At least I’m not the only one who thinks the organization fucked up with how they treated Numminen. Jerry Sullivan BLASTED them. 
I’ll quote it since the Buffalo News removes their stories after about a week.
Sabres put a big chill into the air
Jerry Sullivan
Updated: 09/18/07 6:49 AM
So finally, the outdoor hockey game is official! As I understand it, the NHL has made contingency plans in case it’s unseasonably warm in Buffalo on New Year’s Day. But even if they don’t get a cold enough day, they picked the coldest possible organization.
The Sabres are getting blasted throughout North America for suspending Teppo Numminen without pay after learning the veteran defenseman would have to undergo heart surgery Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic.
The team is within its rights under the collective bargaining agreement. Numminen signed a standard player contract, which required him to pass a physical. He failed. But it’s another stupid and short-sighted move by an organization that has made too many of those in recent months.
General Manager Darcy Regier called it “business,” as if it were a simple matter of saving money for the owner, Tom Golisano. This isn’t Paychex. This move will resonate through the NHL and the Sabres’ locker room.
Numminen is a respected 39-yearold who has spent nearly half his life in the league. He was expected to be a Sabres captain this season – one of the leaders carrying on for Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. It’s hard to imagine this going over too well in the locker room, where the players are still reeling from the Drury and Briere departures.
“Teppo has an issue,” Golisano said Monday at The Ralph, where the Jan. 1 game was announced. “He’s been a great player for this team. We’re going to do everything we can to help him through this. If he’s able to play, we’ll welcome him with open arms.”
It was nice to hear from the owner, who was conspicuously absent when his two captains left. I doubt the players felt like running through walls after hearing about Numminen. Hockey players give their bodies for the team. They play hurt, take pucks in the face, lose teeth and even consciousness at times.
That’s part of the “business,” too. At some point, when tough guys like Drury and Jay McKee and Mike Grier walk out the door, players start to wonder. When you see a teammate get suspended (and deleted from the team Web site), you might wonder if you’ll receive similar businesslike treatment one day.
Is it worth it for the Sabres to take the cold, calculating road? It frees up salary cap space, but Golisano doesn’t intend to spend to the cap. The value of the Sabres has doubled since Golisano bought the team. He can afford it.
Other teams have taken the high road, rather than take advantage of players with serious medical problems. Detroit paid Jiri Fischer last year, despite a heart condition. Edmonton, the evil empire that made the offer sheet to Thomas Vanek, is paying Fernando Pisani, who failed a physical due to ulcerative colitis.
Larry Quinn, the managing partner, said those other cases are different from Numminen’s, because the players were in the middle of multiyear contracts. But players have to pass physicals every year, so the argument doesn’t wash.
Stu Grimson, associate counsel for the NHL Players’ Association, was in town Monday and said the union is reviewing the matter. He didn’t want to make any further comment for the record. Grimson is a former NHL player, so you can draw your own conclusions.
Asked about the negative reaction in the hockey world to the Numminen suspension, Golisano suggested it was a creation of the media. Just like the notion that the Sabres could have signed Drury to a contract last fall. Golisano said that wasn’t the case, either.
“Chris Drury and Daniel Briere are great players,” Golisano said. “We wish them well. We have economic realities to deal with, and we dealt with them.” Again, it’s just business.
:gotme: what does that have to do with the Leafs not being a classy organization? a player had an alcohol problem and now he is better.