Grading the Pegulas Thus Far

[ProcessAccepted]

1 hour ago, nucci said:

A little bit? They should get a much lower grade for that mess.....failing grade for the Sabres......having said that....looks like they finally hired good GMs for both teams and are focusing on front office  and league issues

 

I was just understating for effect. That really was a cluster ?

[dpberr]

B+

PROS:  Team remains in Buffalo and they have invested real money into the business.  Team is well run financially.  Put the right people in place to end the playoff drought.  Isn't caving to NFL demands for a new stadium.  Team appears to have a direction.  Supports the players.  (No rush to judgement on McCoy's issues, Zay Jones, Incognito)

 

CONS:  On the job training as an NFL owner was probably responsible for both Marrone and Ryan debacles, setting Whaley up for failure (not trusting him to do the job) and keeping Brandon around for too long (trusting him too much).  

Edited September 6, 2018 by dpberr

[Kirby Jackson]

C’s for me

 

I love that they aren’t afraid to spend. That includes facilities, amenities, players, coaches, etc... That is the single most important thing that an owner can do, enable those underneath them to do what needs to be done. 

 

The negative part is that I don’t believe they really know what they are doing. They’ve bungled multiple hires (Murray, Bylsma, Ryan). They are still learning on the job but I don’t believe them to be the savviest of business people. That has been corroborated by multiple people that they have had dealings with. They were affectionately refereed to as “the Clampets” during the Harbor Center project.

 

The important thing is that they have money though. If they hire the right people and enable them to do their job they will be good owners. The best owners in sports (think Peter Holt in San Antonio or the Rooney’s in Pittsburgh) stay in the background. 

[nucci]

8 minutes ago, ProcessAccepted said:

 

I was just understating for effect. That really was a cluster ?

got it

[May Day 10]

C for the Bills.  Its "incomplete" at this point.  It all pivots on Beane and McDermott.  If they succeed (Im willing to give them a few more years and I am optimistic), then the Pegulas will score high.  If the thing blows up.... Pegulas get an F for constantly rejecting experience in running the team.  Their apparent desire to be directly involved frightens me.

 

 

 

F for the Sabres.  Im primarily a Sabres fan, and they have chronically made poor decisions since the moment they purchased the team.  I can detail each step of the way, but I have done so many times.  This season was rock-bottom once again.  The 2nd worst season I have witnessed in 35 years of watching (and understanding) hockey.... only slightly better than the Reinhart-tank season.  They were extremely fortunate to land the lottery because it about-faced everyone's attitudes about the team/franchise.  Again, like the Bills above, they have rejected any experience in running the team in exchange for their own close involvement.  Flying by the seat of their pants.  The arena experience is as stale and boring as it ever has been.   The bottom line is, from 2011-2018 the Sabres are in the darkest days of their franchise (on the ice) and it is not even close.  The team was coming off a Division Championship season in 2010, followed by a mad rush to claim the last playoff spot in 2011.  

Edited September 6, 2018 by May Day 10

[Bills Fan in Beantown]

Totally a results driven business but the results are different for fans and the bottom line for the teams.  They both have products that keep us at the table.  When New England performs like the Bills the stadium will be empty like it was before Parcels went there.  We keep coming, regardless.  Does it say more about us than it does about the owners, I don't know.  

 

Either way, this thread just makes me think of the Ryans and pisses me off.  

[SoTier]

25 minutes ago, billsfan_34 said:

Just because the drought is over means nothing. The biggest mistake they have made was allowing Russ Brandon to stay on, and then letting him run the Sabres as well. It was a colossal failure. The next huge whiff was hiring Loud Mouth Rex Ryan. I think we are all grateful to the Pegulas for saving the team. I am hopeful they have learned from their mistakes and have it right this time. 

 

I totally agree on your points about Brandon and Ryan.  I too hope that they learned from their mistakes but I have a niggling suspicion that Beane is a Russ Brandon "money ball" disciple.   The way the Bills have handled the re-signing (or lack of) of the good young vets they've developed hasn't changed a bit from the way they were handled during the Brandon regime, and allowing the HC to dictate to the GM about personnel is exactly what the Bills have done since Russ Brandon took over the football team in 2006.  The same with the draft.  The difference between 2017 (Brandon/Whaley) vs 2018 (Beane/McDermott) in personnel matters is the quality of the talent evaluation and the wheeling dealing.  The underlying philosophy of replacing young vets due for big days with draft picks and lesser FAs continues.

[hondo in seattle]

When I was a college sophomore, my friends would sometimes talk about their 'A' or 'B' averages.  In contrast, I would wryly mention my 'I' average.  I had a bad habit of not turning in my work and/or missing exams and my official grade for several classes my freshman year was "Incomplete" until I made up the missing work.

 

So, in regards to the Bills, I'd give them an "I."  There were some missteps - let's call them "rookie mistakes" - at first.  But they seem to be getting better in their roles as owners.   

 

It can take years to turn around a franchise and I'd like to see more before awarding a grade.

