Golisano Miffed At Drury, Briere Questions

Sabres owner Tom Golisano is excited about the game his team will play against Pittsburgh on January 1st, 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Over 74,000 fans could attend the first outdoor pro hockey game in the U.S., making in the largest crowd ever for an NHL game. Unfortunately, Chris Drury and Daniel Briere wont be there. The two Sabres co-captains left the team via free agency back in July--Drury to the New York Rangers, Briere to the Philadelphia Flyers. For the first time on Monday, Golisano addressed Buffalos inability to re-sign their two biggest stars. "Chris Drury and Danny Briere are great players. We wish them well," Golisano said. "We have economic realities that we have to deal with and we dealt with them. I wish them well. I know theyre both gonna do great. I would have liked to have had the greatest players in the world on our hockey team." A reporter asked, "Do you think you guys screwed up?" Golisanos response was short and terse. "No, we didnt screw up." When further pressed about reports that the Sabres had opportunities to sign both players long before July and for a much cheaper price, Golisano said those stories were "Incorrect." The NHLs new bargaining agreement was supposed to prevent star players to run from small market teams to cash-flush large market franchises. In Buffalos case, the system seems flawed. "I am concerned about (it)," Golisano said. "But the fact of the matter is, the salaries are tied to league revenue. As long as we keep that proportion small and large market teams are able to compet because of that salary cap, then were happy." This year, the NHL salary cap will be around 50 million dollars. The Sabres arent close to the number with their current payroll and probably wont be able use all the space. "(The salary cap) is what it is at the 50 million dollar level. The Buffalo Sabres, based on our revenues and so forth, would lose money," Golisano said. "This organization cannot exist if it loses money. It has to at least break even. The last couple of years weve been able to get through it financially and as long as we keep our senses about us, well get through it again this year."