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Buffalo Sabres joined the National Hockey League in the 1970-71 season. It was founded by New York based businessman Seymour Knox III and Northrup Knox. The team, initially played many seasons at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, New York. They had played for almost 26 years in that arena. Before the start of the 1970-71 season, Sabres won the lottery of 1970 NHL Draft to pick the players. At the opening of their career, they got Montreal Canadien player Gilbert Perreault who had joined them in their first season. He scored 38 goals in that season. The team finished with 24 wins and 63 points. The season also earned the Calder Trophy for Gilbert as the NHL's best player in his first year of the career (Rookie). Despite his star play, the Sabres did not make the playoffs. On September 16, 2006, the team shifted to their permanent home to the HSBC Arena.
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About The Buffalo Sabres
In the team's second season, they picked up Rick Martin and Rene Robert. With three stars in the team, they were one of the finest teams of 1970s in the league. Gilbert's record of 38 goals in a season was overshadowed by Martin's 44 goals in that second season (1971-72). The three were nicknamed “The French Connection”. In 1973, the Sabres lost one playoff to the Montreal Canadiens, the ruling team of that time. But it had its significance in the way that, this was their first playoff appearance ever. The Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1974-75 season. They played the final with the Philadelphia Flyers but could not grab the cup. In the overall career, the team failed to have success in the win column despite of having the French Connection and many well-known coaches.