1970 Expansion Era
The Sabres are the oldest active NHL franchise to have never won the Stanley Cup.
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along with the Vancouver Canucks, when the league expanded to 14 teams. The Sabres have played their home games at KeyBank Center since 1996, having previously played at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium since their inception. The Sabres are owned by Terry Pegula, who purchased the club in 2011 from Tom Golisano.
Quick Facts
- First captain
- Floyd Smith (1970–71)
- Stanley cup finals
- 1975, 1999
- Team colors
- Blue
- Gold
- and White
Lore & Background
The Sabres, along with the Vancouver Canucks, joined the NHL in the 1970–71 season. Their first owners were Seymour H. Knox III and Northrup Knox. The team's first captain was Floyd Smith in 1970. The Sabres have twice advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 and to the Dallas Stars in 1999. The Sabres, along with the Canucks, are the oldest active NHL franchises to have never won the Stanley Cup. The Sabres endured a 12-season playoff drought from 2010–11 to 2022–23, though the NHL's longest drought record at the time belonged to the Edmonton Oilers.
Reader's Guide
The Sabres' original team colors were blue, gold, and white. The team's first pick in the 1970 NHL amateur draft was Gilbert Perreault, who scored 38 goals in his rookie season and received the Calder Memorial Trophy. The French Connection line of Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert played together from 1972 to 1979. The Sabres' home games are played at KeyBank Center, where a statue of the French Connection line stands outside.
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