Financial matters hold center stage as training camp approaches.
Across the league, teams and players jockey for position as pressure increases on both sides to complete contracts. Meanwhile, each day's mail brings another bit of results on teams' season-ticket renewals and sales campaigns. Such is the case with the Sabres, who must watch their dollars and cents carefully as they play in one of the league's smallest markets. It also goes into a season without all-star goaltender Dominik Hasek for the first time in several years, and everyone is curious about the impact on ticket sales. Let's start with an update on contract talks.