Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres came into the NHL as part of the league’s expansion from 12 to 14 in 1970, and they quickly proved their worth.

On the strength of the "French Connection" line (Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert), the Sabres made it to the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals, though lost to Philadelphia.  Buffalo remained a good, though not necessarily great squad for years, and upon the emergence of Czech Goalie Dominic Hasek, made it to the Finals again in 1999, though a controversial call cost them the Cup against Dallas.

The Sabres have not been to the Finals since.

This list is up to the end of the 2021/22 season.

Note: Hockey lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.

After three years with the Boston Bruins, Quebec-born Center, Andre Savard joined the Buffalo Sabres in 1976, bringing another French Canadian to their roster.
Drafted in 1995, Martin Biron first made the Buffalo Sabres that year for three Games, but it would take another three seasons before he reached the parent club again.  The following season (1999-00), Biron was there to stay, and the Goalie quickly became a fan favorite.
A product of Michigan State, Jason Woolley was already established as a decent NHL Defenseman with experience with Washington, Florida, Pittsburgh.  The Penguins shipped Woolley to Buffalo prior to the 1997-98 Season, and it was as a Sabre where the former Spartan was at his best.
From Finland, Christian Ruuttu was a late-round pick in the 1983 Draft, and three years later, he debuted in the NHL, finishing sixth in Calder voting with a 65-Point season. Ruuttu’s second season saw the Center reaching career-highs with 26 Goals and 71 Points, and he was a surprise All-Star…
It is not typical for a hockey player to have his best season as a rookie, especially for non-Goalies, but this is the case for Defenseman Tyler Myers.
From Russia, Dmitri Kalinin was a First Round Pick in 1998 and was a regular blueliner for the Sabres two years later.
After six productive seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, Ryan O’Reilly was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in June of 2015.
Ric Seiling was chosen number 14 overall in the 1977 Draft, and the versatile forward found a home in the NHL immediately with the Buffalo Sabres.
Taken Second Overall in 2014, Sam Reinhart finished up with Kootenay of the Western Hockey League before making his debut for the Sabres late in the season.
A Second Round pick in 1994, Defenseman Curtis Brown played in five Games for the Buffalo Sabres over his first two seasons as a professional hockey player.  After appearing in 28 Games in 1996-97, Brown was an NHLer for good the following season.