The Buffalo Sabres are an iconic team in the National Hockey League, having been part of the league since its expansion in 1970. The Sabres have a rich history and tradition that few teams can match – from their dramatic Stanley Cup Finals appearances to their passionate fan base. As one of two original franchises located in New York State (the other being the Vancouver Canucks), they represent not only hockey but also all of Western New York with pride each time they take to the ice at KeyBank Center.
1. Gilbert Perreault
Center
Career
- Buffalo Sabres
- National team: Canada
- NHL Draft: 1st overall, 1970
- Buffalo Sabres
Gilbert Perreault was a prolific scorer in the NHL and is now considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He played for the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, and Minnesota North Stars over his 20-year career.
Perreault won two Stanley Cups with Montreal in 1976 and 1978, as well as three Art Ross Trophies (regular season scoring leader).
He also competed in four Olympic Games, winning a silver medal with Canada at the 1972 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
After retiring from playing hockey, Gilbert became an executive with Quebecor Media before being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.
Gilbert Perreault was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1970 NHL Draft. He played for the Sabres from 1970 to 1986, amassing over 1,000 points in his career.
Gilbert Perreault won two Stanley Cups with Buffalo and was a key player on their teams during that time period. After retiring from hockey, Gilbert Perreault went on to have a successful career as an executive with the Winnipeg Jets organization.
Gilbert Perreault is considered one of the all-time greats at center ice and will always be remembered fondly by fans of both Buffalo and Winnipeg.
Also Played For: stanley cup
2. Dominik Hasek
Goaltender
Dominik Hasek was a world-renowned goaltender who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and HC Spartak Moscow in his 16 seasons in the NHL.
He won four Stanley Cup championships with Detroit (1997–98, 2002–03, 2008–09, 2009). His best season came in 1997-98 when he posted a record of 41-17-8 with nine shutouts.
Hasek is also remembered for leading Czechoslovakia to its first Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Dominik Hasek was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014 and received the Lester B.
Pearson Award as Canada's top athlete that year. Dominik Hasek is a legendary Czech player who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1980 to 2011, winning three Stanley Cups with them during that time.
Hasek also won two Olympic gold medals and one World Championship title during his career. Dominik Hasek remains one of the most dominant goaltenders in NHL history, having led his team to at least 50 wins in each of his ten seasons as a starter (the only goaltender ever to do so).
His style was characterized by extreme patience and outstanding reflexes, which helped him achieve several records including most shutouts (425) and fewest goals allowed per game (2.14).
In 2006 he became only the second goalie, after Ed Belfour, to win four consecutive Vezina Trophies; he retired shortly afterwards due to injury but returned briefly in 2010–11 season before retiring permanently later that year at age 41.
3. Tage Thompson
Center
Career
- 2016–17: University of Connecticut
- 2016–17: Chicago Wolves
- 2017–18: St. Louis Blues
- 2017–18: San Antonio Rampage
- 2018–19: Buffalo Sabres
- 2018–19: Rochester Americans
- 2019–20: Rochester Americans
Tage Thompson was born in Phoenix, Arizona on October 30th 1997. He is 6'6" tall and weighs 220lbs. Tage played for the US National Team Development Program (NTDP) from 2014-2017 where he recorded 97 goals and 128 assists in 187 games.
On July 1st 2017, Thompson was signed to a three-year contract by the St Louis Blues worth $5 million dollars per season. In his first year with the Blues, he recorded 28 goals and 37 assists in 80 games which led to him being nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year award.
However, he lost out to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews who had an impressive 82 points in 56 games during that same season.
Thompson was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2016, and has since played for them in the NHL. Thompson is known for his speed and offensive abilities, as he loves to shoot the puck.
Thompson has represented Team USA at various international tournaments, including the World Junior Championships (where he won a silver medal) and the World Championships (where he finished fifth).
Thompson is an exciting player to watch due to his ability to score goals both quickly and powerfully; expect him to continue developing into one of the best forwards in hockey.
