Terry Pegula has enough money to pay the reported $1 million fine that NHL owners can get if they talk about the looming lockout, but the Sabres' owner obviously has no desire to donate that amount of cash. He also doesn't want to cost his team on the ice by chatting about Saturday's expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
Pegula joined Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown on the corner of the Webster Block this morning to discuss HARBORcenter, a $123 million project financed by the billionaire that will put two ice rinks, retail space and a hotel at the Sabres' front door. It didn't take long for the chat to turn toward the lockout that will start if the NHL and NHL Players' Association don't get a new CBA by the weekend.
"I can’t tell you anything, just that talks continue," Pegula said. "I don’t want to lose draft picks."
The owner left the news conference for an appearance at the Sabres' foundation golf tournament at Park Country Club. The players and management are golfing, but contact between the sides would be forced to cease if the lockout occurs.
"That’s just a temporary thing," Pegula said. "We all know that. If anything happens, there will be no lasting effect after."
Pegula, who purchased the hockey team in February 2011, has been the Sabres' owner for only one full season and the league may shut down.
"I guess that’s part of the risk, huh?" he said.
---John Vogl
