History of Buffalo Sabres in Timeline

The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team founded in 1970 and based in Buffalo, New York. They compete in the NHL's Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres have played at KeyBank Center since 1996, previously playing at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Terry Pegula has owned the team since purchasing it from Tom Golisano in 2011.

1928: Previous Bisons Hockey Team

From 1928 to 1936, another Bisons hockey team played before the establishment of the later Buffalo Bisons team in 1940.

1936: Previous Bisons Hockey Team

From 1928 to 1936, another Bisons hockey team played before the establishment of the later Buffalo Bisons team in 1940.

1940: Buffalo Bisons' Existence

Prior to the Sabres, the Buffalo Bisons, a pillar of the American Hockey League (AHL), had existed since 1940.

1962: Last Goaltender to win Hart and Vezina Before Hasek

In 1962, Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens was the last goaltender to win both the Hart and Vezina Trophies before Dominik Hasek in 1996.

1967: NHL Expansion Attempt

In 1967, the Knoxes made their first attempt to get an NHL team when the league expanded, but Pittsburgh was selected instead.

1970: Team Established

In 1970, the Buffalo Sabres were established as a professional ice hockey team, alongside the Vancouver Canucks, when the NHL expanded to 14 teams.

1970: Drafting of Gilbert Perreault

In 1970, the Buffalo Sabres won a spin of the wheel to get the first pick in the NHL amateur draft and selected junior phenomenon Gilbert Perreault.

1970: AFL-NFL Merger and Buffalo Braves' Debut

In 1970, the Buffalo Sabres' debut coincided with the AFL–NFL merger, in which the Buffalo Bills joined the National Football League, and the National Basketball Association's Buffalo Braves also began to play.

1970: Sabres Join the NHL

In 1970, the Buffalo Sabres, along with the Vancouver Canucks, joined the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 1970-71 season.

1971: Drafting of Rick Martin

In 1971, Rick Martin was drafted fifth overall by Buffalo, later forming the "French Connection" line with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert.

1972: First Playoff Appearance

In 1972, the Buffalo Sabres made their first playoff appearance, their third year in the league, but lost in the quarterfinals to the Montreal Canadiens.

1973: Missed Playoffs

After the 1973-74 season, the Sabres missed the playoffs.

1974: Drafted Fictitious Player

During the 1974 NHL amateur draft, the Sabres drafted a fictitious Japanese player named Taro Tsujimoto, which was later invalidated.

May 1975: Stanley Cup Final and "The Fog Game"

In May 1975, the Buffalo Sabres advanced to the Stanley Cup Final and played against the Philadelphia Flyers in a series that included "The Fog Game" due to unusual heat and lack of air conditioning. During the game Jim Lorentz killed a bat flying across the rink. However, the Sabres lost the series 4-2.

1975: Quarterfinals Loss to Islanders

Although Danny Gare scored 50 goals in the 1975-76 season, the Buffalo Sabres lost in the quarterfinals to the New York Islanders.

1975: Stanley Cup Final Appearance

In 1975, the Buffalo Sabres advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, but lost to the Philadelphia Flyers.

1976: Braves' Owner Forced to Sell Team

In 1976, the Buffalo Braves' owner, Paul Snyder, was forced to sell his team after feuding with the Knoxes and the local college basketball scene.

1979: Robert Traded

In 1979, Rene Robert was traded to the Colorado Rockies, marking the beginning of the end for the French Connection era.

1981: Martin Traded

In 1981, Rick Martin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, ending the French Connection era.

1981: NHL Realignment

In 1981, the NHL realigned its conferences and adopted an intra-divisional playoff format for the first two rounds.

1983: First-Round Victory Over Montreal

In 1983, the Buffalo Sabres had a first-round victory over Montreal in the playoffs.

1985: Missed Playoffs

In 1985, the Sabres missed the playoffs.

1986: Missed Playoffs and Perrault's 500th Goal

In 1986, the Sabres missed the playoffs. Gilbert Perrault reached the 500-goal mark in the 1985–86 season.

1987: Drafting of Pierre Turgeon

In 1987, the Buffalo Sabres drafted Pierre Turgeon with the first pick in the NHL entry draft.