Also Played For: st louis blues trade
4. Rick Martin
Left wing
Rick Martin was a well-known Canadian singer, songwriter and musician. He first came to prominence in the early 1970s as one of the founding members of The Bachman–Turner Overdrive Band.
Rick Martin has been awarded nine Juno Awards, including two for Best Pop Album and Single for his work with BTO. In 2007 he released an album entitled "The Road". Rick Martin died at age 59 from lung cancer on March 13th 2011 Rick Martin played for the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings in the NHL.
He was drafted 5th overall by the Sabres in 1971 and enjoyed a lengthy playing career there, retiring in 1982. Rick is best known for his speed and scoring ability on left wing; he finished with over 200 points in his career.
After retirement, Rick became an assistant coach with the St John's IceCaps of the AHL before becoming head coach at Robert Morris University later that decade.
In 2003, Rick was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame along with his former team-mate Phil Housley.
5. Rasmus Dahlin
Defenseman
Career
- 2014–15: HC Lidköping
- 2015–16: Frölunda HC
- 2016–17: Frölunda HC
- 2016–17: Frölunda HC
- 2017–18: Frölunda HC
- 2017–18: Frölunda HC
Rasmus Dahlin was born in Trollhättan, Sweden on April 13th, 2000. He is a 6'3" 191 cm tall player who weighs in at 207 lb. Dahlin has been playing for the Buffalo Sabres since the 2017-18 season and has had great success so far.
Rasmus Dahlin is considered one of the most talented players in the NHL today and his skills are sure to make an impact on any team he plays for.
Rasmus Dahlin is a talented defenceman who has impressed in the NHL. He was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2018 and he has since made an impact on their team.
Rasmus Dahlin is known for his offence, but he also possesses excellent defensive skills which make him a valuable player to have on any team.
He will be a key part of Sweden’s Olympic hockey squad this year and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do at such a prestigious event. We hope that Rasmus Dahlin continues to perform well both on and off the ice, and that he can achieve many more successes in his career.
Also Played For: youth hockey, nhl 22 best young players
6. Phil Housley
Defenseman
Career
- 1980–81: St. Paul Vulcans
- 1981–82: South Saint Paul
- 1982–83: Buffalo Sabres
- 1983–84: Buffalo Sabres
- 1984–85: Buffalo Sabres
- 1985–86: Buffalo Sabres
- 1986–87: Buffalo Sabres
Phil Housley played over 1,000 NHL games and was a four-time Stanley Cup Champion. He first joined the Buffalo Sabres in 1988 as an undrafted free agent and went on to play for them until 1997.
In 1998, he moved to Winnipeg where he spent five seasons before joining the St. Louis Blues in 2003. Housley then had two stints with the Calgary Flames before rejoining the Devils in 2006 for his final season playing in North America.
After retiring from professional hockey, Phil became an analyst with TSN and CBS Sports while also working as a color commentator for select AHL or ECHL matches. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 after being nominated by former teammate Paul Kariya.
Phil Housley played for the Buffalo Sabres from 1982-2003. He was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Blackhawks in 1992 and 1993, as well as a three-time All-Star.
In 1996, he helped lead Team USA to their first ever World Cup victory and gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City that year.
After retiring as a player, he served as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche from 2003 until being fired in 2013 after posting an 82-183 record over five seasons.
Phil is now an analyst on NBC Sports Network where he provides commentary during games and continues to support his country through various charitable endeavors.
7. Owen Power
Defenseman
Career
- 2017–18: Mississauga Reps
- 2018–19: Chicago Steel
- 2019–20: Chicago Steel
- 2020–21: University of Michigan
- 2021–22: University of Michigan
- 2021–22: Buffalo Sabres
Owen Power is a young player with great potential who will be a key part of the Buffalo Sabres team in 2022.
Power has already shown his skills as one of the most promising players in the Canadian hockey league, and he is only going to continue developing at an impressive rate.
His size and strength are two factors that make him a dangerous player on the ice, and he will be relied upon heavily by the Sabres next year if they want to compete for playoff spots. With hard work and dedication, Power can become one of Canada's top hockey players - watch out, Owen.
