TBN -- Tom G. on Building a Winner

Link: Buffalo News - Despite bad vibes, Golisano says Sabres doing it right.

I've been very impressed with Tom Golisano's handling of the Sabres since he took over.  Quibbling aside it looks to me that he has a goal in mind and a plan by which to get there.  I know that some of the fans I've talked to (and I'd love Chainshot's follow-up opinion on this) have wondered if that plan is the optimal one or not.  There are no doubt glaring holes in the Sabres current lineup.  Make no mistake, this does not look like a Stanley Cup capable team right now, but, given the demographics of the market and dire circumstances of just three years ago having a plan that is profitable within those parameters is the surest way to building a long-term success on the ice.

Gleason's hyperbole doesn't help the situation at all:

With so many box-office hits in one week, who needs public-relations disasters? Of course, the negative vibes reverberating from South Park and Main came after fans were so disenchanted with Buffalo's performance in free agency that they practically longed for the good ol' days under the previous collective bargaining agreement.

Not this fan.  Some yes.  But, certainly not me.

Tom Golisano has built a helluva lot more in his life than most of his detractors, and while he may not be the most experienced hockey mind around, he does understand how to build something up from nothing.  My view is that when he took over the Sabres were nothing.  There wasn't much if anything of value other than the personel in the organization.  The price he paid only covered their current debt load, if I remember correctly.  You don't build a house from the roof trusses down.  And regardless of what Tom Benjamin and his ilk are saying about not being able to build through the draft under this CBA, or any CBA, you don't build a hockey franchise from the Star Player down either.  You still build through shrewd acquisition of talent, buying low and selling high. The draft is still an important part of that equation. [see comments for edits, which are bolded... *hangs head in shame*]

I like our team. I love the last two drafts we had, especially taking Zagrapan over O'Marra. The prospect pool is beginning to refill and we still have a team that is capable of producing results on the ice, all in the face of a bankrupcy, the jailing of the previous owner, public upbraiding of the organization by multiple players, a sagging local economy, and millions of dollars in losses. In the end, not that bad a track record, if you ask me. The current team has too many guys with character to fail completely. I'. having a hard time believing we're in the Phil Kessel sweepstakes, my homer status notwithistanding.

The complaints at Darth Regier's lack of movement in the market were loud, and certainly understandable. But, were they warranted?  Was it the right thing for Regier to go out and overpay by $1 or $2 million per year for 3-5 years on a player like Sergie Gonchar or Adam Foote?  Because that's what he would have had to do to overcome Buffalo's crappy reputation and recent performance.  To a lesser extent even sensible complaints have turned in Regier's favor. For example, when David Poile plucked Danny Markov for a 3rd rounder from Philly there was some teeth gnashing and grousing, but wouldn't we rather have Toni Lydman, who's game is much more well-rounded and is capable of playing the right side more effectively for the same price (3rd rounder, similar salaries)?

The craziness of the opening of the Free Agency Period creates a lot of excitement and emotion, but I know from experience (and I damn well know that Tom Golisano knows) that emotion is the enemy of doing business. Of course, one has to consider that the assets you are trading are human beings with emotions and the people who buys tickets have them as well.    

"I understand that," Golisano said. "But we can't let their impatience drive us to bad decisions. . . . This is not a game of do whatever it takes and spend as much money as you need to get the best players. That doesn't guarantee results, for sure. What it requires is finding players who can work together as a unit that have complementary skills and also meet the dollar specifications."

I know that this team needs more of a few things, namely a little more overall toughness and more size down the middle, which is what is frustrating about their not trying to lock up Jay McKee for 2-3 years. On the other hand, those pieces, according to Tom G., are going to come available and, in the parlance of a stock trader, leaving some powder dry (liquid cash/assets) to take advantage of those opportunities is how this organization is going to build a winner. Names don't put butts in seats for very long, winning does. The current administration of the Buffalo Sabres believes they have the recipe for winning. At this point, I'm inclined to agree with them, even if it takes a little longer than I would like.

