Buffalo Sabres History: Who Wore It, Number 80

By Melissa Kania |

Buffalo Sabres fans who have been visiting Sabre Noise for some time may be familiar with our “Who Wore It” series. We started this several years ago, highlighting one player to have worn each jersey number with the Buffalo Sabres. This series doesn’t designate who is the “best” to have worn that number, but simply allows fans to learn a little more about the team’s history and the players in it.

We last discussed jersey number 78 and moving ahead – we’re nearly to the end of this! – trudge on to jersey number 80. Of course, most recently, that number was worn by Chris Stewart – but today, let’s go a little further back and look at the only other player in Buffalo Sabres history to wear #80: Geoff Sanderson.

Sanderson’s lengthy NHL career did not begin, nor end, in Buffalo, but that’s not to say there weren’t some good years here for the left winger.

Drafted by the Hartford Whalers 36th overall in 1990, Sanderson continued playing with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL for one more season before making his NHL debut in the 1990-91 year. He also made his AHL debut that season, appearing in one game with the AHL’s Springfield Indians. That would turn out to be the lone NHL game of his career.

Sanderson dominated at the WHL level, notching 112 points – 62 goals, 50 assists – in 70 games in his final junior season. He also put up three points in as many playoff games.

From that point forward, it was almost all NHL.

First, six seasons with the Hartford Whalers (aside from some time with HPK Hameenlinna during the ’94’95 lockout). Sanderson continued with the Whalers organization when it moved to Carolina, spending part of the 1997-98 season there.

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Then, after a lot of time with the Whalers/Canes organization, it was time for him to move on. First up: a trade to the Vancouver Canucks.

Sanderson went with Sean Burke and Enrico Ciccone to Vancouver in exchange for Martin Gelinas and Kirk McLean on January 2, 1998.

After appearing in nine games with the Canucks – and just over a month later, on February 4 – Sanderson was on the move again, this time to the Buffalo Sabres. He was traded in exchange for Brad May and a 1999 3rd round draft pick (Jimmie Olvestad).

Thus began his time with the Buffalo Sabres.

It started with 26 games that season, during which Sanderson notched nine points (4-5) and a plus-6. He also added four points in 14 playoff games with the Buffalo Sabres.

Sanderson’s first full year with the Buffalo Sabres saw him put up 30 points (12-18) in 75 regular season games before adding an additional 10 points (4-6) in 19 playoff games.

Finally, Sanderson’s last year with the Buffalo Sabres, he put up 26 points (13-13) in 67 games. He also had two assists in five playoff games.

Following that season, he moved on to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he’d notch 56 points (30-26) in 68 games. Sanderson would spend much of the next few seasons with the Blue Jackets, until March 9, 2004. Then – he was on the move once again, this time back to Vancouver in exchange for a draft pick (Dan LaCosta).

The last few seasons of Sanderson’s NHL career saw him bounce around quite a bit.

He spent the 2004-05 lockout year playing in the Swiss-A league with Geneve Servette, and returned once again to Columbus for the start of the 2005-2006 season.

But just two games in, he was traded again. October 8, 2005 saw Sanderson, along with Tim Jackman, sent to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Jason Chimera, Cale Hulse and Michael Rupp.

After spending the rest of the year with Phoenix, Sanderson spent the following season (’06-’07) with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The final trade of his career came on July 1, 2007, as the Flyers swapped him, Joni Pitkanen and a 2009 3rd rounder (Cameron Abney) to Edmonton in exchange for Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith.

He spent his final season in the NHL playing with the Edmonton Oilers. All in all, he appeared in 1,159 games throughout his 18-year NHL career.

The now 43-year-old Sanderson is a scout for the New York Islanders.

Next: Who Gets Called Up For Injuries?

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