In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan wrote a lot of Sabres fans are "certainly wondering" if team co-Owners Terry and Kim Pegula have "misplaced the passion" that was on display when they bought the team in '11. Fan Tim Hirschbeck "questioned ownership's commitment to the fans in a powerful post on SB Nation" last week. Hirschbeck noted that Pegula is "sending out mixed signals and criticized the decision to hand out 10,000 pairs of 'crappy' sunglasses on Fan Appreciation Night." Sullivan wrote he hopes the Pegulas "read the SB Nation piece," as they seem to "understand they have a PR problem, having hired a media consultant to work with the Bills." Sullivan: "It's bad business for the fans to suspect that ownership is going through the motions" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 4/14).
ISLAND TIME: On Long Island, Arthur Staple wrote Islanders co-Owners Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky could have "bucked decades of franchise tradition and blown the whole thing up" in naming a new coach. However, they "did no such thing," and the decision to take the interim tag off coach Doug Weight "speaks volumes." Weight and Islanders President & GM Garth Snow "are in charge." Agents and execs on other teams have been "given no indication that they’ll deal with anyone but those two in the coming months" (NEWSDAY, 4/16).
KIDS SKATE: In Las Vegas, Jesse Granger noted the Golden Knights on Saturday partnered with USA Hockey to host "Try Hockey for Free Day" at the Las Vegas Ice Center. Kids "ranging from ages 4-9, many of whom had never stepped on ice before, were given skates and hockey sticks and set loose on the rink." Saturday was the seventh event "hosted by the team, and brought the number of children that participated to nearly 1,000" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 4/16).