1987: Sabres Draft lottery Win

In 2018, Buffalo won the draft lottery for the first time since 1987.

1989: Alexander Mogilny Defects to NHL

In 1989, Alexander Mogilny defected to the NHL and joined the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the first Soviet player to do so.

1991: Turgeon Traded for LaFontaine

In 1991, the Buffalo Sabres traded Pierre Turgeon to the New York Islanders in a seven-player trade that brought Pat LaFontaine to Buffalo.

1992: Hasek Joins the Team

In 1992, Goaltender Dominik Hasek joined the Buffalo Sabres in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks.

1993: First-Round Victory Over Boston

In 1993, the Buffalo Sabres had a first-round victory over Boston in the playoffs.

1993: Conference Playoff Format

In 1993, the NHL adopted a conference playoff format.

1993: Playoff Upset and Loss to Canadiens

In 1993, the Sabres upset the Boston Bruins in the playoffs. Brad May scored the series-winning goal in overtime and Rick Jeanneret made his famous "May Day!" call. However, the Sabres were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the division final.

1994: Playoff Loss to Devils

In 1994, the Buffalo Sabres faced the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference playoffs' first round, but lost the series in seven games despite Hasek's quadruple overtime shutout.

1995: Playoff Loss to Flyers

In 1995, the Buffalo Sabres suffered another first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the lockout-shortened season.

April 14, 1996: Final Game at Memorial Auditorium

On April 14, 1996, the Buffalo Sabres played their final game at the Memorial Auditorium, securing a 4–1 victory over the Hartford Whalers.

May 22, 1996: Death of Seymour Knox

On May 22, 1996, Seymour Knox, the principal owner of the Buffalo Sabres, passed away.

1996: Division Title and Award Wins

In 1996, Ted Nolan and the Sabres won their first division title in 16 years, with Nolan winning the Jack Adams Award, Dominik Hasek winning both the Hart and Vezina Trophies, Michael Peca taking home the Frank J. Selke Trophy, and John Muckler honored as Executive of the Year. The team also acquired Miroslav Satan.

1996: Move to KeyBank Center

In 1996, the Buffalo Sabres moved to KeyBank Center for their home games, after playing at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium since their inception.

July 21, 1997: Lindy Ruff Hired as Head Coach

On July 21, 1997, Lindy Ruff, former Sabres captain, was hired as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, agreeing to a three-year contract.

December 1997: Near Missed Payroll

In December 1997, the Sabres nearly missed payroll due to losing $32 million over the previous three seasons.

1999: Second Stanley Cup Final Appearance

In 1999, the Buffalo Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history, losing to the Dallas Stars.

October 7, 2001: Modified jerseys worn as tribute

On October 7, 2001, the Sabres wore a modified version of their white jerseys in a road game against the New York Rangers as a tribute to the state of New York in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

2003: Sabres Tie NHL Losing Streak Record

On March 29, 2021, the Sabres tied the Pittsburgh Penguins' all-time NHL losing streak of 18 games from the 2003-04 season, after blowing a 3-0 lead against the Philadelphia Flyers.

September 16, 2006: New home and away jerseys unveiled

On September 16, 2006, the Sabres unveiled new home and away jerseys featuring midnight blue, maize (gold), silver and white colors. The new logo, a stylized bison, was widely reviled, drawing unfavorable comparisons to a banana slug (hence the nickname "Buffaslug").

2006: Sabres Win 10 Games

On November 27, 2018, the Sabres won 10 games in a row for the first time since the 2006-07 season and tied the franchise record.

April 9, 2007: Team Ranked First in North America by ESPN

On April 9, 2007, the Buffalo Sabres were ranked first among 122 major professional sports franchises in North America by ESPN the Magazine, cited for player accessibility, low ticket prices, and exciting hockey.

July 1, 2007: Sabres Lose Co-Captains in Free Agency

On July 1, 2007, the Buffalo Sabres lost both co-captains, Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, as free agents to the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, respectively.

October 2007: Harry Neale Replaces Jim Lorentz

In October 2007, Harry Neale of Hockey Night in Canada replaced Jim Lorentz as the Buffalo Sabres' broadcast color commentator after Lorentz announced his retirement during the preseason.

