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Buffalo Sabres History: Top 5 trade acquisitions in franchise history

By Robert Berger

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Jason Botterill of the Buffalo Sabres works the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Jason Botterill of the Buffalo Sabres works the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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4. Daniel Briere

Before we get into Daniel Briere, this is a good time to remind everyone that the rankings are for the best Buffalo Sabres trade acquisitions and how their impact on the organization. Daniel Briere is arguably the best trade the Sabres have ever made.

Briere came to the Sabres in a 2003 trade deadline deal with the Phoenix Coyotes for Chris Gratton and swapped draft picks. Gratton had 30 points over 2 years with the Coyotes while Briere had a superb 4 seasons in Buffalo.

His lack of time with the Sabres is what kept me from moving him higher on the list. His 242 games as a Sabre is the least compared to the other 4 players ranked here. His lack of games isn’t completely his fault though.

Briere unfortunately lost a year due to the lockout and played during an era in which the Sabres had a policy of not negotiating contracts during the season (this policy ended after Briere and Chris Drury didn’t resign and Thomas Vanek almost left after the 2007 season).

Daniele Briere was a part of one of the most successful teams in Buffalo Sabres history. He co-captained the first team in team history to win 50 games in a season, went to the conference finals twice, and was a part of the first teams to have back-to-back 100 point seasons since the powerhouse squads of the mid 1970s.

Although his lack of longetivity with the club keeps him off of most Sabres top 10 leaders lists, his 2006-07 season is one of the best seasons in Sabres history. He racked up 63 assists and 95 points (both were top 10 in the league), started the All-Star game, and was the All-Star game MVP (only the second Sabre to win the award). It is still tough to think about what could have been if the Sabres were able to re-sign Briere and Drury.

Next: Number Three

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