ESF, Estranged Sabres Fan Looking For New Team…

• Must be a Stanley Cup Virgin
• Live in the Western Conference
• No Teal Jersey teams need apply

I am still not over the Sabres. WGR550 in Buffalo reported that Mr. Pegula was going to be in front of the Board of Governors this week.  It seems inevitable that he will own the team.  And when he does I still fully intend to leave them.  A part of me will always love them, but I will have to let them go.

Like Debbie Gibson and “Foolish Beat” I know that I will never love again, like I did the Sabres.  But like Celine Dion my “heart will go on”.  Can you tell that I have been infected by Easy Listening at the Big Box Jukebox from Hell?

So…

I need a team to root for.  I know it will never be the same. But it would nice to track team and have a vested interest, even if it is a pale version of what I once knew with my formerly beloved Sabres.  So I am out there looking.  I know some people will say it’s too soon, but I need some team to hold onto.

As stated in my open letter personal ad above I have some criteria.  I don’t want to cheat and start rooting for a team that has a rich championship history.  That would be LeBronesque. I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror.

I also cannot root for another Eastern Conference team.  I hate most of them already and those that I don’t would play the Sabres too much for me to be comfortable.  It would be like seeing a recent ex with another man—awkward.

Oh yeah and no teal, so the Sharks of San Jose are out.

The Contenders:

Columbus:

Pro:  Some good young players, including star Rick Nash

Con:  So East on the map it seems ripe for a shift at some point which would be a problem…

L.A. Kings:

Pro:  Ithaca’s own Dustin Brown is the captain.

Con:  They are based in the L.A.  I think I would find it hard to root for any team based there.

Minnesota Wild:

Pro: They are based in a hockey crazy smaller market, there is a comfort level there.

Con: Outside of a few players they don’t seem like an interesting team to root for.

Nashville Predators:

Pro: They have a great young defensive nucleus.

Con:  Ownership seems pleased with status quo of just playoff qualification, not enough for me.

Phoenix Coyotes:

Pro:  Great young team, could be one to watch sooner than later.

Con:  They are not going back to Winnipeg.

St. Louis:

Pro:  The team wears Blue and Gold, there is comfort there.

Con:  The best player in franchise history is Brett Hull. I hate him.  You buy the history too.

Vancouver:

Pro:  The other 1971 expansion, there would be symmetry there.

Con:  They are close to a Cup.  It would almost feel like cheating.

I am still torn.  I am leaning towards St. Louis in spite of Hull’s historical shadow on the franchise.  I love David Backes and the way he plays.  But there are still several other teams, Vancouver, Nashville and Phoenix that give me pause.

Eliminated from contention:  Columbus & L.A.

This would be so much easier if the Sabres would not sell…sigh.  Go Blues?