL, Rochester rockets into the top six.'