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December 6, 2002
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
New owners optimistic about Sabres’ future
Out with the Rigas family, in with a couple Buffalo Sabres fans. The eight-month saga revolving around the Sabres and their uncertain future in Buffalo finally resulted in a decision when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman accepted a purchase proposal from two businessmen with local connections. Mark Hamister and partner Todd Berman, both longtime Sabres fans whose business savvy turned them into multimillionaires, had their bid to buy the team chosen over one submitted by billionaire and former New York gubernatorial candidate Tom Golisano. The price was estimated at $60-million cash and roughly $30 million in assumed debt. “There are risks in any venture,” Hamister said. “Our job was to evaluate the risks and rewards. Our belief is the Buffalo Sabres can be something special at the box office and on the ice.” The Sabres…
Selanne blames team for undisciplined play
Teemu Selanne wasn’t going to take the easy way out and blame the crackdown on obstruction for San Jose’s early penchant for visiting the penalty box. Instead, he was willing to lay the blame squarely on his teammates. “I don’t know why we don’t learn…If we don’t learn we are stupid,” Selanne said. “I think we should be pissed off. Our power play is pretty good now. We’re a good team. We’d be pretty hard to beat if we didn’t take all these penalties. I’m pissed off. That’s ridiculous. We have to find a way to get smarter.” He wasn’t done. “I remember when I was in Anaheim, we’d win most of the games because the Sharks always took penalties,” Selanne said. “It has to change. This team has all the tools. If…
NHL lost in netting as ‘right thing’ goes wrong
I always thought seeing was believing, but now the NHL is telling me I only believe I can’t really see. If I really love the game, I will get used to looking at it from behind a screen door. After hundreds of games in my lower corner press box seat at Madison Square Garden suffering not even a close encounter with a puck, I should be thankful the league is protecting me from imminent danger I never felt. Who am I to complain? I have a television monitor to see the other end of the ice, unlike the persons surrounding me, who are paying $125 per seat for this suddenly denied privilege. If they feel as I do, we cannot have our own best interests at heart in a world that…
Rangy, versatile Kuba to figure In Wild future
Minnesota Wild GM Doug Risebrough admits he didn’t know much about Filip Kuba when he selected him from Calgary three years ago in the expansion draft. Today, the Wild believes it found its diamond in the rough. Which is why Minnesota signed the defenseman Nov. 20 to a three-year $6-million contract extension. Kuba, 25, leads the Wild in ice time for the third consecutive season (24-plus minutes) and plays in every situation. “It feels good to know they trust you,” Kuba said. Kuba was eligible to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but Minnesota was eager to lock him up. “He plays a lot and still keeps a level of productivity,” Risebrough said. “One of the reasons is he’s so mobile.” Kuba averaged 25:30 of ice time last season, which ranked 15th…