If we’re being honest, the past 25 years have probably felt a lot longer for Buffalo Sabres fans than they have for anyone else. After all, the Sabres co-own the longest postseason drought, 14 seasons, among franchises in the Big Four professional sports.
There were hopes this season would end the streak, especially after Lindy Ruff returned to the bench as coach. However, Buffalo started 1-4-1, then added a 13-game losing streak (0-10-3) from Nov. 27 to Dec. 21 that dashed NHL betting futures odds hopes that backers might have had before New Year’s Day.
Still, every team deserves to have its best players of the past quarter century honored, and that’s what we’re doing at OntarioBets for our neighbours across Niagara Falls.
We created a typical game-day roster (four forward lines, six defensemen and two goalies) using Hockey-Reference.com’s Point Shares statistic. While some of these players may have played for Buffalo prior to 2000, only the stats they earned since 2000 were considered for this list.
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Player | Years With Team | Quarter-Century Point Shares |
Derek Roy | 2003-2012 | 44.5 |
Jack Eichel | 2015-2021 | 38.3 |
Tage Thompson | 2018-Present | 35.4 |
Tim Connolly | 2001-2011 | 30.0 |
Derek Roy amassed 427 points (161 goals, 266 assists) during his time with the Sabres, but Jack Eichel was supposed to be atop this list. Sabres fans don’t need to be retold the backstory of their former franchise player who now may lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a second Stanley Cup. It’s as painful a subject to them as the Buffalo Bills postseason history.
At 888Sport Ontario Sportsbook, the Golden Knights have odds of +900 to win the Cup this year.
But there is hope on this list for Buffalo in Tage Thompson, who recorded his second 40-goal season in three years this season. Of his 44 tallies, 37 of them were even-strength goals, and that led the NHL. He told reporters this past week in an exit interview that winning next season will be crucial.
Player | Years With Team | Quarter-Century Point Shares |
Thomas Vanek | 2005-2014 | 62.7 |
Jochen Hecht | 2002-2013 | 34.3 |
Jeff Skinner | 2018-2024 | 31.2 |
J.P. Dumont | 2000-2006 | 24.3 |
Thomas Vanek just missed out on scoring 500 points while with the Sabres. His 497 points (254 goals, 243 assists) rank 11th all-time in team history. His best season was 2006-07, when he scored a personal-best 43 goals and led the league with a plus-47 rating on a team that reached the Eastern Conference final.
Player | Years With Team | Quarter-Century Point Shares |
Jason Pominville | 2003-2013, 2017-2019 | 56.2 |
Drew Stafford | 2006-2015 | 34.5 |
Miroslav Satan | 2000-2004 | 31.7 |
Maxim Afinogenov | 2000-2009 | 29.6 |
There was a time between 2005-06 and 2007-08 seasons when the Sabres were an offensive machine. Jason Pominville played a big role in that success, along with Vanek. The winger had a personal best 34 goals in the ‘06-07 season and followed that with a career high 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists) a year later. His 521 points (217, 304) between his two Buffalo stints are tops among Sabres since 2000.
Player | Years With Team | Quarter-Century Point Shares |
Rasmus Dahlin | 2018-Present | 50.5 |
Rasmus Ristolainen | 2013-2021 | 35.3 |
Tyler Myers | 2009-2015 | 28.4 |
Henrik Tallinder | 2001-2010, 2013-2014 | 27.2 |
Brian Campbell | 2000-2007 | 26.4 |
Alexei Zhitnik | 2000-2004 | 22.8 |
Rasmus Dahlin just turned 25 before this season ended and his contract should keep him in Buffalo through the 2031-32 season. He finished tied for second on team with 68 points (17 goals, 51 assists) along with 23-year-old forward JJ Peterka. Dahlin should be a cornerstone piece for the franchise, helping them end their postseason drought in the near future and perhaps making Buffalo’s Stanley Cup odds more realistic.
Player | Years With Team | Quarter-Century Point Shares |
Ryan Miller | 2002-2014 | 108.9 |
Martin Biron | 2000-2007 | 42.6 |
Dominik Hasek will always be the greatest netminder in Sabres history. However, Ryan Miller played very well during his tenure in Buffalo. His 284 wins are a franchise record and his 2.60 goals-against average ranks third behind Hasek and Martin Biron. Miller also won a Vezina Trophy in 2010 after going 41-18-8 with a 2.22 GAA.
Biron was the bridge between Hasek and Miller and was solid in the crease. Unfortunately for him, his three seasons as Buffalo’s No. 1 goalie came from 2001-02 to 2003-04, and the Sabres missed out on the postseason each year.
Our reviews of Ontario sports betting apps will help you choose an operator for your wagering on this year’s ongoing Stanley Cup playoffs.
USA Today photo by Joe Camporeale
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters. He shares his expertise on OntarioBets, among other sites.
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