| Buffalo Sabres | |
|---|---|
 2025–26 Buffalo Sabres season | |
 | |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Atlantic |
| Founded | 1970 |
| History | Buffalo Sabres 1970–present |
| Home arena | KeyBank Center |
| City | Buffalo, New York |
 | |
| Team colors | Royal blue, gold, white[1][2][3] |
| Media | MSG Western New York WGR 550 Sabres Hockey Network |
| Owner | Terry Pegula |
| General manager | Kevyn Adams |
| Head coach | Lindy Ruff |
| Captain | Rasmus Dahlin |
| Minor league affiliates | Rochester Americans (AHL) Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 0 |
| Conference championships | 3 (1974–75,1979–80,1998–99) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 1 (2006–07) |
| Division championships | 6 (1974–75,1979–80,1980–81,1996–97,2006–07,2009–10) |
| Official website | nhl |
TheBuffalo Sabres are a professionalice hockey team based inBuffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in theNational Hockey League (NHL) as a member of theAtlantic Division in theEastern Conference. The team was established in1970, along with theVancouver Canucks, when the league expanded to 14 teams. The Sabres have played their home games atKeyBank Center since1996, having previously played at theBuffalo Memorial Auditorium since their inception. The Sabres are owned byTerry Pegula, who purchased the club in 2011 fromTom Golisano.
The team has twice advanced to theStanley Cup Final, losing to thePhiladelphia Flyers in1975 and to theDallas Stars in1999. The Sabres, along with the Canucks, are the oldest active NHL franchises to have never won the Stanley Cup.[4] The Sabres have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL at 14 seasons, which stands as anNHL record, and are tied with theNew York Jets for the longest active playoff drought across the"Big 4" North American sports leagues.[5]
The Sabres, along with theVancouver Canucks, joined the NHL in the1970–71 season.[6] Their first owners wereSeymour H. Knox III andNorthrup Knox, scions of a family long prominent inWestern New York and grandsons of the co-founders of theWoolworth's variety store chain; along withRobert O. Swados, a Buffalo attorney.[7] On the team's inaugural board of directors wereRobert E. Rich Jr., later the owner of theBuffalo Bisons minor league baseball team;[8] andGeorge W. Strawbridge Jr., an heir to theCampbell Soup Company fortune.[9] Buffalo had a history of professional hockey; immediately prior to the Sabres' establishment, theBuffalo Bisons were a pillar of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), having existed since 1940 (and before that, anotherBisons hockey team played from 1928 to 1936), winning theCalder Cup in their final season.[10]
Wanting a name other than "bison" (a generic stock name used by Buffalo sports teams for decades), the Knoxes commissioned a name-the-team contest. With names like "Mugwumps", "Buzzing Bees" and "Flying Zeppelins" being entered,[11] the winning choice, "Sabres", was chosen because Seymour Knox felt asabre was a weapon carried by a leader, and could be effective on both offense and defense.[A][B] The Knoxes tried twice before to get an NHL team, first when the NHLexpanded in 1967, and again when they attempted to purchase theOakland Seals with the intent of moving them to Buffalo. Their first attempt was thwarted whenPittsburgh Steelers ownerArt Rooney persuaded hishorse racing friendsJames andBruce Norris to selectPittsburgh over Buffalo.[13] The second attempt was due to the NHL not wanting an expansion market to give up on a team so soon, nor isolate theLos Angeles Kings (the only NHL team other than the Seals west of St. Louis at the time) from the rest of the NHL entirely.[14] At the time of their creation, the Sabres created their own AHLfarm team, theCincinnati Swords.[15] FormerToronto Maple Leafs general manager and head coachPunch Imlach was hired in the same capacity with the Sabres.[16]
The Sabres' debut in 1970 also coincided with theAFL–NFL merger in which theBuffalo Bills joined theNational Football League,[17] and theNational Basketball Association'sBuffalo Braves also began to play.[18] The city of Buffalo went from having no teams in the establishedmajor professional sports leagues to three in one off-season. Between the Braves and the Sabres, the Sabres would prove to be by far the more successful of the two;Paul Snyder, thenouveau riche Braves owner, publicly feuded with theold money Knoxes and the localcollege basketball scene, eventually losing those feuds and being forced to sell his team in 1976.[19] Subsequent owners of the Braves, in a series of convoluted transactions tied to theABA–NBA merger, moved the team out of Buffalo.[19]
When the Sabres debuted as an expansion team, they usedAram Khachaturian's Armenian war dance "Sabre Dance" as their entrance song.[20] The music has been associated with the team ever since, typically at the beginning of each period.[21][22]
The consensus was that the first pick in the1970 NHL amateur draft would bejunior phenomenonGilbert Perreault. Either the Sabres or the Canucks would get the first pick, to be determined with the spin of awheel of fortune. Perreault was available to the Sabres and Canucks as this was the first year theMontreal Canadiens did not have a priority right to draftQuebec-born junior players. The Canucks were allocated numbers 1–10 on the wheel, while the Sabres had 11–20. When league presidentClarence Campbell spun the wheel, he initially thought the pointer landed on one. While Campbell was congratulating the Vancouver delegation, Imlach asked Campbell to check again. As it turned out, the pointer was on 11, effectively handing Perreault to the Sabres.[23] Perreault scored 38 goals in his rookie season of 1970–71, at the time a record for most goals scored by a NHL rookie, and he received theCalder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.[24]
During the team'ssecond season, rookieRick Martin, drafted fifth overall by Buffalo in1971,[25] and recently acquiredRene Robert[26] joined Perreault to become one of the league's top forwardlines in the 1970s. Martin broke Perreault's goal-scoring record as arookie with 44 goals.[25] They were nicknamed "The French Connection" afterthe movie of the same name and in homage to theirFrench-Canadian roots.[27] The Sabres made the playoffs for the first time in1972–73, just the team's third year in the league, but lost in the quarterfinals in six games to the eventualStanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens.[28]
