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 2023/24 season.

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

41. Tim Connolly

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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The New York Islanders took Tim Connolly, an American-born Center with the Fifth Overall Pick, in 1999. Two years later, at the 2001 Draft, he was traded within the state to Buffalo for Michael Peca, and like the person he was traded for, injuries would come to define his career.

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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Tage Thompson began his career in St. Louis, where the American played only one year before he was traded to Buffalo, and it appears that Thompson’s ascendence in recent years makes it appear that the Sabres won the trade. Thompson’s first three years in the Sabres organization, though a lot…

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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In the 2013 Draft, Rasmus Ristolainen was a highly coveted prospect from Finland, and the Sabres agreed, as they captured him with the number eight pick.

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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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.

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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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.

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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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.

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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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…

Top 50 Buffalo Sabres

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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.