The Buffalo Sabres became among hockey’s most exciting teams after one of the most eventful seasons in the franchise’s history. Things have swung so far that they are now contenders to land impact players rather than being part of every player’s no-trade list.
If you’re new to the Sabres there are a lot of things to know before donning your blue and gold sweater. It’s tough to really cover nearly 60 years of team history, but the following bullet points will do a decent job.
The ultimate Buffalo Sabres lore guide
The French Connection
It didn’t take long after the franchise’s founding in 1970 for the team to become a contender. A major part of that has to do with one of the most historic lines in league history: the French Connection.
Gilbert Perreault, the first overall pick in the 1970 NHL Draft, immediately became the face of the franchise. He was joined by 1971 first-round pick Rick Martin, and finally by Rene Robert via trade in 1972. The group would become one of the most prolific trios ever.
Led by the dynamic Perreault, the famous line would set benchmarks for the franchise that have not been beat. Over the course of seven seasons together, they combined for 738 goals and 1,681 points. Due to injuries and age, Robert and Martin would finish their careers elsewhere while Perreault would spend all of his 17 seasons in the blue and gold.
The French Connection not only filled highlight reels but nearly brought a Stanley Cup to Buffalo in the early days of the franchise, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1975 Stanley Cup Final. Their imprint on the franchise goes to its core and will live on as a crucial piece of Sabres lore.
The “Aud”
Completed in Oct. 1940, Memorial Auditorium — lovingly called “The Aud” by locals — became a hallmark for the city. It initially hosted college games, Buffalo Bisons (AHL) games, and even Buffalo Braves NBA games before becoming the primary home for the Sabres when the team arrived in 1970.
Massive renovations became a big deal for the downtown area and even became an official war memorial for World War I veterans. Perhaps most famously, it was home to “the Fog Game” during the 1975 Stanley Cup Final, and remained the home of the Sabres until its final season in 1996.
The Aud was home to some incredible moments, including Wayne Gretzky’s then-record-breaking 77th goal, setting a new NHL benchmark (he would finish with 92 that season). It was also home to NHL drafts, lacrosse championships, and one of the scariest moments in NHL history. It has seen and meant a lot to a city that loves its sports like few others.
RJ’s greatest calls
It would be impossible to talk about the Buffalo Sabres without mentioning their longtime announcer, Rick Jeanneret. Known simply as “RJ,” he was responsible for nearly every iconic call in the history of the franchise.
He took over play-by-play duties in 1971 and be with the team through thick and thin through his retirement on Apr. 29, 2022. This entire space could be filled with his impact on Sabres fans and the litany of calls he’s made throughout his career. Here’s a rundown of the very best:
- “Oooohh brother, we are not worthy!” – an otherworldly sprawling save by Dominik Hasek on the Philadelphia Flyers’ John LeClair in the 1998 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
- “La-la-la-la-la-la-la-Lafontaine!” – Pat LaFontaine had some of his best seasons as a Sabre, and RJ’s famous call when he scored would become a staple for Sabres fans in the early 1990s.
- “May Day! May Day! May Day! May Day!” – During the 1993 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, the Sabres were sizable underdogs against their rivals, the Boston Bruins. Buffalo had won the first three games and came back in Game 4 to send it to overtime. Enforcer Brad May took a LaFontaine pass, undressed Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, and beat Andy Moog to end the series, leading to what may be RJ’s greatest call.
- “These guys are good! Scary good!” – The Sabres came from nowhere in 2005-06, leading to their second-round matchup with the Ottawa Senators. In overtime of Game 5, the Sabres were shorthanded when Jason Pominville streaked up the ice, made a dazzling move, and promptly ended the game and series. It really underscored that the underdog Sabres were for real and a legitimate threat to win the Stanley Cup.
- “Top shelf where mama hides the cookies!” – Of his more “generic” calls, this may be RJ’s most famous. Whenever a Sabre scored on a high shot, this would be the call, and it never got old. It has since become commonplace in hockey parlance and rightfully so.
RJ stood out from all the other announcers with his unbridled passion. Big moments should evoke excitement, and RJ was never short of that. More than that, he was witty, funny, heart-warming, and humble. You don’t just remember RJ calls; you transport back into that moment in time and live that part of life anew.
Maple Leafs invasion
Buffalo is a mere 99 miles from Toronto, a drive of just under two hours down the Queen Elizabeth Highway. Because of that relatively short distance, it doesn’t offer much resistance when one fan base wants to head into the opposition’s barn.
During the dark years for the Sabres, they would be subject to an invasion of Maple Leaf fans for home games in Buffalo. Among all the embarrassing things the franchise had to go through, being outmanned by Maple Leaf fans often felt like the biggest slap in the face.
The tide began turning last season, and the point of pride is stronger than ever to never let the Blue and White become invasive again.
The dark times
Coming out of the league’s last major lockout — the 2004-05 season — the Sabres were on the verge of a major rebrand. Fans had been clamoring for the blue and gold again, but the franchise had other ideas. The Buffaslug would only last a few seasons, but it would be synonymous with one of the last successful stints in franchise history.
Beginning with the 2011-12 season, the Sabres would finish no better than 9th in the Eastern Conference and finished dead-last three times. For 14 seasons, the Sabres became the poster child for ineptitude and failure in not only hockey, but professional sports. After finishing 14th in the East in 2024-25, it felt like the drought would never end.
The limitless future
Oh my, how times have changed. After a rough start to the 2025-26 season, the Sabres finally lived up to their potential and finished second in the East, winning the Atlantic Division in the process (their first division crown since 2009-10). It was the season of a generation for many.
Now, the Sabres have one of the strongest, deepest, youngest cores in the league. They have several strong contracts (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Zach Benson) and appear ready to contend for the foreseeable future. It is a stark contrast from what Sabres fans have grown accustomed to.
Bright times ahead for Buffalo faithful
After a decade and a half of futility, the future finally feels bright again for the Sabres. They are led by a dynamic young core, and have a bevvy of talented prospects who are ready to make their mark on a nightly basis.
Sabres fans have been through a lot throughout the years — Brett Hull is likely to remain a villain in Buffalo until his dying day — it feels positively euphoric to be in the position they now enjoy. Whether that means the first championship in Buffalo (lacrosse doesn’t really count; sorry, Bandits) remains to be seen, but it is a good time to be a Buffalo Sabres fan.
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