The Lost Decade Playoff Drought
The Sabres held the NHL record longest playoff drought at 10 seasons, which occurred between the 2010–11 and 2019–20 seasons.
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
- Era span
- 2011–2020
- Key figure
- None (no captain defined for this era)
- Playoff record trend
- No playoff appearances for 10 consecutive seasons
- Hall of fame connection
- Pat LaFontaine
Lore & Background
The Sabres held the NHL record longest playoff drought at 10 seasons, which occurred between the 2010–11 and 2019–20 seasons.
Reader's Guide
The team has 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.
Did You Know?
- Pat LaFontaine last played for the Sabres in 1997–98 and retired in 1999, so he was not on the team during the drought era.
- The team did not qualify for the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons (2011–2020).
- Mike Gartner never played for the Sabres.
- The NHL-record playoff drought for the Sabres was 10 seasons (2010–11 through 2019–20), not 14.
More in Club History & Eras
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