It was a welcome announcement from the Buffalo Sabres that they are honoring the 2005-06 team that won the hearts of Western New York by going all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, this year's squad is just hoping to break a long playoff drought.
The Sabres could gain a lot of valuable lessons from that team from 20 years ago
The group that almost made the Stanley Cup Finals was a remarkable team that was not thought of to do a lot that season. But they proved critics wrong. This year's team has not been thought of and was not believed to compete for this season. So far, it has been up and down.
Twenty years ago, the Sabres broke the century mark on power-play goals. Hitting on the power play can be the difference between the playoffs and missing the mark. This season, the Sabres struggled at the start of the season win a man up. Over the course of the last six games, however, they have improved, ranking second in the league over that span.
In addition, the Sabres from the 05-06 season won 25 games on the road, breaking a team record. Currently the Sabres are 0-2-1 on the away ice. It's important for them to establish momentum away from the KeyBank Center.
Stats are one thing, though. The most important lesson that the team from 20 years ago, is the camaraderie on the ice. From captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury to rookie Thomas Vanek, many players pulled together both on the ice and off.
It brought a sense of hope of hope to both the team and the organization. It led to a President's Trophy the following season.
I am not saying that the Sabres this year or next are on their way to a Stanley Cup or President's Trophy. I am saying that if they can come together and glean lessons of that team, it could give them the hope that can become confidence.
Pioneer hockey player, Mike Grier, scored four game-winning goals that season
Grier was embraced and fondly remembered by the Sabres and the fanbase. Now imagine if a player such as Zach Benson, who plays a similar high-effort, high-IQ brand of hockey, has a season similar to that. Imagine a playoff berth.
The team that breaks the drought will always be remembered in the city. Remembering the hope from 20 years could lead to another moment. Possibly in 20 years the team that breaks the drought will also be remembered at the KeyBank Center and embraced by the fans for providing hope.