After the1973–74 season, which saw them miss the playoffs (as well as defensemanTim Horton's death in aDUI-induced car accident[29]), the Sabres did an odd moment at the1974 NHL amateur draft. General managerPunch Imlach annoyed at the length of the draft decided to draft a fictitious Japanese player namedTaro Tsujimoto. The pick was later invalidated.[30]That season, they tied for the best record in the NHL in the regular season.[31] Buffalo advanced to theStanley Cup Final for the first time in team history to play against thePhiladelphia Flyers, a series which included the legendaryFog Game (game three of the series).[32] Due to unusual heat in Buffalo in May 1975 and the lack of air conditioning in theBuffalo Memorial Auditorium, parts of the game were played in heavy fog that made players, officials, and the puck invisible to many spectators.[32] During a face-off and through the fog, Sabres centerJim Lorentz spotted abat flying across the rink, swung at it with his stick, killing it. It was the only time that any player killed an animal during an NHL game. The Sabres won that game thanks to Rene Robert's goal inovertime. However, Philadelphia would wind up taking the Stanley Cup in six games, winning the series 4–2.[32]
AlthoughDanny Gare scored 50 goals in the1975–76 season,[33] the team lost in the quarterfinals to theNew York Islanders. The team did not return to the Final with the French Connection despite aWales Conference championship in1979–80 and being the first team to beat a team from the Soviet Union during theSuper Series '76.[34][35] The French Connection era ended with Robert's trade to theColorado Rockies in 1979 and Martin's trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1981.[26][25] All three players have had their jersey numbers (11, 7 and 14, respectively) retired and a statue erected in their honor at KeyBank Center in 2012.[36]
In1981–82, the NHL realigned its conferences and adopted an intra-divisional playoff format for the first two rounds.[37] It was the beginning of an era in which the Sabres would finish in the middle of the Adams Division standings with regularity, and then face the near-certainty of having to get past either theBoston Bruins or Canadiens to make it to the conference finals. Aside from first-round victories over Montreal in1983 and Boston in1993,[38][39] the era saw the Sabres lose to division rivals Boston, theQuebec Nordiques and Montreal in the Adams Division semifinals (first round) a combined eight times, and miss the playoffs altogether in 1985–86 and 1986–87—only third and fourth times out of the playoffs in franchise history.[40] Perrault reached the 500-goal mark in the 1985–86 season and retired after playing 20 games in 1986–87, 17 years after joining the Sabres as their first draft pick.[41]
The Sabres draftedPierre Turgeon with the first pick in the1987 NHL entry draft, and he quickly made an impact with the team.[42] During his rookie season in 1987–88, he helped the Sabres reach theplayoffs for the first time in three years. He was joined in 1989 byAlexander Mogilny, who with the help of Sabres officials became the first Soviet player to defect to the NHL.[43] In the 1989–90 season, the Sabres would improve to finish with 98 points—third-best in the NHL,[44] but the playoff futility continued with a first-round loss to Montreal.[45] The Sabres traded Turgeon to the New York Islanders in 1991 as part of a blockbuster seven-player trade that broughtPat LaFontaine to Buffalo.[46]
In 1992–93, goaltenderDominik Hasek joined the team in a trade from theChicago Blackhawks.[47] In the1993 playoffs, the Sabres upset the Bruins in a four-game sweep in the Adams Division semifinals, their first playoff series victory in ten years.[39]Brad May's series-winning goal in overtime of game four in Buffalo was made famous by Rick Jeanneret's "May Day!" call.[48] However, the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens swept the Sabres in the division final, with the Sabres losing all four games by a 4–3 score.[49]
With the NHL adopting a conference playoff format for the1993–94 season, the Sabres faced theNew Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference playoffs' first round. Despite Hasek winning a 1–0 quadruple overtime goaltending duel with the Devils'Martin Brodeur in game six,[50] Buffalo would lose the series in seven games.[51] Another first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the lockout-shortened1994–95 season was followed by a fifth-place finish in the Northeast Division in 1995–96,[52] as the team missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years. It was the first season under head coachTed Nolan and the last for the Sabres at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. During his coaching tenure, Buffalo was referred to as the "hardest-working team in hockey".[53] This season also featured the debut of veteranRandy Burridge, who earned a spot on the roster after he attended training camp on a try-out basis. He scored 25 goals that season and was second in team scoring to Pat LaFontaine.[54] Burridge also earned the Tim Horton Award for being the unsung hero and was voted teammost valuable player.[55]
The final game in Memorial Auditorium was played on April 14, 1996, a 4–1 victory over theHartford Whalers.[56] Sabres principal owner Seymour Knox died a month later, on May 22, 1996.[57]
Ted Nolan and the Sabres rebounded in1996–97, their first atMarine Midland Arena, by winning their first division title in 16 years, with Nolan winning theJack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach,[58] Dominik Hasek winning both theHart andVezina Trophies (the first goaltender to do so since Montreal'sJacques Plante in 1962),[59]Michael Peca taking home theFrank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL and general managerJohn Muckler honored as Executive of the Year.[60] The team also acquiredMiroslav Satan in a trade with theEdmonton Oilers.[61]
However, the regular season success was overshadowed by what had taken place during the playoffs. Tensions between Nolan and Hasek had been high for most of the season.[62] After being scored upon in game three of the first round against theOttawa Senators, Hasek left the game, forcing backupSteve Shields to step in. Hasek claimed he felt his knee pop, and the team doctor pronounced him day-to-day.The Buffalo News columnistJim Kelley wrote a column that night for the next day's newspaper questioning the severity of the injury,[63] which irked Hasek. After the Senators won game five, Hasek came out of the Sabres' training room and attacked Kelley, tearing his shirt.[64] Despite the fact Hasek issued an apology, things went downhill after the incident. Shields started as the Sabres goaltender for the remainder of the series as the team rallied to defeat Ottawa. However, before the next series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the NHL announced Hasek had been suspended for three games, with the Sabres informing the NHL Hasek was healthy.[65] Set to return in game four with the Sabres down by three games to none, Hasek told the Sabres' coaching staff he felt a twinge in his knee and left the ice after the pre-game skate.[66] Although the Sabres staved off elimination in game four, they lost in game five.[67]
