Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres is an NHL ice hockey team in Buffalo, New York, playing at KeyBank Center. The club began NHL competition in 1970–71.
Contents15 sections
Key facts
December 2, 1969The Knox brothers receive an NHL franchise
Seymour and Northrup Knox received an NHL expansion franchise on December 2, 1969, to start playing in 1970–71. Punch Imlach became coach and general manager.[1]
June 1970Gilbert Perreault is drafted
Buffalo selected center Gilbert Perreault first overall in 1970. His 38-goal rookie season earned the Calder Trophy.[2]
1972The French Connection line takes shape
Rick Martin arrived in 1971 and Rene Robert in a late-1971–72 trade from Pittsburgh. With Perreault, they formed the French Connection line.[2]
1975First Stanley Cup Final
A 49–16–15 season led to Buffalo’s first Final in 1975. After eliminating Chicago and Montreal, the Sabres lost 4–2 to Philadelphia.[2]
1979Scotty Bowman becomes coach
September 21, 1996A new home arena opens
1998The Rigas family takes ownership
Adelphia Communications founder John Rigas acquired the Sabres in 1998.[1]
1999Second Stanley Cup Final
With Lindy Ruff coaching and Dominik Hasek in goal, Buffalo returned to the Final but lost to Dallas. Brett Hull’s series-winning goal in triple overtime of Game 6 provoked a dispute over the crease rule.[5]
2002–2003League control and the Golisano purchase
After the Adelphia scandal, the NHL took operational control. Buffalo filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2003 before B. Thomas Golisano bought the club that year and kept it in the city.[1]
2007First Presidents’ Trophy
Buffalo’s 53 wins in 2006–07 brought its first Presidents’ Trophy. The playoff run ended in the Eastern Conference Final.[2]
February 22, 2011Terry Pegula takes ownership
Terry Pegula announced his purchase of the Sabres at the arena. The three French Connection players joined the new owner on the ice.[4]
May 1, 2026A playoff series victory after the long drought
The Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought and won their first Atlantic Division title in 2025–26. A 4–1 victory at Boston on May 1 clinched the opening-round series 4–2, their first playoff series win since 2007.[6]
Home arena
Buffalo plays at KeyBank Center, One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, New York. The venue announced a ten-year naming-rights extension with KeyBank on July 30, 2025.[4]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Buffalo Sabres: Official website: https://www.nhl.com/sabres (opens in a new window)[7]
Buffalo Sabres: X: https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres (opens in a new window)[7]
Buffalo Sabres: YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/user/SabresSocialMedia (opens in a new window)[7]
Sources
- History of the Buffalo Sabres (opens in a new window)
- Buffalo Sabres 2012–13 Media Guide (opens in a new window)
- New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres | Semifinals, 1980 Stanley Cup Playoffs (opens in a new window)
- KeyBank Center History (opens in a new window)
- Buffalo Sabres History: Part III (1992–2003) (opens in a new window)
- Sabres eliminate Bruins in Game 6 with 4–1 victory (opens in a new window)
- Buffalo Sabres — official website (opens in a new window)