Ta,

Comments

[KJB]

Overall, I agree with your assessment, but one of us (I can't say with authority which one, since I haven't read TB in a while) is misreading Tom Benjamin -- It seems to me that the Sabres are following TB's blueprint: a low-cost roster devoid of stars, which does one thing very well. In the Sabres case, this would be a speed and sniping game. My reading of the Benjamin blueprint is that you let the stars go, because stars don't win games. Am I wrong?

[Tom L]

KJB,

You know I think I need to revise that sentence. Because it doesn't say what I wanted it to say.

My thought got derailed badly. Tom B. has complained that the CBA places so little emphasis on drafting that you cant' build from the ground up, but you also can't hold onto your stars... ergo, you must build a winner from the middle?

Thanks for pointing out that badly laid out thought, I'll make the change now.

Ta,

[KJB]

For what it's worth, I agree with you that the draft is still important, and it's entirely possible to build from within -- but, like the Sabres seem to be doing, the only way you'll get that done is through depth. I agree with TB that the value of a draft pick is lower than ever, but only if you intend to build with star power. It's still a very valid way to build for depth.

[Tom L]

It is depth that will allow a team to be consistently competitive. It's how New Jersey did it. One or two bad drafts, though, will be devastating to a franchise of modest income like Buffalo.

Even with the salary cap and revenue sharing, there is still very little margin for error in handling assets. More than before, certainly, but still not a lot.

Where I think Tom B's analysis is wrong is over-emphasizing the damage wrought by 27 YO UFA's. I'm not convinced yet that this will have the effect he keeps harping on.

A flattened salary curve will create a greater percentage of players whose fist priority is not maximizing their salary. We're already seeing the beginnings of that, with the report of Redden and Chara being willing to accept slightly less to stay in Ottawa, for example.

If I'm right and that comes to pass, then the UFA age will be less of an issue than it is right now, thereby preserving the value of draft picks. We'll see whose right.

Ta,

p.s. do you post on HF as 'signaliinoise' ?

[dlee]

This sounds SOOOOOOO much like what's going on with my Canes. Golisano's comment:

"I understand that," Golisano said. "But we can't let their impatience drive us to bad decisions. . . . This is not a game of do whatever it takes and spend as much money as you need to get the best players. That doesn't guarantee results, for sure. What it requires is finding players who can work together as a unit that have complementary skills and also meet the dollar specifications."

reminds me so much of Peter Karmanos, and also of a famous quotation that we like to throw around down here. Remember Herb Brooks assembling his 1980 Olympic team? People though we was crazy. They thought he was leaving off some of the best players available.
Brooks said:
"I'm not looking for the best players. I'm looking for the right ones"

[Tom L]

David,

Well, if either of our teams have half of the success as Herb Brooks did with the team he said that about, we both can be very happy fans.

Here's hoping they can pull it off.

Thanks for stopping by.

Ta,

Tom L.

[lou c]

it seems as though the owners in hockey have a much better grasp on team success than all of the other major sports leagues. tom golisano is a self made man, he did not buy his business, he built it from the bottom up and is now a top fortune five hundred company consistantly. this proves that he has the mental ability to create rather than just produce. the people of ny should reconsider and elect him gov.

[carl courter]

please take a more active roll in the teams operation. larry quinn is not the answer. mike robataie is a joke. listen to his interview on wgr tonight (saturday) he stated the the sabres should play alot more relaxed tonight. excused me, you just lost to the lowly islanders, at home and your gonna be much more relaxed on the road. hello, ok, lets go to your other color man, rob ray, yeah, let's listen to someone who has scored maybe 5 goals in his 15 year career. hey tom, get off the sidelines and put your smarts to works, losing drury and breire is understandable but losing zubris was a avoibable loss. please look at mike r. work and see what a joke he is. thanks, carl