Quinn first joined the team as President in the 1990s and was responsible for hiring general manager
Darcy Regier in 1997, after he had fired then-GM
John Muckler. After Quinn and Regier allowed coach
Ted Nolan to leave after the end of his contract, they hired
Lindy Ruff as head coach. Both Regier and Ruff would stay with the team until their respective dismissals in 2013. Quinn assisted then-owners
Northrup R. Knox and
Seymour H. Knox III in securing the construction of what is now the
KeyBank Center and the abandonment of
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Quinn first served as President and CEO of the Sabres from November 1, 1996 to April 9, 1998. The Sabres compiled a record of 69 wins, 48 losses and 27 ties and captured the Northeast division title in 1997 and advanced to the conference finals in 1998. Quinn was let go in 1998 as
John Rigas took over the franchise. Four years later, the
Adelphia Communications scandal led to the league taking over the team. Quinn associated himself with the prospective ownership group led by
Tom Golisano, initially serving as a consultant. When investor Hormoz Mansouri left the ownership group, Quinn stepped in and was rewarded with a minority stake in the franchise. When Golisano closed on his purchase of the team on March 12, 2004, Quinn was named managing partner and CEO of the franchise. Quinn resigned on February 22, 2011 when the team was purchased by
Terry Pegula. The Sabres compiled a record 300 wins, 200 losses, 5 ties and 57 overtime losses and won the Presidents trophy in 2007 and the northeast division title in 2007 and 2010. The Sabres advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007. Quinn oversaw the first NHL Winter Classic held on January 1, 2008 at
Ralph Wilson Stadium. Ted Black assumed Quinn's non-hockey duties upon Pegula's assumption of ownership; the title of President was left vacant until
Pat LaFontaine's hiring in November 2013. == Business and political ventures==