Remembering The Sabres Bankruptcy Year

from John Vogl of the Buffalo News, Henrik Tallinder was a typical rookie, happy to be in the NHL and possessing a mind filled with questions. The best place to go for answers was to the veterans, but the defenseman noticed they were occasionally preoccupied. Even a 23-year-old newcomer could tell why. Mixed in with power-play meetings were bankruptcy updates. In addition to game plans, the 2002-03 Buffalo Sabres had to discuss which prospective owner might buy the team. Some guys had their minds split on faceoffs and court dates, wondering whether a judge would permit their bonuses to be paid. It certainly wasn’t how Tallinder had pictured professional sports, but it’s how things were on the bankrupt Sabres team being run by the league. continued