January 1, 2008: Sabres Participate in 2008 Winter Classic

On January 1, 2008, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 Winter Classic, an outdoor game played at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Sabres lost 2–1 in a shootout.

April 9, 2009: Sabres Eliminated from Playoffs

On April 9, 2009, the Buffalo Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention.

October 20, 2009: Daniel Paille Traded to Boston Bruins

On October 20, 2009, Daniel Paille was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a third-round and a conditional fourth-round draft selection, marking the first trade of a player under contract between the two division rivals in their 39 years in the NHL.

September 18, 2010: New primary home jersey released

On September 18, 2010, the Sabres released a modern version of the classic 1970–1996 logo as the primary home jersey. A road white jersey was also released, along with a third jersey.

November 30, 2010: Terry Pegula Intent to Purchase Sabres

On November 30, 2010, The Hockey News reported that Terry Pegula had signed a letter of intent to purchase the Sabres for US$150 million. Larry Quinn claimed the report was "untrue".

2010: The French Connection Appearance

In 2010, Terry Pegula was introduced as the Sabres' owner at HSBC Arena, accompanied by the final appearance of all three members of The French Connection.

2010: Playoff Drought Begins

In 2010, the Buffalo Sabres began a 14-season playoff drought, which is the longest in NHL history, lasting until the 2025-26 season.

January 29, 2011: Pegula and Golisano Agreement

On January 29, 2011, Terry Pegula and Golisano reached an agreement to sell the team. Pegula purchased the team for $189 million ($175 million with $14 million in debt included).

February 3, 2011: Sabres and Golisano Announcement

On February 3, 2011, The Sabres and Golisano officially made an announcement in a press conference regarding Pegula purchasing the team.

2011: Terry Pegula Purchases the Team

In 2011, Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Sabres from Tom Golisano, becoming the new owner of the team.

2011: Sabres participate in NHL Premiere series

In 2011, the Sabres began the season as part of the 2011 NHL Premiere series for the first time, playing games in Finland and Germany. Lindy Ruff named Jason Pominville the Sabres' 13th full-time captain.

2011: Sabres improved finishing above .500 for the first time since 2011

The Sabres improved in the 2022-23 season, going 42-33-7 and finishing above .500 for the first time since 2011 and only finishing one point below the playoff line.

2012: Statue Erected for French Connection

In 2012, a statue was erected at KeyBank Center honoring the French Connection line, and all three players had their jersey numbers retired.

2012: NHL Lockout

The 2012-13 NHL lockout eliminated the first part of the 2012-13 season, which ultimately began with a scheduled 48 games.

February 20, 2013: Lindy Ruff's Contract Terminated

On February 20, 2013, Lindy Ruff's contract was terminated by general manager Darcy Regier, ending 16 seasons as head coach. Ruff was replaced by Ron Rolston.

November 13, 2013: Regier and Rolston Dismissed

On November 13, 2013, Darcy Regier and Ron Rolston were dismissed from their positions. Ted Nolan was named interim head coach, and Pat LaFontaine was named president of hockey operations.

January 9, 2014: Tim Murray Named General Manager

On January 9, 2014, Tim Murray was named general manager of the Sabres.

February 28, 2014: Ryan Miller and Steve Ott Trade

On February 28, 2014, Ryan Miller and Steve Ott were traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier and two draft picks.

March 1, 2014: Pat LaFontaine Resigns

On March 1, 2014, Pat LaFontaine resigned from his position with the Sabres.

2014: Trades involving draft picks

Draft picks were involved in the Jason Pominville trade, 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

2014: Pegulas purchased Buffalo Bills

In 2014, the Pegulas purchased the Buffalo Bills.

2014: Drafting of Sam Reinhart

In 2014, the Sabres drafted Sam Reinhart

March 26, 2015: Fans Cheer Opposing Goal

On March 26, 2015, spectators at a Sabres game cheered after a game-winning goal by Coyotes center Sam Gagner.

May 28, 2015: Dan Bylsma Hired as Head Coach

On May 28, 2015, Dan Bylsma was hired as the 17th head coach in franchise history.

2015: Sabres trade Robyn Regehr

In 2015, The Sabres traded Robyn Regehr to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for two-second round draft choices (one in 2014 and the other in 2015).