Owen Power is a left-handed defenceman who was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Power has spent his entire playing career with the Sabres, and has been a key player on their blueline for several years now. He is known for his strong defensive play, as well as his ability to contribute offensively from time to time.
In 2019, Power helped lead Canada to victory at the World Junior Championship, being named tournament MVP along the way.
Overall, Owen Power is considered one of the most promising young defencemen in hockey today - look for him to continue making an impact on behalf of Buffalo and Canada in future seasons.
Also Played For: ncaa hockey
8. Thomas Vanek
Left wing
Career
- 1999–00: Sioux Falls Stampede
- 2000–01: Sioux Falls Stampede
- 2001–02: Sioux Falls Stampede
- 2002–03: Minnesota Golden Gophers
- 2003–04: Minnesota Golden Gophers
- 2004–05: Rochester Americans
- 2005–06: Buffalo Sabres
Thomas Vanek is a left winger who has played for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers.
Thomas Vanek was born on January 19th 1984 in Baden bei Wien, Austria. Thomas Vanek stands at 6' 2" tall and weighs 218lbs (99kg). He began his career with Graz 99ers before moving to the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres in 2004-05.
In 7 seasons with Buffalo he recorded 427 goals and 375 assists for 850 points in 890 games - an impressive statistic.
After leaving the Sabres in 2013-14, Thomas Vanek joined the New York Islanders where he would remain until 2016-17 when he moved onto Montreal as part of a blockbuster trade involving P Carey Price and Max Pacioretty which saw Brendan Gallagher move to Long Island from Ottawa.
In 2017-18 season TomVanek returned to Minnesota where he finished up his illustrious professional career playing 54 games recording 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points helping them make it.
All the way to The Stanley Cup Final but unfortunately they were defeated by Nashville Predators four games to one a heartbreaking loss indeed.
9. Dave Andreychuk
Winger
Dave Andreychuk was a prolific scorer in the NHL, amassing over 1,500 points in his career. He began his career with the Buffalo Sabres before playing for Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins.
In 2007 he became only the second player to ever score 50 goals in a season twice (the first being Wayne Gretzky). He retired from professional hockey in 2013 after playing 16 seasons of regular-season and playoff games.
Dave Andrychuk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017 as part of its inaugural class. Dave Andreychuk was a highly successful NHL player for over 20 years, amassing more than 1,000 points in that time.
He is best known for his long and successful career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he helped them to two Stanley Cup championships.
In 2006 he announced his retirement from professional ice hockey after 14 seasons playing in the NHL. Dave Andreychuk is also a highly respected figure within Canadian ice hockey circles, having served as both an assistant coach and head coach at various levels of competition throughout his career.
He now works as an ambassador for charity organizations promoting physical fitness among young people across Canada.
10. Jack Eichel
Center
Career
- 2010–11: Boston Junior Bruins
- 2011–12: Boston Junior Bruins
- 2011–12: Boston Junior Bruins
- 2012–13: U.S. NTDP Juniors
- 2012–13: U.S. NTDP U17
- 2012–13: U.S. NTDP U18
- 2013–14: U.S. NTDP Juniors
- 2013–14: U.S. NTDP U18
Jack Eichel was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has already established himself as one of the top young players in the game, with a number of impressive achievements to his name.
Eichel is known for his outstanding playmaking ability and scoring touch, which have seen him rack up career totals of 82 goals and 141 assists so far.
The USA international will be looking to take his game even further this season, as he bids to lead the Sabres back into playoff contention after missing out on qualification last year.
Jack Eichel lives in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts with his family; he is also involved in various charitable endeavours through his foundations. Jack Eichel was born on July 1st, 1995 in Massachusetts.
He started playing hockey at a very young age and quickly became one of the best players in his region. In 2013, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres as the 2nd overall pick in the NHL Draft.
Since joining the team, Jack has had an incredibly successful career both on and off the ice – becoming one of only 6 players to win Rookie of The Year.
MVP and Stanley Cup all within their first 4 seasons in the league (along with Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Patrick Kane.