Team presidentLarry Quinn fired general manager John Muckler, who had a noted feud with Nolan.[68] Hasek, who supported Muckler, openly told reporters at the NHL Awards Ceremony he did not respect Nolan.[62] The new general manager,Darcy Regier, offered Nolan just a one-year contract, but Nolan refused. Regier then pulled the contract off the table and did not offer another one, ending Nolan's tenure as Sabres coach.[69] Former Sabres captainLindy Ruff was hired as head coach on July 21, 1997, agreeing to a three-year contract.[70]
During the1997–98 season, the Sabres, which had lost $32 million over the previous three seasons and nearly missed payroll in December 1997, were sold by Northrop Knox toJohn Rigas, owner ofAdelphia Communications.[71] Shortly thereafter, Quinn was dismissed and replaced by John's son, Timothy Rigas.[72] The Sabres reached the conference finals that season, but lost to theWashington Capitals in six games.[73]
In the1998–99 season, Satan scored 40 goals,[74] doing so during thedead puck era where goal-scoring had dropped to 5.19 goals per game.[75] The Sabres also added centersStu Barnes from the Pittsburgh Penguins andJoe Juneau from the Capitals.[76] The team returned to theStanley Cup Final, this time against thePresidents' Trophy-winningDallas Stars.[77] In game six,Brett Hull's triple-overtime goal ended the series, and the Stars were awarded the Cup. In 1999, it was illegal to score a goal if an offensive player's skate entered the crease before the puck did. However, NHL officials maintained that Hull's two shots in the crease constituted a single possession of the puck since the puck deflected off Hasek. The rule was changed for the following season, allowing players to be inside the goaltender's crease as long as they do not interfere with the goaltender.[78]
In the1999–2000,Doug Gilmour was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline.[79] Hasek was also sidelined for three months due to a torn groin, but returned with two months left in the regular season.[80][81] Gilmour on the other hand was stricken by stomach flu just before the postseason.[82] The Sabres finished as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, clinching a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season with a 1–1 tie against the Capitals.[83] Like the previous playoffs season, there would be an officiating controversy. In game two, Flyers left wingJohn LeClair put the puck in the net through a hole in the mesh. While replays appeared to show the puck entering through the "side" of the net, the goal was allowed to stand.[84] The Flyers would win the game 2–1 and go on to win the series four games to one.[85]
Captain Michael Peca sat out the2000–01 season due to a contract dispute, and was later traded to the New York Islanders in June 2001 forTim Connolly andTaylor Pyatt.[86] Even so, the Sabres still defeated Philadelphia in six games during the first round of the playoffs, winning 8–0 in the final game.[87] In the second round, they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins but lost via a seventh-game overtime goal scored by defensemanDarius Kasparaitis.[88] After lengthy and failed negotiations with their star goaltender, the Sabres traded Hasek to theDetroit Red Wings in the summer of 2001,[89] closing out his career with Buffalo.[90]
In May 2002, John Rigas and his sons were indicted for bank, wire and securities fraud for embezzling more than $2 billion from Adelphia. Rigas was later convicted and served eight years of a 15-year sentence before his release in 2016.[91] The NHL took control of the team, though the Rigas family remained owners on paper.[92] After the two-year period of uncertainty, including rumors of relocating to another city or even outright folding,[93] the team was sold to a consortium led byRochester billionaire, and former New York gubernatorial candidate,Tom Golisano and former Sabres presidentLarry Quinn.[94] Golisano was introduced as team owner on March 19, 2003.[95]
With the2002–03 season starting under NHL control, general manager Darcy Regier could make only minimal moves. However, with the consultations of impending new ownership, the team began their rebuilding process around the March 2003 trade deadline by clearing out veteran players. The first to go was wingerRob Ray, who was sent to the Ottawa Senators.[96] The team then sent center and team captain Stu Barnes to the Dallas Stars in exchange for wingerMichael Ryan and a draft pick.[96] A third deal sent centerChris Gratton to thePhoenix Coyotes with a draft pick forDaniel Briere and a draft pick.[97] Over the summer, Regier also completed a three-team trade that landed themChris Drury.[98] Although the team improved during the2003–04 season, they did not make the playoffs.[99] The next season was then curbed by the2004–05 NHL lockout.[100] Many of the players would play overseas or for theRochester Americans during the lockout.[100]
In 2005, the Sabres lost their main cable television broadcaster, as theEmpire Sports Network, which had been on the air since 1991, ceased operations during the Adelphia scandal and reorganization.[101] Like the Sabres, Empire had been owned by Adelphia prior to the NHL's seizure of the franchise. Adelphia sold their rights to Sabres telecasts and for the 2005–06 campaignMadison Square Garden Network (MSG), a New York City-based channel which broadcastsNew York Rangers, New York Islanders andNew Jersey Devils games, took over the rights to broadcast Sabres games to television viewers inwestern New York, with the Sabres controlling all aspects of the broadcast. The agreement was later extended through 2017, then again through 2027.[102]
In the 2005–06 season, the Sabres finished with their best record in over 20 years and clinching their first playoff berth since the 2000–01 season. The team finished the regular season with 52 wins, surpassing the 50-win mark for the first time in franchise history. They also finished with 110 points, their first 100-point season in 23 years and tied the 1979–80 club for the second-best point total in franchise history.[103] The Sabres tied the Ottawa Senators andCarolina Hurricanes for the most wins in the Eastern Conference. They finished with the fifth-best record in the NHL, behind Detroit, Ottawa, Dallas and Carolina.[104]
Buffalo defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the2006 playoffs in six games, then the top-seeded Ottawa in five games in the second round.[105][106] The Sabres advanced to play Carolina in their first conference finals since1999. However, injuries began to mount. They were forced to play without four of their top defensemen,Teppo Numminen,[107]Dmitri Kalinin,[107]Jay McKee,[108] andHenrik Tallinder,[107] and their toppowerplay scorer, Tim Connolly, for much of the series.[109] Despite this, the Sabres forced the series to seven games before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champions Carolina.[110] The Sabres' impressive season was recognized on June 22, 2006, at the NHL Awards Ceremony when Lindy Ruff edged Hurricanes coachPeter Laviolette to win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in the closest vote in the award's history.[111] Ruff was the second Sabres coach to win the award.
