ABOVE 30,000 FEET, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS AND ATLANTA -- Greetings from Flight 872, which is winging from Minneapolis to Atlanta, where I'll connect to Buffalo. Remember, it's all about saving some pennies for Uncle Warren Buffett. (But to be honest, I always like going to Atlanta, even if it's for 75 minutes.)
The Sabres had to head back to Buffalo feeling pretty darn good about themselves. The NHL draft weekend could not have gone any better from their perspective:
*Their pending purchase of the Rochester Americans was approved.
*They drafted the forward the scouting department coveted, bringing in Joel Armia in the first round.
*They acquired the big, tough defenseman they needed, convincing Robyn Regehr that Western New York is the place he should be.
*They created even bigger fans in West Seneca, drafting local product Alex Lepkowski.
Yeah, not a bad little weekend.
---John Vogl
Getty Images' photo captures late Buffalo native and scouting legend EJ McGuire's wife, Terry, and their young daughters, Jacqueline and Erin, who received a standing ovation from the crowd and team employees upon being introduced prior to the draft. The trio announced the Edmonton Oilers would make the first selection. Terry is the sister of Sabres equipment manager Rip Simonick.