2015: Improved Season

In the 2015-16 season, the Sabres had an improved season due to the hiring of Bylsma, the drafting of Eichel and Reinhart, and the acquisition of Ryan O'Reilly.

2016: MSG Western New York Spun Off

In mid-2016, the team announced that its television broadcasts would be spun off to their own regional sports network, MSG Western New York.

April 20, 2017: Bylsma and Murray Fired

On April 20, 2017, head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray were fired.

2017: Hiring of Botterill and Housley

During the 2017 offseason, Jason Botterill was hired as general manager and Phil Housley as head coach. Jason Pominville returned to the team in a trade.

2017: Sabres Participate in 2018 Winter Classic

In the 2017-18 season, the Sabres participated in the 2018 Winter Classic.

November 27, 2018: Sabres Lead League in Points

On November 27, 2018, the Sabres led the league in points after the first 25 games. The team won 10 games in a row, tying the franchise record. Jeff Skinner became the seventh player in franchise history to score 20 or more goals in less than 27 games.

2018: Draft Lottery Win and Dahlin Selection

In 2018, Buffalo finished in last place and won the draft lottery, selecting Rasmus Dahlin.

March 21, 2019: Sabres to Play in 2019 NHL Global Series

On March 21, 2019, the Sabres announced they would play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden.

May 2019: Ralph Krueger Named Head Coach

In May 2019, Ralph Krueger was named the Sabres head coach.

November 9, 2019: Lightning Defeat Sabres in Global Series

On November 9, 2019, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Sabres 5–3 in the Global Series.

June 16, 2020: Botterill Fired, Adams Hired

On June 16, 2020, Kevyn Adams replaced Botterill as the new general manager.

August 11, 2020: Uniforms Unveiled

On August 11, 2020, the Sabres unveiled the uniforms for the upcoming season, which were similar to those worn in the early days of the franchise. The Sabres also released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform.

2020: Last place finish in the 2020-21 season

With their last-place finish in the 2020-21 season, they won the draft lottery and selected Owen Power with the first overall pick in the 2021 draft.

March 17, 2021: Krueger Fired, Granato Named Interim Coach

On March 17, 2021, Ralph Krueger was fired and Don Granato was named interim head coach.

March 29, 2021: Sabres Tie NHL Losing Streak Record

On March 29, 2021, the Sabres tied the Pittsburgh Penguins' all-time NHL losing streak of 18 games, after blowing a 3-0 lead against the Philadelphia Flyers.

November 2021: Official Team Dog Added

In November 2021, the Sabres added an official team dog named Rick, a Newfoundland puppy trained as a service animal.

2021: Sabres Trade Away Key Players

During the 2021-22 season, the Sabres traded away Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Jack Eichel. Eichel sought an independent specialist who recommended an artificial total disc replacement.

August 31, 2022: New Third Jersey Announced

On August 31, 2022, the Sabres announced that their black uniform used from 1995 to 2006 would become their new third jersey, which also became the basis of their second "Reverse Retro" uniform.

2022: Sabres Improve in 2022-23 season

The Sabres improved in the 2022-23 season, going 42-33-7 and finishing above .500.

August 17, 2023: Rick Jeanneret Dies

On August 17, 2023, Rick Jeanneret passed away. He was later honored on October 13, 2023, with the renaming of Perry Street to "RJ Way".

2023: Vegas Golden Knights Funded Eichel's surgery

Following the 2021-22 trade, The Vegas Golden Knights funded Eichel's surgery winning the Stanley Cup with Eichel in 2023.

2023: Sacramento Kings Clinch Spot in 2023 NBA playoffs

With the Sacramento Kings clinching a spot in the 2023 NBA playoffs, it left both the New York Jets and Sabres as the teams among the major professional leagues with the longest active postseason drought with twelve seasons.

April 16, 2024: Head coach fired

On April 16, 2024, the Sabres fired head coach Granato, making him the seventh coach ousted since the team's playoff drought began.

April 22, 2024: Lindy Ruff Named Head Coach

On April 22, 2024, Lindy Ruff was named the new head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, marking his return for a second tenure with the team, after previously coaching from 1997 to 2013.