The Sabres started the2006–07 season 10–0, setting a new franchise record for consecutive wins to start a season, and becoming just the second team in NHL history, after the 1993–94 Toronto Maple Leafs, to open a season with a ten-game winning streak.[112] They also set a new NHL record for consecutive road wins to start a season (eight), which was extended to ten games (tying the team record for consecutive road wins) after a 7–4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on November 13, 2006.[113] This record would be beaten by the2023–24 Los Angeles Kings.[114] The team reached the 50-win plateau for the second time in franchise history. The Sabres won thePresidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history, giving them the home-ice advantage for their entire run in the2007 playoffs. They also tied the1974–75 team's franchise record for points in a season.[115] The team defeated the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers to reach their second consecutive conference finals.[116][117] However, on May 19, they were eliminated by the Ottawa Senators after five games.[118]
In the April 9, 2007, issue ofESPN the Magazine, the team ranked first of 122 major professional sports franchises in North America. The Sabres were cited for their player accessibility, low ticket prices and exciting brand of hockey.[119]
On July 1, 2007, the Sabres lost both co-captains, with Daniel Briere going to the Philadelphia Flyers andChris Drury going to the New York Rangers as free agents.[120][121] The team also nearly lostThomas Vanek to theEdmonton Oilers, which offered him a seven-year, $50 million offer sheet, but the Sabres matched the offer on July 6.[122] After these events, the team changed its policy of not negotiating contracts during the regular season.[123] Long-time Sabres broadcast color commentatorJim Lorentz announced his retirement during the preseason.[124]Hockey Night in Canada'sHarry Neale took over the position in October 2007.[125]
During the2007–08 season, the Sabres hosted a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 1, 2008, which was played outdoors atRalph Wilson Stadium, home of theBuffalo Bills of theNational Football League (NFL).[126] The2008 Winter Classic, known colloquially as the "Ice Bowl" due to it taking place at the same time ascollege football'sbowl games.[127] The Sabres lost 2–1 in a shootout.[128] The Sabres failed to qualify for the2008 playoffs and became only the third team in NHL history to go from finishing first overall in the regular season standings to finishing out of the playoffs the following year.[129]
On June 10, the Sabres officially announced their new AHL affiliate, beginning in the2008–09 season, would be thePortland Pirates fromPortland, Maine. This ended their 29-year affiliation with theRochester Americans. They signed with the Pirates for two seasons, with a parent club option for a third.[130] In the offseason, the Sabres acquiredCraig Rivet from theSan Jose Sharks in exchange for a second-round draft pick in each of the next two drafts.[131] The Sabres also extended the contracts of some players includingRyan Miller (five years) andJason Pominville (five years).[132][133] Miller was slated to become an unrestricted free agent the upcoming season while Pominville was set to become a restricted free agent. On October 8, the Sabres named defenseman Craig Rivet team captain, the first single full-time captain sinceStu Barnes' term from 2001 to 2003.[134] The team was also active at the trade deadline. First, they signed Tim Connolly to a two-year, $4.2 million extension, then acquiredMikael Tellqvist from the Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth-round pick in the2010 draft.[135]Dominic Moore came from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the2009 draft.[136] On April 9, the Buffalo Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs.[137]
General manager Darcy Regier announced on the first day of free agency for thefollowing season the Sabres had signed unrestricted free agent defensemanSteve Montador to a two-year contract.[138] After only playing two games with Buffalo that season,Daniel Paille was traded to theBoston Bruins on October 20, 2009, in exchange for a third-round and a conditional fourth-round draft selection. Paille's move to Boston marked the first ever trade of a player under contract between the two division rivals in their common 39 years in the NHL.[139]Tyler Ennis, who was selected 26th in the2008 draft, made his NHL debut this season.[140] On January 1, the Sabres became the first team to win consecutive games when trailing by three or more goals since the Dallas Stars did it in 2005–06; Buffalo defeated theAtlanta Thrashers 4–3 in overtime. It was Buffalo's second straight win in a game it trailed 3–0, following a 4–3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.[141] On March 27, the Sabres clinched their first playoff berth since 2006–07 with a 7–1 rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning.[142] On April 6, the Sabres clinched the Northeast Division title by defeating the New York Rangers by a score of 5–2.[143] However, they were defeated in six games by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs.[144]
The 2010–11 roster did not have many significant changes in the offseason. One of the most notable was the team's decision to waive centerTim Kennedy, a Buffalo native, to avoid paying the award he won in arbitration.[145] DefensemenHenrik Tallinder andToni Lydman were allowed to leave as free agents,[146][147] while the team signed veteransJordan Leopold andShaone Morrisonn to replace them.[148][149] Additionally, centerRob Niedermayer was added.[150]