Jonathan Toews and Evgeni Malkin). Jack is currently contracted to play for Buffalo until 2021-2022 season.
11. Pat LaFontaine
LaFontaine was a prolific scorer in his NHL career and is one of only six players to score more than 1000 goals. LaFontaine also won two Stanley Cups with the New York Rangers, and he played on three Canadian teams over his career - the Islanders, Sabres and Canadiens.
After retiring as a player, LaFontaine became an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens before taking up a similar role with the Winnipeg Jets in 2015.
Pat LaFontaine was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and he currently serves as an ambassador for Canada's men's national hockey team.
Pat LaFontaine is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the New York Rangers. He also won two Olympic gold medals as part of Team USA and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998.
LaFontaine played over 1,500 NHL games and recorded more than 1,000 points in his career. After retiring from playing hockey, Pat founded The Pat Lafontaine Foundation which helps disadvantaged youth participate in sport and education programs across North America.
In 2017 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to philanthropy and sportsmanship throughout his life.
12. Ryan Miller
Goaltender
Career
- 2002: United States
- 2003: United States
- 2010: United States
- 2014: United States
- 2002: United States
- 2003: United States
- 2010: United States
- 2014: United States
Ryan Miller is a goaltender who has played for the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks in his career.
He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, but he never played for them as he was traded to Vancouver before ever playing a game with them.
Miller won two Stanley Cups with Vancouver in 2011 and 2013, making him one of only four goaltenders to win multiple championships with different teams (the others are Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, and Chris Osgood).
Injuries have limited Miller's time on ice over recent years, but he announced his retirement from professional hockey at the end of the 2017-2018 season after 19 seasons in the league overall.
After retiring from playing professionally, Miller moved into coaching as an assistant coach for Team USA at this year's World Championship tournament.
13. Daniel Brière
Daniel Brière is a Canadian centerman who has played in the NHL for Philadelphia, Phoenix and Buffalo. He was drafted by the Flyers in the second round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Briere established himself as an important player on Philadelphia's top line during the 2006-07 season, scoring 25 goals and 54 points while helping lead Philly to their first Stanley Cup appearance since 1975.
After spending two seasons with Phoenix, he signed with Buffalo in 2009 and helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals that year before being traded to SC Bern of Switzerland at the trade deadline.
In 2013, Brière returned to North America and signed with Eisbären Berlin of Germany where he led his team in scoring throughout most of his tenure there before retiring following the 2017–18 season.
14. Casey Mittelstadt
Center
Casey Mittelstadt is a talented young player who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Casey is known for his exceptional skating ability, which allows him to be very elusive on ice and create chances for himself and his teammates.
He has also been praised for his offensive skills, as he can score goals with both hands and from distance. In addition to hockey, Casey enjoys spending time outside with friends and family, playing video games and watching movies.
The future looks bright for this talented youngster, who is sure to continue making an impact on ice both domestically and internationally over the next few years Casey Mittelstadt is a center for the Buffalo Sabres.
He was drafted eighth overall in the 2017 NHL draft. Casey played college hockey at Minnesota-Duluth and had an impressive freshman season with 28 goals and 66 assists for 104 points in just 45 games.
In his sophomore year, he led all NCAA players with 41 goals and 67 assists for 110 points in 42 games, earning him First Team All-American honors along the way.
This past season, he improved on those numbers by scoring 43 goals and 78 assists for 123 points in 54 games played as a junior; this earned him Second Team All-American recognition from United States Hockey League (USHL) coaches throughout the season.
Casey has been very consistent over his three seasons of collegiate hockey, posting point totals that range between 32 and 44 per year while also averaging approximately 20 minutes of ice time every night during each campaign - proving to be one of the most durable forwards in college hockey history.
15. Dale Hawerchuk
Center
Career
- 1978–79: Oshawa Legionnaires
- 1979–80: Cornwall Royals
- 1979–80: Cornwall Royals
- 1980–81: Cornwall Royals
- 1980–81: Cornwall Royals
- 1981–82: Winnipeg Jets
- 1982–83: Winnipeg Jets
Dale Hawerchuk was a Hall of Fame hockey player who won the Stanley Cup twice with the Buffalo Sabres. After his playing career ended, he became a broadcaster for the NHL on TSN and CBC.
