The Buffalo Sabres were established in 1970, along with the Vancouver Canucks, when the league expanded to 14 teams. They have played at KeyBank Center since 1996. Prior to that, the Buffalo Sabres played at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium from the start of the franchise in 1970. The Sabres are owned by Terry Pegula, who purchased the club in 2011 from Tom Golisano.
The team has twice advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 and to the Dallas Stars in 1999. The Sabres, along with the Canucks, are the longest continuously running active NHL franchises to have never won the Stanley Cup. The Sabres have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, at ten seasons, tying an NHL record.
The French Connection line of the early 1970s consisted of Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert. All three players have had their sweater numbers (11, 7 and 14, respectively) retired and a statue erected in their honor at KeyBank Center in 2012.
Year | Year2 | Years | Name | Wins | Losses | Games | Win % | Champs | Playoffs | Tenure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 2021 | 2021 | Ralph Krueger Don Granato | 15 | 34 | 49 | .306 | 0 | 1 | ||
2020 | 2020 | 2020 | Ralph Krueger | 30 | 31 | 61 | .492 | 0 | 1 | ||
2018 | 2019 | 2018-2019 | Phil Housley | 58 | 84 | 142 | .409 | 0 | 2 | ||
2016 | 2017 | 2016-2017 | Dan Bylsma | 68 | 73 | 141 | .482 | 0 | 2 | ||
1996 | 2015 | 1996-2015 | Ted Nolan | 96 | 123 | 219 | .438 | 1 | 3 | ||
2014 | 2014 | 2014 | Ron Rolston Ted Nolan | 21 | 51 | 72 | .292 | 0 | 1 | ||
2013 | 2013 | 2013 | Lindy Ruff Ron Rolston | 21 | 21 | 42 | .500 | 0 | 1 | ||
1998 | 2012 | 1998-2012 | Lindy Ruff | 565 | 422 | 987 | .572 | 0 | 8 | 15 | |
1993 | 1995 | 1993-1995 | John Muckler | 103 | 87 | 190 | .542 | 3 | 3 | ||
1992 | 1992 | 1992 | Rick Dudley John Muckler | 31 | 37 | 68 | .456 | 1 | 1 | ||
1990 | 1991 | 1990-1991 | Rick Dudley | 76 | 57 | 133 | .571 | 2 | 2 | ||
1988 | 1989 | 1988-1989 | Ted Sator | 75 | 67 | 142 | .528 | 2 | 2 | ||
1987 | 1987 | 1987 | Scotty Bowman Craig Ramsay Ted Sator | 28 | 44 | 72 | .389 | 0 | 1 | ||
1986 | 1986 | 1986 | Jim Schoenfeld Scotty Bowman | 37 | 37 | 74 | .500 | 0 | 1 | ||
1980 | 1985 | 1980-1985 | Scotty Bowman | 171 | 99 | 270 | .633 | 4 | 4 | ||
1982 | 1982 | 1982 | Scotty Bowman Jimmy Roberts | 39 | 26 | 65 | .600 | 1 | 1 | ||
1981 | 1981 | 1981 | Roger Neilson | 39 | 20 | 59 | .661 | 1 | 1 | ||
1979 | 1979 | 1979 | Marcel Pronovost Billy Inglis | 36 | 28 | 64 | .563 | 1 | 1 | ||
1978 | 1978 | 1978 | Marcel Pronovost | 44 | 19 | 63 | .698 | 1 | 1 | ||
1975 | 1977 | 1975-1977 | Floyd Smith | 143 | 61 | 204 | .701 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
1973 | 1974 | 1973-1974 | Joe Crozier | 69 | 61 | 130 | .531 | 1 | 2 | ||
1972 | 1972 | 1972 | Punch Imlach Floyd Smith Joe Crozier | 16 | 43 | 59 | .271 | 0 | 1 | ||
1971 | 1971 | 1971 | Punch Imlach | 24 | 39 | 63 | .381 | 0 | 1 | ||