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From bankruptcy to billionaire owner. From fraudulence to fresh faces. From dreary to Drury. Things are looking up for the Buffalo Sabres.
It's a new season in Buffalo. The Sabres actually have money to pay players capable of putting a decent product on the ice.
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Money. Go figure.
They also have some stability lost during the reign of former owner John Rigas, who in September 2002 was indicted on fraud charges stemming from the corporate looting of Adelphia Communications.
The Sabres and citizens of Buffalo have Tom Golisano to thank. The Rochester billionaire may have lost last year's New York gubernatorial race, but he's won the hearts of thousands of hockey fans. Ticketmaster
"He wants to make an impact," Sabres goaltender Martin Biron said. "And it's a great opportunity for everybody in the organization to be working with a guy like him."
It's a great opportunity for people in the organization to be working at all. With the team under bankruptcy protection and being run by the NHL last season, there were rumors the Sabres soon could be playing elsewhere.
Players actually went weeks without receiving paychecks last season, although they swear it didn't directly affect a team that finished 12th in the Eastern Conference at 27-37-8-10 and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
"Believe me, when I played in Buffalo last season, all the players decided to leave the business to the people on the second floor," said winger Denis Hamel, now with the Ottawa Senators. "We were told by the coach not to let that bother us." Ticketmaster
Hamel signed a multi-year contract in the offseason with the Ottawa Senators, who also filed for bankruptcy last season but were saved by Eugene Melnyk, one of the 50 richest Canadians.
"All that stuff is behind me," Hamel said.
It's behind the players who remained in Buffalo as well, although the losing isn't - yet.
The small-market Sabres did their best to improve themselves in the offseason, adding some scoring punch, heart and leadership in center Chris Drury and an offensive presence on the blue line in Andy Delmore. Ticketmaster
Drury could be the key to Buffalo's season. He has won at all levels - including Little League baseball - and has a work ethic general manager Darcy Regier and coach Lindy Ruff hope rubs off on teammates.
"I believe that we have a player now that will make a difference," Ruff said. "Chris is a guy who has experience winning. He has been a game-breaker and a great all-around player."
Drury was acquired from Calgary, where he spent just one season after blossoming in Colorado. He quickly signed a four-year contract with the Sabres.
"I am thrilled to be here," said Drury, who had a penchant for scoring big goals with the Avalanche.
With all that happened the previous two years, the goals are bigger for Buffalo this season. Fraud and bankruptcy no longer are excuses. Neither is a lineup that lacks NHL-caliber players.
Joining Drury up front are talented wingers like Miroslav Satan, Maxim Afinogenov and J.P. Dumont, centers Daniel Briere, Curtis Brown and Tim Connolly and role players like Ales Kotalik.
With Ruff's defense-first mind-set, Delmore will be looked on to produce among a group of blue-liners that includes Alexei Zhitnik, Jay McKee, ageless James Patrick and Dimitri Kalinin.
"You can see a wave of offense added to the team, from offensive defensemen to trying to get a good 1-2 punch on the forward lines," Biron said. "I think you'll see that a lot from the Sabres this year."
Biron likely will begin the season as the No. 1 goaltender, although former Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Miller and Mika Noronen are waiting in the wings.
So are the fans - the Sabres hope, at least. Average attendance at the HSBC Arena last season was 13,776 - the team's lowest total since 1986-87. It was down nearly 3,000 from 2001-02.
In the end, it's up to the players and coaching staff to give long-suffering Buffalo fans a reason to watch the team. Biron said the club needs to regain focus.
"We have to know what we have to do to be successful," he said. "If we're able to keep our mental preparation on the game, I think you'll see a much more balanced, a much more consistent team. And that will all lead up to some success."