He died in 2020 at age 57 after succumbing to cancer. Dale Hawerchuk was drafted first overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL Draft. Dale played for Winnipeg, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers over his 10-year career.
He led the NHL in scoring twice (1985–86 and 1992–93) and won two Stanley Cups with the Jets (1991 and 1996). Dale retired after playing one season with Phoenix Coyotes in 1997-98 before returning to play one final season with Ottawa Senators in 1998-99.
In total, he scored 706 goals and added 616 assists for 1,337 points during his hockey career - an impressive tally that makes him one of the all-time greats.
Also Played For: winnipeg jets
16. Tom Barrasso
Goaltender
Career
- 1981–82: Acton-Boxborough Colonials
- 1982–83: Acton-Boxborough Colonials
- 1983–84: Buffalo Sabres
- 1984–85: Buffalo Sabres
- 1984–85: Rochester Americans
- 1985–86: Buffalo Sabres
Tom Barrasso is a former goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for fifteen seasons. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and spent his entire career with that team.
In 2004, he was named to the NHL All-Star Game as a member of the Western Conference team and also won two Stanley Cup championships with Colorado during his time there.
After retiring as a player, Barrasso became an assistant coach for Team USA at both the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games, where they reached third place on each occasion.
Tom currently works as an analyst for NBC Sports' hockey coverage and has also been involved in broadcasting other sports competitions such as golf tournaments and NASCAR races from time to time over recent years.
Tom Barrasso was drafted 5th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1983 NHL Draft. He played for the Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes before retiring in 2003.
Tom is a four time Stanley Cup Champion with Pittsburgh (1991, 1992, 2009, 2010) and Ottawa (2006). He also won two Olympic Gold Medals as part of Team USA at the 1994 Winter Olympics and 2002 Winter Olympics.
After his playing career ended he became an assistant coach with both Buffalo and Nashville before joining Arizona as their head coach in 2017-18 season.
Also Played For: massachusetts hockey, pittsburgh penguins
17. Jason Pominville
Right winger
Career
- National team: United States
- NHL Draft:55th overall, 2001
- Buffalo Sabres
Jason Pominville is a 40-year-old Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Buffalo Sabres.
Jason Pominville was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round (24th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and he has also played with the Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders.
In 2013, Jason Pominville won a silver medal with Team Canada at the World Championships in Sweden. Accomplishments aside, Jason Pominville is known for his tenacious play on both offense and defense.
He has been nominated for an NHL award seven times including being named to the Second All-Star Team twice (2007–08 & 2008–09).
Married to Julie Landry since July 2010; they have two daughters together - Ella Grace (born May 1, 2012) and Isabella Rose (born January 16, 2016).
18. Alexander Mogilny
Career
- 1986–87: CSKA Moscow
- 1987–88: CSKA Moscow
- 1988–89: CSKA Moscow
- 1989–90: Buffalo Sabres
- 1990–91: Buffalo Sabres
- 1991–92: Buffalo Sabres
- 1992–93: Buffalo Sabres
- 1993–94: Buffalo Sabres
- 1994–95: Spartak Moscow
Alexander Mogilny was born on February 18, 1969 in Khabarovsk, Russian SFSR. He played for CSKA Moscow, Buffalo Sabres, Spartak Moscow and Vancouver Canucks before joining the New Jersey Devils as a free agent in 2000.
Mogilny then moved to Toronto Maple Leafs where he won a Stanley Cup with them in 2002. The following year he joined the Montreal Canadiens but left after one season to play for the Russia national team at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 World Championships.
In 2010 he retired from professional hockey having scored 1,291 career points (539 goals and 792 assists) in 1,499 regular season games and 66 playoff matches over 19 seasons with six different teams.
