Each year, FanSided releases its Fandoms of the Year, and yep, the Buffalo Sabres snuck their way onto the list alongside the Florida Panthers. So, as the defending Stanley Cup earned a spot, you may be wondering why a team with the longest playoff drought in NHL history is also there.
For someone who’s covered the Sabres since 2022, I can tell you this much: For a team that’s been in the NHL’s doldrums for seemingly forever, the fanbase continues to passionately support its team, and it says a lot.
That’s something you don’t see in every sports city, I can tell you that much. Yeah, the arena’s a little more empty these days, and you see a few more of the opposite team’s jerseys at KeyBank Center.
The latter is especially notorious when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town. But hey, it comes with the territory. That said, knowing how passionate the sports landscape is in a small-market city like Buffalo, the Sabres and its fans deserve that recognition.
Sabres have been mired in mediocrity, yet the fans are still passionate
I’m sure there is a contingent of Sabres fans out there who won’t return to KeyBank Center or watch this team keep losing until something drastic happens, whether it involves Kevyn Adams actually making a big trade or Terry Pegula selling the team.
Personally, I believe Buffalo is a hot spot for pro athletes because if that wasn’t the case, then nobody would want to play for the Buffalo Bills. And the last I checked, the Bills have one of the best, if not the best, teams in football.
So, for you Sabres fans reading this, keep displaying your passion for the Blue and Gold. And yeah, I get it; things look absolutely terrible right now for this hockey team. But if you remember it right, the Bills were mired in a similar situation for years. And, ironically, it was in an era when the Sabres were putting together some outstanding teams.
Maybe their fortunes will change, and the Sabres will go on a miracle run this season, or maybe we’ll get more of the same. But, at the end of the day, that fanbase will still care about and support its hockey team. And that’s why the Sabres earned the right to be one of FanSided’s 2024 Fandoms of the Year.