On November 30, 2010, Ken Campbell ofThe Hockey News reported a story that billionaireTerry Pegula had signed a letter of intent to purchase the Sabres for US$150 million. Pegula was the founder, president and CEO ofEast Resources, one of the largest privately held companies in the United States before he sold the company.[151] After the report was released, Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn claimed it was "untrue" but refused further comment.[152] The $150 million was later determined to be an undervalued amount, asForbes magazine had valued the team at just under $170 million in 2010. In December, Pegula officially expressed interest in buying the Sabres for $170 million and submitted a letter of intent to the NHL. In January, Golisano reportedly issued a counteroffer with an asking price of US$175 million.[153] Pegula and Golisano reached an agreement to sell the team on January 29, 2011, with Pegula purchasing the team for $189 million ($175 million with $14 million in debt included) with the Sabres and Golisano officially making an announcement in a press conference on February 3, 2011.[154] NHL owners approved the sale on February 18.[155]
In the conference, it was stated that an unnamed bidder submitted a much higher bid than Pegula's, but made the bid contingent upon moving the team.[156] The description is consistent with that ofJim Balsillie, who has made public his efforts to move a team toHamilton, Ontario, a move the Sabres have actively opposed. Terry Pegula named former Pittsburgh Penguins executiveTed Black to be team president.[157] Pegula was introduced as the Sabres' owner in a public ceremony atHSBC Arena on February 23, accompanied by what would be the final appearance of all three members of The French Connection before Rick Martin's death three weeks later.[158][159] Around the 2010–11 trade deadline, the team attempted to trade Craig Rivet, but was unsuccessful. After initially clearing waivers, Rivet entered re-entry waivers and was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets.[160] Late on February 27, the team acquiredBrad Boyes from theSt. Louis Blues in exchange for a second-round draft pick.[161] This was the Sabres' sole trade of the deadline. After Pegula's official takeover of the team, the Sabres finished the regular season 16–4–4, never losing two consecutive games in that span, and landed the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.[162] Pegula's approach was credited by players, fans and the public with bringing new energy to the team, sparking a run to the playoffs that seemed improbable only months earlier.[163] On April 8, the Sabres clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4–3 in overtime.[164] The Sabres clinched the seventh seed and faced Philadelphia in the first round. The Sabres had a three games to two lead but lost the series in seven games.[165]
The Sabres began the2011–12 season as part of the2011 NHL Premiere series for the first time, playing games in Finland and Germany. The team was particularly well-received during a game againstAdler Mannheim inMannheim, the hometown of Sabres forwardJochen Hecht.[166] Prior to the first game, Lindy Ruff named Jason Pominville the Sabres' 13th full-time captain in team history.[167] The Sabres began the season relatively strong but collapsed after a Boston Bruins game in which Bruins forwardMilan Lucic hit and injured goaltender Ryan Miller;[168] the subsequent months saw the Sabres collapse to last place in the Eastern Conference. Despite a two-month rally that began in February along with the emergence of rookie forwardMarcus Foligno,[169] the Sabres lost the last two games of the regular season and fell three points short of a playoff spot.[170]
The2012–13 NHL lockout eliminated the first part of the2012–13 season, which ultimately began with a scheduled 48 games.[171] After a 6–10–1 start to the season, Lindy Ruff's contract was terminated by general manager Darcy Regier on February 20, 2013, ending 16 seasons as head coach. Ruff was replaced byRon Rolston first on an interim basis, then permanently after the season ended.[172][173] In the days leading up to the trade deadline, the Sabres were active in trades. On March 15, the Sabres' first trade sentT. J. Brennan to theFlorida Panthers in exchange for a fifth-round pick (originally owned by theLos Angeles Kings) in the2013 draft.[174] On March 30, the Sabres tradedJordan Leopold to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft.[175] On April 1, the Sabres tradedRobyn Regehr to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for two-second round draft choices (one in2014 and the other in2015).[176] The final trade came on the day of the trade deadline, April 3, where the Sabres sent Jason Pominville to theMinnesota Wild forJohan Larsson andMatt Hackett. At the time of the official announcement, it was not clear if there were other parts of the deal as the trade was still pending NHL approval.[177] It was later revealed that draft picks were also involved in the deal: the Wild would receive a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft, and the Sabres would receive a first-round pick in the 2013 draft and a second-round pick in the 2014 draft.[178]
Thefollowing season, on November 13, 2013, the team dismissed general manager Darcy Regier and head coach Ron Rolston.[179] Former Sabres head coach Ted Nolan was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. He later signed a three-year contract extension.Pat LaFontaine was named president of hockey operations.[179] On January 9, 2014,Tim Murray, the assistant general manager of theOttawa Senators, was named general manager.[180] On February 28, 2014, Murray made his first major trade, sending star goaltender Ryan Miller and captainSteve Ott to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for goaltenderJaroslav Halak, forwardsChris Stewart andWilliam Carrier and two draft picks.[181] After just over three months as president of hockey operations, Pat LaFontaine resigned from the Sabres to return to his previous position with the NHL on March 1, 2014.[182] Among highlights in the otherwise bad 2013–14 season included the "butt goal" in which a severely short-staffed Sabres won their December 23 contest against the Phoenix Coyotes when Coyotes goaltenderMike Smith backed into hisown goal with the puck lodged in his pants,[183] and the lone NHL appearance of formerLancaster High School goaltenderRyan Vinz, who was working as a videographer in the Sabres organization, to suit up as a backup goaltender in the wake of the Ryan Miller trade.[184] The Sabres finished the 2013–14 season last in the NHL and again missed the playoffs.[185]
