Matt Hackett. Take a goalie prospect and just give us the pick this year
- markyjoe

somehting along those lines works for me

Alberta Government has more money than they know what to do with . They are flush with Oil industry money.
- Maximum Signal

Actually the Alberta Gov't isn't as flush as you would think, transfer payments to other provinces and mismanagement has not been our friend lately.

The only prospect player we have that's close to being a top five pick in value would be Zaderov in my opinion and I don't see that happening.
- buffalo 1

i wasn't suggesting we trade a prospect and get both this and next years pick.. i was suggesting we send them a prospect to persuad them to take it the year we want them to.. i wouldn't think that takes a top prospect

I hear you man.I wonder if there is a date earlier then the actual draft when the Islanders have to declare their intentions with that pick.
- buffalo 1

They have to make up their mind by June 1st. The lottery is being held sometime in April after the regular season is over and the Islanders have until June 1st to notify the Sabres what their plans are

Alberta Government has more money than they know what to do with . They are flush with Oil industry money.
- Maximum Signal

well then flush it into a new arena and keep that one for a bass pro shop

somehting along those lines works for me
- hubie

thats what i was thinking.. and a goalie is somethign they need..

I think it was the City with Edmonton and I would have to guess that the City of Calgary will help the Flames out as well. I don't agree with that as the City of Edmonton got taken to the woodshed. but whatever.
- BigStew

I read the province threw money in as well.

I read the province threw money in as well.
- Maximum Signal

I know that there was a deal in place to take oil instead of tax payments from the oil sands companies - and the province was working on a public - private deal with some companies to refine that oil - but they havent built the refinery yet.

That could be the issues that Stew was talking about...

I would imagine that there would be loans out there against that oil revenue if that was the case...

well then flush it into a new arena and keep that one for a bass pro shop
- IndianaSabresFan

The Saddledome was flooded this past year like 6ft deep I think someone told me - that would be an awesome Bass Pro!

The Saddledome was flooded this past year like 6ft deep I think someone told me - that would be an awesome Bass Pro!
- atlsabsfan

It was flooded to the 11th row.

The Saddledome was flooded this past year like 6ft deep I think someone told me - that would be an awesome Bass Pro!
- atlsabsfan

Here is another thing that I am sure has been beaten to death, but no one took issue with the Penguins sucking and potentially losing the team when they were sucking hard and drafting at the bottom. Then they get lucky and win the lottery - and now are sitting pretty.

They see a Billionaire with money to burn owning the Sabres, and because there is a crapload of talent in next year's draft we get the shaft?

If I were Pegula, I would throw it out there that the Sabres were for sale and that I am more interested in buying the Bills when they come available and since I cant own another sports franchise, I am considering selling the hockey team to the highest bidder and keeping the facilities for attracting youth camps or whatever.

By spending all this money on the facility, saying he would spend whatever he needed to win the cup, and saying that if he needed more money he would dig more oil wells - had to turn some owners/ GMs sour. Plus LaFontaine and his position in NYC with the rest of the jackasses that run this league, nothing good will come from that.

The more the NHL looks like the NBA, the less I like the league. The NFL and MLB dont have a lottery for the draft, why the hell does the NHL want to look like the NBA. The NBA is worse than MLB financially and if you are looking for a model to emulate, why not emulate the NFL which is by far the healthiest of the professional leagues.

It was flooded to the 11th row.
- dadeadhead

The only "Deep Sea" Bass Pro in existence!!!

Here is another thing that I am sure has been beaten to death, but no one took issue with the Penguins sucking and potentially losing the team when they were sucking hard and drafting at the bottom. Then they get lucky and win the lottery - and now are sitting pretty.

They see a Billionaire with money to burn owning the Sabres, and because there is a crapload of talent in next year's draft we get the shaft?

If I were Pegula, I would throw it out there that the Sabres were for sale and that I am more interested in buying the Bills when they come available and since I cant own another sports franchise, I am considering selling the hockey team to the highest bidder and keeping the facilities for attracting youth camps or whatever.

By spending all this money on the facility, saying he would spend whatever he needed to win the cup, and saying that if he needed more money he would dig more oil wells - had to turn some owners/ GMs sour. Plus LaFontaine and his position in NYC with the rest of the jackasses that run this league, nothing good will come from that.

The more the NHL looks like the NBA, the less I like the league. The NFL and MLB dont have a lottery for the draft, why the hell does the NHL want to look like the NBA. The NBA is worse than MLB financially and if you are looking for a model to emulate, why not emulate the NFL which is by far the healthiest of the professional leagues.
- atlsabsfan

Because Bettman came from the NBA.

Here is another thing that I am sure has been beaten to death, but no one took issue with the Penguins sucking and potentially losing the team when they were sucking hard and drafting at the bottom. Then they get lucky and win the lottery - and now are sitting pretty.

They see a Billionaire with money to burn owning the Sabres, and because there is a crapload of talent in next year's draft we get the shaft?

