Patience is a virtue

While Sabres Nation can't wait for Terry Pegula to take over control of the Sabres (reports are that he expects to take over two weeks from today), I hope that Sabres fans, the media, and especially the Pegula family have patience.

My worst case scenario is Pegula taking over in two weeks and then wanting to make a splashy move at the deadline to announce his presence as the new Sabres owner.

Personally, I want the Sabres organization to get a reboot. And as such, I hope that Pegula has Darcy Regier sell at the deadline. This team needs to add assets for the future and not trade them away AT THIS TIME.

I believe that Regier doesn't go "All In" at the right time. That is one of the things that drives me nuts about Regier as the Sabres GM. But, this year is not the time to make a splashy deadline move.

This is the deadline to set themselves up for an organizational makeover that needs to take place starting next month.

Here is what I want to see happen between now and the start of the 2011-12 season:

Step 1 [Between the closing of the sale and the end of the month trade deadline]: Take over and tell Regier to sell any UFAs-to-be not named Steve Montador for whatever picks and prospects he can get.

Step 2 [This can take place anytime, but the sooner the better]: Name a new President of Hockey Operations to essentially replace Larry Quinn. There are rumors that Craig Patrick could have a role in Pegula's management team. While not the person I would pick, that wouldn't be a move that would get me upset.

Step 3 [After the trade deadline and before the end of the regular season]: Figure out who they want to be the GM. Jim Nill would be my #1 choice, Jarmo Kekalainen would be my #2 choice, and Jason Botterill is a choice that I could live with and could see happening with Pegula's time in Pittsburgh and the Patrick rumor out there. The wild card name that is out there is Atlanta GM Rick Dudley who reportedly has his contract expiring after the season. And while Regier is under contract, I believe that they need to remake the organization and I'm not sure that Regier could change the way he operates enough for my liking. I think the next GM of the Sabres needs to be more aggressive than Regier has proven to be in his time as Sabres GM, especially in the post-lockout timeframe.

Step 4: Give the GM the overall budget to do the job right. And I'm not talking about just the NHL payroll where the Sabres have been middle of the pack of late. I'm talking about beefing up the pro and amateur scouting departments. Beefing up the budget for the coaching staff, support staff (things like the Strength & Conditioning staff, massage therapists, team chef to prepare meals, etc.), and upgrade facilities to help create an environment that will attract players to the Sabres and not have them be amongst the teams that players least want to play for.

Step 5: Let the GM figure out who the coach will be moving forward.

Step 6: Get the heck out of the way and let the GM and coaching staff do their thing.

Dumbest/Scariest thing I heard yesterday

In case you haven't heard, Terry & Kim Pegula's two daughters Jessie and Kellie are on Twitter.

Yesterday, WGR 550's Mike Schopp & The Bulldog had a conversation about whether the fact that the Pegula girls liked a certain player (Derek Roy & Chris Drury were two names that have been brought up by Jessie) could affect what the team does moving forward.

Let me just say that if what Terry Pegula's daughters thinks matters at all in the decision making process of the team moving forward, then I am truly scared about the future of the franchise.

Teams get in trouble when their hockey people fall in love with "their guys" (Exhibit A: Darcy Regier keeping Tim Connolly around waaaaay too long). I can only imaging that it would immensely worse if player personnel decisions are affected by who a couple of teenage girls like.

I like the fact that the Pegula girls are acting like excited fans. I just don't believe that has any place in the decision making process of how to build a winning NHL team.

I hope that Terry Pegula is smart enough to realize that. And given that he is a billionaire, I am expecting him to be smart enough to separate business from family.

That's why I feel it was one of the stupidest things I've heard in a while.