from Mike Harrnington of the Buffalo News,

The Buffalo Sabres have not been in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011, but NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is like most observers from around the league: He's expecting that cycle to finally change.

"By all appearances, the team is on an upward spiral," Bettman said when asked by The Buffalo News during the first intermission of Tuesday night's Kraft Hockeyville exhibition against Columbus in Clinton Arena. "All of these things happen in cycles. You look at the young talent they have and the moves they made over the summer — among those acquiring Jeff Skinner — I think the team is being rebuilt in the right way."

Bettman praised owners Terry and Kim Pegula for their continued commitment to finding the right solution for their team.

"I assure you nobody wants to win more than they do," he said. "And they want to win for the fans in Buffalo. It's something I remember Terry saying from the very first time I met him.

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