If I were Pegula, I would throw it out there that the Sabres were for sale and that I am more interested in buying the Bills when they come available and since I cant own another sports franchise, I am considering selling the hockey team to the highest bidder and keeping the facilities for attracting youth camps or whatever.
By spending all this money on the facility, saying he would spend whatever he needed to win the cup, and saying that if he needed more money he would dig more oil wells - had to turn some owners/ GMs sour. Plus LaFontaine and his position in NYC with the rest of the jackasses that run this league, nothing good will come from that.

The more the NHL looks like the NBA, the less I like the league. The NFL and MLB dont have a lottery for the draft, why the hell does the NHL want to look like the NBA. The NBA is worse than MLB financially and if you are looking for a model to emulate, why not emulate the NFL which is by far the healthiest of the professional leagues.
- atlsabsfan

That is incorrect. If the teams are in the same city, it's not a problem. The guy that owns the St. Louis Rams had this issue. So he transferred the teams he owns that are lcoated in Colorado to his son and he has ownership of the Rams.

That is incorrect. If the teams are in the same city, it's not a problem. The guy that owns the St. Louis Rams had this issue. So he transferred the teams he owns that are lcoated in Colorado to his son and he has ownership of the Rams.
- HonkFortheGoose

Its an old article but I think its premise is what is being discussed here

http://www.nytimes.com/19...s-in-multiple-sports.html

also this is an article on what goose was talking about:
http://profootballtalk.nb...p-issue-loom-for-kroenke/

and this one as well:
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14875903

So Pegula could in fact own the Bills and Sabres. That would be cool knowing we would have a stable owner for both of our franchises. But would it help?

Snows pretty much screwd either way.What if the Islanders end up in the bottom 5 next year with no first round pick ? Of course the wild card here is maybe they trade a player to get that pick back .I wouldn't give up the pick myself.
- buffalo 1

They only player they had they could trade for a 1st was Vanek and he couldn't make it happen.

They only player they had they could trade for a 1st was Vanek and he couldn't make it happen.
- Pierceme69

Because Wang wouldn't allow him to eat any salary.

Wang is the issue with the Islanders.

Because Wang wouldn't allow him to eat any salary.

Wang is the issue with the Islanders.
- dadeadhead

I wouldn't want to eat salary on guy who was on my team for half a season either. Especially one with an inflated salary like Vanek.

I wouldn't want to eat salary on guy who was on my team for half a season either. Especially one with an inflated salary like Vanek.
- Pierceme69

Even if he ate 1/2 of the salary Buffalo already was eating some of it and with the remaining time left it would have been around a million tops. If he could have gotten a first by eating a portion of the salary he should have

I wouldn't want to eat salary on guy who was on my team for half a season either. Especially one with an inflated salary like Vanek.
- Pierceme69

Well it cost him on the return.

They'd of gotten a later 1st from Anaheim had they ate part of his salary.

The Islander fans suffer from Wang ownership.

I wouldn't want to eat salary on guy who was on my team for half a season either. Especially one with an inflated salary like Vanek.
- Pierceme69

Vanek is going to be sorry he turned their 50 million for 7 seasons down !

That is incorrect. If the teams are in the same city, it's not a problem. The guy that owns the St. Louis Rams had this issue. So he transferred the teams he owns that are lcoated in Colorado to his son and he has ownership of the Rams.
- HonkFortheGoose

Fair enough - I didnt know that - so I will have to read that article that was posted.

I know Bettman came from the NBA - that doesnt mean that he is driving these issues (I dont know that for sure), but in the recent past they have failed keeping this league financially viable - the reason for the last two lockouts. The NFL makes money hands over fist - while the NBA is barely treading water - but we think it is best to follow in the footsteps of the NBA?

I still think that it is better to be seen than heard, and Pegula, as much as I liked what he said, stepped in a pile of turd by opening his mouth. He should have been more conservative in his rhetoric and just done what he wanted to do operationally without flapping his gums all over the place.

Fair enough - I didnt know that - so I will have to read that article that was posted.

I know Bettman came from the NBA - that doesnt mean that he is driving these issues (I dont know that for sure), but in the recent past they have failed keeping this league financially viable - the reason for the last two lockouts. The NFL makes money hands over fist - while the NBA is barely treading water - but we think it is best to follow in the footsteps of the NBA?

I still think that it is better to be seen than heard, and Pegula, as much as I liked what he said, stepped in a pile of turd by opening his mouth. He should have been more conservative in his rhetoric and just done what he wanted to do operationally without flapping his gums all over the place.
- atlsabsfan

It sounds like the GM's are the one driving the issue as it was brought up at a GM meeting. My guess the franchises that are doing well (Boston, St Louis, LA) teams that didn't tank to get to where they are (not you Pittsburgh, Chicago) are the ones driving this issue. I think its crap that because the next draft supposedly has the next Crosby-like player in McDavid and another franchise stud in Eichel that its coming up now but whatever until I see a live "lottery" there will always be the conspiracies surrounding it. Look at the NBA lottery's and the questionable "winners" the last few years.

Vanek is going to be sorry he turned their 50 million for 7 seasons down !
- Maximum Signal

He'll get 7+ million per when all is said and done still.

July 1st brings out the crazy in ppl.

Snow rolled the dice and cameup craps. By the time JT got hurt why would wang want to pay anymore than he has to for Vanek. I just have to assume they jump on the rebuild banwagon.