Despite winning two more games than the previous season, the2014–15 season was much like the previous one, with the team sitting near the bottom of the standings the entire season, and finishing last in the NHL.[186] On March 26, 2015, during a 4–3 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes, spectators at the game, ostensibly fans of the Sabres, cheered after a game-winning goal by Coyotes centerSam Gagner.[187][188] The Sabres clinched last place with a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 10 and got the second pick in the draft which they used to selectJack Eichel.[189] Murray fired Nolan at the end of the season, citing a lack of chemistry between them.[190] On May 28, 2015,Dan Bylsma was hired as the 17th head coach in franchise history.[191]
The hiring of Bylsma, the drafting of Eichel and 2014 second overall pickSam Reinhart, the acquisition of star centermanRyan O'Reilly in the off-season,[192] and the rising performance of youngstersZemgus Girgensons,Jake McCabe andRasmus Ristolainen resulted in an improved season in2015–16. Even though the Sabres again missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, the team managed to finish just under .500 in points percentage with a 27-point improvement over the previous season.[193]
In mid-2016, the team announced that its television broadcasts would be spun off to their ownregional sports network,MSG Western New York. The new network continues to operate under the MSG banner but underPegula Sports and Entertainment control and features additional programs centered around the Sabres and the Buffalo Bills, which the Pegulas purchased separately in 2014.[194] The team failed to make significant progress, and in fact slightly regressed, in 2016–17, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, leading to the firings of both head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray on April 20, 2017.[195]
During the 2017 off-season, the Sabres hired two of their former players as head coach and general manager:Jason Botterill as general manager andPhil Housley as head coach.[196][197] Among the more notable roster changes for this season was the return of former scoring leader Jason Pominville to the team in a trade that brought him and defensemanMarco Scandella to Buffalo in exchange for sending forwardsTyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno to the Minnesota Wild.[198]
In the2017–18 season, the Sabres participated in the2018 Winter Classic, losing 3–2 in overtime to theNew York Rangers.[199] Buffalo finished in last place in the NHL for the third time in five seasons and won the draft lottery for the2018 NHL entry draft for the first time since 1987, using the pick to selectRasmus Dahlin fromFrolunda HC of theSwedish Hockey League.[200]
On November 27, 2018, the Sabres became the first team in NHL history to lead the league in points after the first 25 games of theseason after finishing last in the league the previous season.[201] The team won 10 games in a row for the first time since the 2006–07 season and tied the franchise record.[202]Jeff Skinner became the seventh player in franchise history to score 20 or more goals in less than 27 games, and only the second player to score 20 goals before December.[203] The team then collapsed and missed the playoffs, leading to Housley's firing at the end of the season.[204]
On March 21, 2019, it was announced that the Sabres would play theTampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 NHL Global Series atEricsson Globe inStockholm, Sweden.[205]Ralph Krueger was named the Sabres head coach in May 2019.[206]
In the2019–20 season, the Lightning defeated the Sabres 5–3 in the Global Series on November 9, 2019.[207] The team traded a draft pick forJimmy Vesey and during the season traded Scandella for a draft pick.[208][209] Even with 24 teams making the expanded playoffs due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the Sabres finished with a 30–31–8 record and missed the postseason for the ninth consecutive season.[210]
On June 16, 2020, despiteKim Pegula's vote of confidence three weeks prior, Botterill was fired and replaced byKevyn Adams.[211]
On March 17, 2021, in the midst on a twelve-game losing streak, head coach Ralph Krueger was fired.[212]Don Granato was named interim head coach. After continuing to lose games, on March 29, 2021, the Sabres tied thePittsburgh Penguins' all-time NHL losing streak of 18 games from the 2003–04 season after blowing a 3–0 lead in the third period against thePhiladelphia Flyers and subsequently losing in overtime; it is the longest losing streak since the shootout was introduced.[213] Granato was named the full-time head coach at the end of the season.[214]
With their last-place finish in the2020–21 season, they won the draft lottery and selectedOwen Power with the first overall pick in the2021 draft.[215] Longtime play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret also announced the upcoming season would be his final one.[216] Prior to the2021–22 season, the Sabres traded awaySam Reinhart andRasmus Ristolainen.[217][218] During the season, the team traded awayJack Eichel forPeyton Krebs,Alex Tuch and two draft picks.[219] Leading to the trade, Eichel had suffered a herniated disc and sought an independent specialist who recommended an artificial total disc. Eichel's lawyers also told the Sabres organization that the surgery would be required or he wouldn't be able to play the following season. However, the Sabres organization placed him on injured reserve and stripped him of the captaincy prior to the season. TheVegas Golden Knights funded his surgery following the trade, winning the Stanley Cup with Eichel in2023.[220] The team ended up missing for the 11th consecutive season, setting the record for consecutive missed playoff seasons.[221]
The Sabres improved in the2022–23 season, going 42–33–7 and finishing above .500 for the first time since 2011 and only finishing one point below the playoff line.[222] With theSacramento Kings clinching a spot in the2023 NBA playoffs, it left both theNew York Jets and Sabres as the teams among themajor professional leagues with the longest active postseason drought with twelve seasons.[223]
