Top Ten Players in Buffalo Sabres Franchise History
Feeling nostalgic? Pining for the good ol’ days? Time to take the WABAC machine on a tour through Buffalo Sabres history!
The first drafted player in Buffalo Sabres history, Gilbert Perreault tore it up in the 1970s with former line mates Rick Martin and Rene Robert. The speedy French-Canadian became one of the greatest players in NHL history with his on-ice vision and breakaway speed. Perreault holds the record for the most games played in team history with 1,191 is the leading point scorer in team history with 1,326. Perreault also hold the team record for goals scored with 512 and assists with 814. Perreault led the Sabres in a a memorable season to the 1974-1975 Stanley Cup.
2.) Dominik Hasek
The “Dominator” became a wonder to watch during his days in Buffalo, standing on his head while making sprawling saves night after night. In nine seasons with the Sabres, Hasek earned over 25 franchise records including wins, shutouts and lowest goals against average. His best season would come during the 1998-1999 season where he posted 30 wins, 18 losses and 14 overtime losses/ties. Hasek then earned a .937 save percentage and a stunning 1.87 goals against average that season. He capped off ’99 with a trip to the Stanley Cup where the Sabres notoriously lost to the Dallas Stars.
3.) Rick Martin
As stated earlier, Rick Martin along with teammates Gilbert Perrault and Rene Robert formed one of the greatest lines in hickey history during their playing days in the 1970s. Martin became a feared winger developing a very fast and very hard shot. Martin is third on the teams all-time list in points scored with 695 and second in all-time goals with 382. Martins best season would come during the teams Cup run in ’74-’75 where he would score 52 goals and 43 assists for a whopping 95 points.
4.) Pat LaFontaine
The American born point scorer led the Buffalo Sabres in the early 1990s as one of the most dominant players in the NHL during his time. LaFontaine scored a personal record 148 points during the 1991-1992 season scoring 53 goals and dishing out an impressive 95 assists. Lafontaine led the Sabres to the playoffs in four seasons from 1991-1992 to 1994-1995. He is also the only player in NHL history to play his entire career for all three New York based teams (Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and New York Rangers).
5.) Danny Gare
Despite his small 5 foot 9 inch frame, Danny Gare was a scrappy, tough and fearless player in the National Hockey League. Gare became a two-time All-Star who twice was a 50 goal scorer for the Buffalo Sabres. Gare played on the Sabres from 1974-1975 to 1981-1982. Games best season would come in 1979-1980 where he scored 56 goals and 33 assists combined for 89 points.
6.) Rene Robert
The third member of the famed “French Connection” line, Robert became a member of the Buffalo Sabres during the 1971-1972 NHL season. Like many other fellow teammates, Robert would also have his best season during the 1974-1975 Cup season. In that season, Robert netted 40 goals and 60 assists for a 100 point season. Robert is fifth on the team’s all-time assists list with 330 assists. Robert was acquired during a spring time trade in 1972 and became the final piece of the puzzle that formed the dominant line.
7.) Dale Hawerchuck
Hawerchuck became a member of the Sabres in 1990 when he was involved in a blockbuster trade during the NHL Draft that sent him and former first round pick, Brad May, from Winnipeg to Buffalo in exchange for former Sabres Phil Housley, Scott Ariel and Jeff Parker. Hawerchuck was a part of a Sabres team that consistently made the playoffs during the early 90s. Hawerchuck became an ideal center for Buffalo dishing out at least 50 assists four times during his five year career with the team. His greatest season would come in 1991-1992 where he scored 23 goals and recored 75 assists for 98 points. Hawerchuck was selected as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001 during his second year of eligibility.
8.) Phil Housley
Recently elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame this past year in 2015, Housley became a member of the NHL when he was 18 years old in 1982. Housley became a steady offensive bluliner for the Sabres during his eight year career on the team. His best season would come in 1989-1990, his final season with the team, where he would score 21 goals and dish out 60 assists for 81 points. Housley put up strong offensive numbers for Buffalo and is currently fifth all-time in points for the Sabres with 558.
9.) Craig Ramsay
Ramsay would spend his entire NHl career with the Sabres, playing an impressive 14 seasons with the team from 1971-1972 to 1984-1985. Ramsay became a reliable defensemen rarely missing games during his long career. The least amount of games Ramsay would play would be 57 during his first season. Ramsay steadily put up offensive numbers from the blue line with his best season coming in 1977-1978 where he scored 28 goals and 43 assists for 71 points.
10.) Dave Andreychuk
Hopefully a soon to be member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Andreychuk played 11 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres from 1982-1983 to 1992-1993. The fewest amount of goals he would score with the Sabres was only 25. Andreychuk became a frequent 30 and 40 goal scorer hitting the 30 goal mark five times and 40 goal mark twice with Buffalo. His best season would come in 1991-1992 where he netted 40 goals and 50 assists for a total of 91 points. Andreychuk definitely got snubbed of the Hall of Fame this year, but hopefully will make it in the few years to come.
Honorable Mentions-
“Alexander The Great” would become a goal scoring machine for the Buffalo Sabres of the early ’90s. Mogilny netted a franchise record 76 goals in 1992-1993 where he also recorded 51 assists for a very impressive 127 point season.
The Sabres’ all-time goaltending leader in wins and wins in a season, Ryan Miller proved to be a consistent brick wall for 9 seasons in Buffalo. His first full season starting for the Sabres, he led the team in net to the 2005-2006 Eastern Conference Finals. His greatest season however, came in 2009-1010 where Miller won the Vezina Trophy and led team USA to a Silver Medal at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Danny Briere
Who could forget the clutch goals scored by Danny Briere when he was needed the most? Although Briers time in Buffalo was short, it was also very memorable. No one can forget the two historic seasons that included back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals visits and the exciting playoff runs. Briers was a part of one the greatest teams in Sabres’ history that won the Presidents Trophy in 2007 with a 53-22-7 record. In that season, Briere would net 32 goals and 63 assists for a total of 95 points.
The other clutch captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the mid 2000s. Chris Drury was on the toughest players in the NHL and was the definition of a true leader. Drury was also a member of the memorable 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 squads that created a new kind of hype for hockey in WNY. Drury’s best season would come in 2006-2007 when he scored 37 goals and 32 assists for 69 points. Nothing was more memorable than his last second goal against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
The goal scoring winger was a part of the 1998-1999 Eastern Conference Championship team that made a run to the Stanley Cup. Satan played 8 season with Buffalo with his best coming in 2002-2003 where he scored 26 goals and 49 assists for 75 points.