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Top 5 greatest captains of all-time on the Buffalo Sabres

By Sion Fawkes

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 5: Mike Grier #25 and Chris Drury #23 of the Buffalo Sabres observe the national anthem during the game with the New York Islanders on October 5, 2005 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 6-4. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 5: Mike Grier #25 and Chris Drury #23 of the Buffalo Sabres observe the national anthem during the game with the New York Islanders on October 5, 2005 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 6-4. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Sabres
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 06: Craig Rivet #52 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL hockey game at the HP Pavilion on January 6, 2011 in San Jose, California. The Sabres won the game 3-0. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Craig Rivet

Rivet captained the Buffalo Sabres for three seasons between 2008 and 2011. Like Smith, Rivet isn’t someone you would consider a great player, given his lack of even seeing a single All-Star Game. In fact, the Sabres waived him in February 2011, meaning he was not there to lead the team to what became their final playoff appearance before the infamous league-record drought.

However, you cannot leave Rivet off this list, considering that, despite not winning the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal to the Boston Bruins in 2010, Rivet still captained the team to a Northeastern division title that season. This title came off of two lean seasons where the Sabres missed the playoffs.

It’s players like Rivet whose presence managed to impact others around him, as opposed to his playing ability, that truly makes a great captain. This shows that he was a respected puzzle piece in the locker room, and why elite or even solid statistics don’t always translate into providing sound leadership. Which is a lesson Jack Eichel once taught us.

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