Edited September 6, 2018 by hondo in seattle

[BobChalmers]

2 hours ago, 4_kidd_4 said:

D across the board until either team actually shows results.

 

Huh???

 

Newsflash - longest playoff drought in any major American sports league ends at 17 years - Bills make the Playoffs.

 

 

[Mr. WEO]

4 hours ago, Shotgunner said:

A's across the board.

 

They may not have had championships in their short tenure, but they are clearly doing everything they can to succeed. They continue to attempt to put the right people in place, and let them do their job- without getting in the way.

 

Once they find the right people (and maybe they have in some cases), it will eventually work.

 

Drought over, Sabres have probably the NHL's best prospect pool.

 

From another standpoint, their contributions to Buffalo cannot be understated. They are the only type of owners that can undoubtedly fill the shoes of Ralph Wilson, and may turn out to provide more production to boot.

 

Nearly every owner is doing that.  Why does it merit an A?

 

A for the Sabres??  That's nuts.

[gjv001]

Definitely an A. Thanks to the Pegulas, Buffalo has two major league franchises. Let's face it, who else would have bought those two franchises and kept them in a small market venue. They certainly could have added value to their investment by moving both franchises. Even as terrible as the management of both franchises has been, the Pegulas have been willing to invest in all aspects, so as to achieve winning franchises. Football and Hockey fans in Buffalo should thank their lucky star that the Pegulas exist. 

[ricojes]

2 minutes ago, gjv001 said:

Definitely an A. Thanks to the Pegulas, Buffalo has two major league franchises. Let's face it, who else would have bought those two franchises and kept them in a small market venue. They certainly could have added value to their investment by moving both franchises. Even as terrible as the management of both franchises has been, the Pegulas have been willing to invest in all aspects, so as to achieve winning franchises. Football and Hockey fans in Buffalo should thank their lucky star that the Pegulas exist. 

Definitely, but I think that's why the OP stated "Aside from keeping the teams in WNY" grade the Pegula's.  They get an A from me, and just about everyone else, every time if you factor that into the equation...

Edited September 6, 2018 by ricojes

[nucci]

2 minutes ago, gjv001 said:

Definitely an A. Thanks to the Pegulas, Buffalo has two major league franchises. Let's face it, who else would have bought those two franchises and kept them in a small market venue. They certainly could have added value to their investment by moving both franchises. Even as terrible as the management of both franchises has been, the Pegulas have been willing to invest in all aspects, so as to achieve winning franchises. Football and Hockey fans in Buffalo should thank their lucky star that the Pegulas exist. 

The grade is based on what they have done so far....not the fact that they bought both teams...Sabres have been the worst team in hockey since they took over

[mead107]

I gave them anA because they let Gugny be a fan. 

 

Besides they purchased meadcoins from me.  

[gjv001]

1 minute ago, nucci said:

The grade is based on what they have done so far....not the fact that they bought both teams...Sabres have been the worst team in hockey since they took over

I would say buying the Sabres and keeping it in Buffalo is the most important thing they have done so far if I'm a Buffalonian. Yes, I understand the Sabres are not winning now. But for Buffalo Fans, I think they would take a losing Sabre Season over a NO Sabre season.

[May Day 10]

Where were the Sabres going?  They were rock solid, in zero danger of moving.  Golisano made the team financially viable and locked in the waiting list (which has now been breached).

 

Balsielle (sp) inquired with Golisano about buying the team and Golisano told him to take a hike as the plan would almost certainly be a move to Hamilton. 

 

 

Golisano has a very unfair reputation with Sabres fans IMO.   There were a lot of things to dislike.... Larry Quinn with too much power and full job security, slug uniforms, "1 year contract" revelation that brought carnage in 2006 and later 2007... but HE was the one who stepped up when the team was in REAL peril and there was no owner on the horizon and the team was a shaky investment.  He was committed to Buffalo and re-kindled interest in the team that wasnt seen since the 70s and (very) early 80s.  The team was financially solvent for the first time since the 80s.

Edited September 6, 2018 by May Day 10

[mannc]

Just keep Terry away from the microphone.

[Beerstm]

For me, I can't just ignore the fact that they kept the team in Buffalo.  With that being said, they get an "A".  I'll forever be grateful!  

[atlbillsfan1975]

An a for the Bills. No question asked. I feel they have learned from their past in regards to Whaley and Rex. They have two good young football people in place in Beane and McDermott. Given time i think Beane and McDermott will produce great results.  We could be looking at 10 years of playoff football very soon with a SB appearance and possible win. 

Wake me up when the Sabres are relevant. I am a  total bandwagon fan. Between the Bills, Braves, (Atl) Hawks and UGA i do not have a ton of time for the Sabres. If the Sabres win i am happy for my hometown getting good publicity. 

[nucci]

30 minutes ago, gjv001 said:

I would say buying the Sabres and keeping it in Buffalo is the most important thing they have done so far if I'm a Buffalonian. Yes, I understand the Sabres are not winning now. But for Buffalo Fans, I think they would take a losing Sabre Season over a NO Sabre season.

I get it but not the premise of the thread.