arent the pegulas known for being cheap? i thought buffalo did heavy video scouting just because they didn't want to pay for the extras with in person scouting.
The only thing I’ve heard the Pegula’s (allegedly) being cheap about is spending to the cap. Half a dozen owners in the league have embarrassing, verified stories about unique cheapness.
The Pegulas instigated the biggest tank and tear down we’ve seen (cheap ownership avoids rebuilds). They basically always have multiple GMs/coaches on the payroll bc of how happy they are to fire people. Buffalo has doled out countless, 7-8 year contracts at above market value to their players. They have frequently try to make big trades for high paid, big name guys. They’ve bought people out. They don’t abuse LTIR to eat up cap, even when not competing for a playoff spot.
Moreover, I recall Buffalo circulating a letter in 2018(?) to season ticket holders saying they’d reduce prices as an apology for the on-ice product.
Buffalo fans have taken to blaming ownership for the team’s failure bc they refuse to admit that their core players just aren’t good. They point to their recent cap space as evidence of Pegula’s cheapness.
Much more obvious reasons for the $8m in cap space include:
- It has become impossible to get any decent UFAs to sign there
- They load the roster with their never ending pipeline of overhyped young guys who are on ELCs and bridge deals
- They always have a giant contract extension about to kick in or under negotiations, which complicates the ability to spend to the cap every season.
It’s also bogus to blame an unspent $8m as a huge difference maker. Look at how much dead cap the Wild have or how much the Panthers had in 2023.