After retirement Mogilny became an analyst for TSN Hockey Night in Canada alongside Darren Dreger and Pierre McGuire as well as appearing on various other sports programmes worldwide including ESPN's SportsCenter Europe show hosted by Jeremy Schaap which aired its final episode featuring him on May 2nd 2018).
Alexander is married to Natalia Kuznetsova who also competed professionally tennis while they were together; they have two children - son Maximilian (born 2009) and daughter Lara (born 2013).
19. Jeff Skinner
Left wing
Career
- NHL team: Buffalo Sabres
- Former teams: Carolina Hurricanes
- National team: Canada
- NHL Draft: 7th overall, 2010
- Carolina Hurricanes
Jeff Skinner is a 30-year-old left wing who was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, 17th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
He has played for both the Halifax Mooseheads and Toronto Marlies of the QMJHL before joining Carolina as a full-time player in 2013.
Skinner led all rookies with 28 goals and 57 points in 64 games during his rookie season with Carolina; he also added 10 assists for 70 points total on the year.
In 2014–15, Skinner finished second among NHL scorers behind Sidney Crosby with 106 points (37 goals, 63 assists) in 78 games played; he also registered career highs with 24 powerplay goals and 11 game-winning goals that season.
The following season—2015–16—Skinner again dominated offensively posting 128 points (50 goals, 74 assists), leading all players in scoring once more while establishing himself as one of hockey's most reliable offensive weapons over an extended period of time.
Injuries limited him to only 73 regular season games during 2017–18 but still managed to contribute 42 points (17g/27a) along with seven game-winning tallies en route to earning his fourth consecutive nomination for both Hart Memorial Trophy and Art Ross Trophy award winners.
20. Kyle Okposo
Right winger
Kyle Okposo is a 34-year-old American forward who currently plays for the New York Islanders. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2004 and has spent his entire career with them, save for two seasons where he played with the Buffalo Sabres.
In 563 NHL games, Okposo has scored 251 goals and added 277 assists for 610 points. He also boasts 381 penalty minutes over that span, so he can be quite rough when needed - but is capable of scoring beautiful goals as well.
On April 16th 1988, Kyle was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota to parents Gary and Sandy Okposo.
His older brother is goaltender Rickard Okposo and his younger sister Hannah is a volleyball player at Brown University Growing up playing hockey rink side with his brothers on weekends didn't hurt either.
After graduating from high school in 2004 (where he earned varsity letters in both hockey & basketball), Okposo attended college at Boston College before being drafted by Edmonton later that year.
Versus all odds it looks like #7 might have finally put pen to paper on an 8 year/$64 million contract extension just hours after free agency opened this evening pic.
Born Apr 16 1988 6' 0" 183 cm 4th Line Forward 216 lb 98 kg Edmonton Oiler 2004 Drafted 7th Overall by Edmonton Oilers.
21. Sam Reinhart
Center
Career
- NHL team: Florida Panthers
- Former teams: Buffalo Sabres
- National team: Canada
- NHL Draft: 2nd overall, 2014
- Buffalo Sabres
- Playing career: 2014–present
Reinhart was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, fifth overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Reinhart played for Team Canada at both the World Junior Championship and the World Championships in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
Reinhart has 82 points (30 goals and 50 assists) through 136 regular season games with Buffalo Sabres since being drafted in 2013.
In December of 2018, Reinhart signed a five-year contract extension with the Sabres worth $36 million US dollars including an annual salary cap hit of $6 million US dollars beginning in the 2020-21 season.
In his second full year as captain of Buffalo's AHL affiliate Rochester Americans during the 2016-17 season, Reinhart led all players on the team with 104 points (42 goals and 62 assists).
He also won the Calder Cup championship that same year as Amerks defeated Toronto Marlies 4 games to 1 in best-of seven series.
22. Jochen Hecht
Center
Jochen Hecht was born in Mannheim, West Germany in 1977. Hecht started his professional career with the German club Eintracht Frankfurt before moving to Juventus in 2001 where he played for six seasons and won two Serie A titles.
In 2007, Hecht joined VfL Wolfsburg where he spent four seasons before joining Schalke 04 in 2011. At Schalke, Hecht helped the team win three consecutive Bundesliga titles and reach the Champions League semi-finals twice (in 2013 and 2014).