On August 17, 2023, Rick Jeanneret died.[224] The Sabres honored his legacy by renaming Perry Street, the street adjacent to KeyBank Center, to "RJ Way" on October 13.[225] The team regressed slightly in the2023–24 season. They ended up trading captainKyle Okposo to theFlorida Panthers—he would end up winning the Stanley Cup with Florida.[226][227] On April 9, they were eliminated from postseason potential with a loss to the Dallas Stars.[228] On April 16, 2024, one day after playing the final game of the season, head coach Granato was fired, marking his ousting as the seventh coach the Sabres have employed since the playoff drought began.[229] One week later, on April 22, former coachLindy Ruff was named as the new head coach, returning for a second tenure.[230]
In the2024–25 season, after beginning the season 11–9–1, the Sabres went on a 13-game losing streak.[231] During the streak, owner Terry Pegula visited the team while they were in Montreal to express his support in the team and leadership.[232] On April 8, 2025, the team was eliminated from postseason potential for the 14th time.[5] Shortly after the end of that season, the government ofErie County announced plans to end its 30-year operational lease of KeyBank Center when it expires in September 2026, ostensibly placing the arena into the responsibility of the city of Buffalo, who indicated an inability to pay for the maintenance of said arena.[233][234] In a statement to the press, Sabres chief operating officer Pete Guelli insisted that the team did not intend to relocate.[235] On July 30, the Sabres andKeyBank announced a new arena naming rights contract that will keep the team in the arena through the 2035–36 season.[236]
The Sabres have had, for the most part, used a primary logo featuring abison atop two crossedsabres in a blue circle with gold trim. This logo was first used from 1970 to 1996 and was restored in 2020 after the Sabres 50th anniversary season was complete.[237]
Throughout their 26-year tenure at the Buffalo Auditorium, the Sabres have worn white uniforms with a blue and gold shoulder yoke and alternating gold, white and blue stripes. On the road they wore blue uniforms with gold stripes. In 1978 the primary logo was added on the shoulders.[238]
Upon moving to what is now KeyBank Center (formerly Marine Midland and HSBC Arena, later First Niagara Center) in 1996, the Sabres changed their logo and colors. Red, black and silver replaced blue and gold while the primary "bison head" logo was unveiled as the primary logo. Black road (later home) and white home (later road) uniforms were also released featuring a bull's head silhouette design in front and the "Sabre B" alternate logo on the shoulders.[238]
The first third jersey of the Buffalo Sabres was created in 2000. The primary color was Sabre red, with black and silver stripes on the sleeves. It also featured the word "Buffalo" written on a black stripe outlined by silver near the waist. The logo was a black circle with two sabres crossing each other (a nod to the original logo).[238]
On October 7, 2001, the Sabres wore a modified version of their white jerseys in a road game against theNew York Rangers. The uniform replaced the "bison head" with the "NEW YORK" diagonal wordmark as a tribute to the state of New York in the wake of theSeptember 11 attacks.[239]
On September 16, 2006, the Sabres unveiled new home and away jerseys featuring midnight blue, maize (gold), silver and white colors. Front chest numbers were also added. The new logo, a stylized bison, was widely reviled, drawing unfavorable comparisons to abanana slug (hence the nickname "Buffaslug").[240] Despite the criticism, five of the top ten player jerseys sold in the first two months of the 2006–07 season were Sabres "slug" designs.[241][242] Nevertheless, the Sabres brought back the classic blue jerseys as a third jersey, but continued to pair the look with the navy helmet and pants. When theReebok Edge template was unveiled in 2007, the Sabres kept their "Buffaslug" uniforms, but the following season, they released a new third jersey featuring the classic look depicted in the navy, gold, silver and white colors.[243] The Sabres also wore the original white uniforms during the2008 Winter Classic.[244]
The third jersey eventually became the primary home jersey on September 18, 2010, when the Sabres released a modern version of the classic 1970–1996 logo. A corresponding road white jersey was also released, along with a third jersey featuring an alternate throwback arrangement that pays homage to the AHL'sBuffalo Bisons, complete with the team's 40th Anniversary insignia (essentially the original royal blue version of the current logo with the year "1970" inside).[245][246]
In 2013, the Sabres released a new third jersey, featuring a gold front and navy back design. The uniform only lasted two seasons, after which it was retired.[247]
The Sabres kept their uniforms largely intact whenAdidas took over as its supplier, save for the removal of silver sections in the armpits. They were also the only remaining NHL team to sport uniform numbers in front; teams such as theDallas Stars andSan Jose Sharks briefly added numbers in front of their uniforms before removing them altogether.[248]
During the2018 Winter Classic, the Sabres broke out white uniforms with the classic blue and gold shade, albeit with a different striping scheme from the original uniforms.[249]
The 2019–20 season marked the final season of the navy and gold look, as the Sabres announced the return to royal blue uniforms for the following season. Also, a 50th-anniversary white third jersey was used, featuring metallic gold elements on the logo and stripes.[250]
On August 11, 2020, the Sabres unveiled the uniforms for the upcoming season. The style is similar to the ones worn in the early days of the franchise.[1] Jersey numbers are no longer displayed on the front. The Sabres also released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, bringing back the "crossed swords" alternate from 2000 to 2006 but recolored to the current royal, gold and white scheme.[251]
For the2022 Heritage Classic, the Sabres again wore a variation of their classic uniforms, but without the blue shoulder yoke and with a cream base.[252]
On August 31, 2022, the Sabres announced that their black uniform used from 1995 to 2006 would become their new third jersey.[253] This same uniform also became the basis of their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, but recolored to the white, blue and gold scheme and featured white pants.[254]
