Buffalo Sabres purchases American Hockey League Franchise, Rochester Americans –NHL offseason Update
Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans were at one time so close as a major and minor league partnership, but due to misunderstandings, the bond was broken and the two were separated in association with each other.
It was Buffalo Sabres' new owner, Terry Pegula, who took the initiative and offered Rochester Americans, which are an American Hockey League (AHL) franchise, the chance to come back and partner-up with their former major league associate.
"It's about time that the two teams got together again", said Clair Catillaz, a hockey mom from Pittsford, about them joining forces again to produce top players. "It's like coming home again".
The AHM Board of Governors unanimously approved the agreement between Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans' owner, Chris Styres, for three years, which was believed to be at $5 million, but an accurate figure has not been disclosed.
Styres was believed to have been approached by Pegula first through a phone call, and then a meeting which had the owner impressed.
"Terry, he's an avid Sabres fan", Styres said on Friday. "The man would drive from Pennsylvania to Sabres games. When you have a passion for your team, for hockey, that means something”.
As of now, Buffalo is in affiliation with minor league team Portland Pirates and will have to offer them a handsome amount in order to cut ties.
There is still a lot of working to do in getting the process completed, but Pegula has his mind set straight on the goal.
The two owners met and spent time together for nearly two whole days which had them discussing and negotiating on the terms and conditions.
"You don't want to sell something to someone who will like it when it's new and shiny but who will lose interest in it", said Styres, who also owns the local city Lacrosse franchise, Rochester Knighthawks.
The announcement has been made, and by the looks of it, all is going well for both clubs. It will now just be a matter of time before Buffalo prospects start wearing the old Rochester jerseys again on their way to the major league team.
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