Archives for July 2005

'The salary cap is expected to be between $37 million and $39 million, but it will also include a salary floor of about $24 million. Teams previously drowning in red ink now know that 54 percent of league revenues will be tied to player costs. Players will get their money, but it will be a smaller, more reasonable amount given hockey's place among major professional … [Read more...] about A brand-new NHL

'"It's about time," Sabres winger Andrew Peters said. "A deal could've been made back in February, but we stuck by our guns and they went ahead and canceled the season. I don't think that was necessary. But a deal's done now, so let's just be grateful for that."' … [Read more...] about NHL's historic labor war at last finds way to peace

'"I felt all along we could have been pro-active," Patrick, the Sabres' veteran defenseman, said shortly before word came that the NHL and its union had agreed to a new, six-year deal. "Knowing the outcome, I realize all of this could have been pre-empted, and I think the sport needs to grow from here."' … [Read more...] about Patrick sees better days for NHL

'That puts a total of 48 balls in the barrel with New York, Buffalo, Columbus and Pittsburgh all having a 6.25 percent chance of landing the first pick. Anaheim, Atlanta, Calgary, Carolina, Chicago, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville and Phoenix all have two balls and a 4.17 percent chance. The remaining 16 teams have one ball each and a 2.08 percent chance.' … [Read more...] about Sabres have chance to gain top selection

'Sabres Goalie Martin Biron on getting back to playing hockey: "I'm really excited and I'm happy that it's done. I mean we all knew it was coming, but we didn't know when it was going to be here and that was the main issue. But I'm really excited. I was just saying this morning to my family and friends that I can't wait to see what the … [Read more...] about Sabres Respond To News Of NHL CBA Agreement

'"I think we've all had the idea for the last month or so that something would happen soon," said Buffalo Sabres forward Mike Grier, a Holliston native who now resides in Hopkinton. "So it's a little bit of a relief to have it finally happen." Grier wasn't thrilled with the end result -- a cap system -- or the fact that a full season was … [Read more...] about Local talent reacts

'"We're going to do what we announced a year ago. We're reducing season ticket prices on average by thirty percent," said Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn. When the team announced new ticket prices in July, 2004, they were the lowest in the league. "We're going to have variable pricing, so there are going to be games that are going to be … [Read more...] about More Bang For Sabres Fans Buck

'It all sounds good, but we'll believe it when we see it.' … [Read more...] about NHL looks for more entertainment

'With a salary in the Fitzpatrick range, the Sabres may use Janik to replace James Patrick (unlikely to return at age 42) or Alexei Zhitnik should they be unable to sign their highest paid defenseman ($3.75 million).' … [Read more...] about Fans first, says area NHL trio

'While I’ve placed most the blame for the current impasse on the players and most notably Bob Goodenow, it’s also fair to point out the owners put themselves in their current mess by overspending on players salaries. Many teams were spending more than 70 percent of their overall revenue on players, and ticket prices had already reached a point the average fan … [Read more...] about Does Anybody Care the NHL is Close to a Deal?

'While Golisano provided stability for the Sabres, the new labour agreement is expected to benefit the team further by creating a competitive balance with the introduction of a salary cap of about $40 million. The league also got its wish for cost certainty by reaching an agreement that player salaries will not exceed 54 per cent of league-wide revenues.' … [Read more...] about Sabres, fans happy to have hockey back

'"No doubt who won this contest," Cherry said Wednesday of the tentative NHL labour deal. "The Players' Association got a home run in 1994 and they tried to hit a home run now and they should have settled for a double or a single because there was no way they were going to beat the owners this time."' … [Read more...] about Don Cherry calls end of NHL lockout a resounding victory for the owners

'Opinions vary on whether fans will flock back to arenas let alone their TVs.' … [Read more...] about Hungry for hockey, or icy reception?

'The deal will be a bitter pill for players to swallow, given its harsh readjustment of the NHL financial equation. But having lost one season already, the alternative was missing more paycheques.' … [Read more...] about Tentative deal finally done after NHL, NHLPA talk around the clock

'``I think the deal is not great for the players. It is definitely an owner-friendly deal. For the last 10 years, the players have made a lot of money and now we are in a position where everybody is going to make money,'' he said. ``Unfortunately, it had to take a whole year to get to a point where we could have been last year.''' … [Read more...] about Back on ice