The Canadian and U.S. national anthems are sung before every Sabres home game, regardless if the visiting team is Canadian or American, because Buffalo is adjacent to the Canadian border and many spectators come from Canada.[265] Doug Allen sang theCanadian andUS national anthems at most home games (except in cases where there is a conflict with his charitable work for theWesleyan Church)[266] until resigning in 2021 because of his refusal to take aCOVID-19 vaccine.[267] Curtis Cook is the arena's in-game organist.[268] During Tom Golisano's ownership, the team occasionally used the services of singerRonan Tynan who sang "God Bless America" while Allen performed the Canadian anthem (in such cases, the U.S. anthem was not performed).[269]
Rich Gaenzler, morning host atWGRF, took over as in-game host beginning in 2018[270][271] before he was fired in 2021 over an unrelated dispute pertaining to his WGRF show, which was canceled at the same time.WBFO personality Jay Moran is the current public address announcer; he succeeded Milt Ellis in the position.[271]
In November 2021, the Sabres added an official team dog, named Rick, aNewfoundland puppy trained as aservice animal.[272] Rick was graduated to daily service and succeeded by Nikki, agolden retriever puppy.[273]
The Sabres are presently affiliated with two minor league teams, theRochester Americans of theAmerican Hockey League, and theJacksonville Icemen of theECHL.[274][275] The Americans play at theBlue Cross Arena inRochester, New York.[276] Founded in 1956, the Americans were previously the Sabres AHL affiliate from the 1979–80 season to the 2007–08 season.[274] During the original Sabres affiliation, the Americans won threeCalder Cup championships and finished as runners-up another six times. They finished out of the playoffs only five times in 28 years. The Sabres became re-affiliated with the Americans starting with the 2011–12 season when after buying the Sabres, Pegula purchased the Americans from former owner Curt Styres.[277][278]
The Jacksonville Icemen are based inJacksonville, Florida and have been the Sabres ECHL affiliate since the 2023–24 season.[275] Unlike the Americans, the Icemen are not owned by Pegula but are instead owned by SZH Hockey LLC.[279]
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Sabres. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of Buffalo Sabres seasons
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses/SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 15 | 34 | 7 | 37 | 138 | 199 | 8th, East | Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 75 | 232 | 290 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 42 | 33 | 7 | 91 | 296 | 300 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 39 | 37 | 6 | 84 | 246 | 244 | 6th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 36 | 39 | 7 | 79 | 269 | 289 | 7th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
Updated November 18, 2025[280][281]
Reference:[282]
Kevyn Adams, who previously played in the NHL and served as senior vice president of business administration for the Sabres, was named the team's general manager on June 16, 2020.[283]Kim Pegula, as chief operating officer ofPegula Sports and Entertainment, serves as team president.[284] In May 2025, the Sabers addedJarmo Kekalainen to the front office as a senior adviser. He previously served as general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013–24.[285]
The Sabres namedLindy Ruff head coach on April 22, 2024. He returned for a second tenure with the team, after previously coaching Buffalo from 1997 to 2013.[230]
Of the 20 head coaches the Sabres have used in their history, seven of them had previously played for the Sabres during their playing career:Floyd Smith,Bill Inglis,Jim Schoenfeld,Craig Ramsay,Rick Dudley, Ruff, andPhil Housley. Two others,Dan Bylsma andTed Nolan, had played in the Sabres' farm system.
The Buffalo Sabres has an affiliation with a number of inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sabres inductees include 14 former players and four builders of the sport.[286][287] The four individuals recognized as builders by the Hall of Fame includes former general managers, head coaches, and owners. In addition to players and builders, three broadcasters for the Buffalo Sabres were also awarded theFoster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame,Ted Darling in 1994,Rick Jeanneret in 2012, andHarry Neale in 2013.[288][289]
Foursports writers from publications based in Buffalo, andSt. Catharines, Ontario (which is within Buffalo's media territory), were also awarded theElmer Ferguson Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame. Recipients of the award include Charlie Barton (Buffalo Courier-Express) in 1985, Dick Johnston (Buffalo News) in 1986, Jack Gatecliff (St. Catharines Standard) in 1995, andJim Kelley (Buffalo News) in 2004.[286][290]
Players[291]
Builders[291]
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Number retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tim Horton | D | 1972–1974 | January 5, 1996 |
| 7 | Rick Martin | LW | 1971–1981 | November 15, 19951 |
| 11 | Gilbert Perreault | C | 1970–1987 | October 17, 19901 |
| 14 | Rene Robert | RW | 1972–1979 | November 15, 19951 |
| 16 | Pat LaFontaine | C | 1991–1997 | March 3, 2006 |
| 18 | Danny Gare | RW | 1974–1981 | November 22, 2005 |
| 30 | Ryan Miller | G | 2002–2014 | January 19, 2023 |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | G | 1992–2001 | January 13, 2015 |
Reference:[296]
|
|
|
These are the top-ten-point-scorers in franchise regular season history.[297] Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
|
|
|
|
What's old is new again in Buffalo with the Sabres' "Return to Royal." The team revealed its uniforms for the 2020–21 season on Tuesday and they're a throwback to the royal blue, gold and white of the original set with some modern updates.
...for the third 10-game winning streak in franchise history and first since 2006–07.
| |
| Franchise | |
| History | |
| Personnel |
|
| Arenas | |
| Affiliates | |
| Media | |
| Culture and lore |
|
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
.jpg)