On 30 July 2016, it was announced that Hecht had signed a one-year contract with English Premier League side Liverpool FC after rejecting an offer from Bayern Munich which would have made him their record signing at €100 million (£87m/$130m).
With Liverpool, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of 2017–18 season but qualified for European competition as runners up due to Tottenham Hotspur's failure to secure a top four finish.
Hecht made 25 appearances scoring 5 goals across all competitions including Europa League matches against Ajax Amsterdam and Ludogorets Razgrad respectively; this led to speculation linking him with moves away from Anfield during the summer transfer window although no such deal materialized.
Ahead of Klopp's first full season back as Liverpool manager (2018/19), "The Guardian" named Hecht their Player of The Year following a successful campaign that saw him score 10 goals and provide 8 assists – making him only second player behind Mohamed Salah on both fronts behind Gareth Bale.
On 15 May 2019, aged 38 years old,[1] it was announced that Jochen has retired from football after playing his last ever match for Liverpool against Cardiff City.
23. Michael Peca
Center
Michael Peca was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He played his first NHL game with Vancouver on October 10, 1994 against the San Jose Sharks.
In 2001, he was traded to Buffalo along with Bill Guerin and a third-round draft pick for Ruslan Salei and Pat Verbeek. Peca remained in Buffalo for six seasons before being traded to New York Islanders for Rick DiPietro and Jason Blake in 2003.
Peca spent three seasons with the Islanders before signing as a free agent with Edmonton Oilers in 2007 where he retired after playing two seasons there. After hanging up his skates, Michael became an assistant coach with HC Davos of Switzerland's National League A (NLA).
Peca was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992. He played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes before retiring in 2009.
Peca won a bronze medal at the 2002 Olympic Games and represented Canada at several other international tournaments including World Junior Championships and the Czech Republic's World Championship gold-medal-winning team of 1994.
In 2003, he became only the second player ever to score 50 goals in a season in both North America (Columbus) and Europe (Vancouver). Michael Peca is widely considered one of hockey's greatest players who contributed much to his country during his playing career.
24. Maxim Afinogenov
Maxim Afinogenov is a Russian professional footballer who most recently played for Dynamo Moscow. He started his career in 1999 at FC Krasnodar and went on to play for several other Russian clubs before joining Dynamo Moscow in 2009.
Maxim Afinogenov has earned over 100 caps for Russia, scoring 24 goals. He was part of the Russia team that won the 2010 World Cup, as well as the 2006 and 2012 European Championships.
In February 2014, Afinogenov announced his retirement from international football after playing 97 matches for Russia since 2001 including 57 World Cup matches and 34 UEFA Euro Championship matches.
Maxim Afinogenov is a Russian-born NHL player who spent his entire playing career with the Buffalo Sabres.
Maxim was drafted in the 69th overall by the Sabres in 1997 and played for them until 2020, amassing over 1,000 points during that time. He won a Stanley Cup with Buffalo in 2006 and represented Russia at both the World Championships and the Olympics.
After retiring from hockey Maxim began working as an analyst on TSN's coverage of the NHL.
25. Danny Gare
Danny Gare was born on May 14, 1954 in Nelson, British Columbia. He played for the Buffalo Sabres from 1974 until 1988. He had a career average of 17 goals and 46 assists per season over his 13-year NHL career.
Gare is best known for his speed and accuracy with a hockey puck; he was also an excellent penalty killer and defensive player. In 1998, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto as part of the first class of players to be so honoured.
Gare currently resides in suburban Toronto with his wife Linda and three children: son Jayden (born 1986), daughter Astrid (born 1990) and son Max (born 2003).
Danny has been involved in charity work throughout his playing days, most notably serving as captain of Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 where they were eliminated by Russia in the semi-finals.
26. Rasmus Ristolainen
Defenseman
Rasmus Ristolainen is a Finnish defenceman who currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted sixth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Rasmus Ristolainen has represented Finland at both junior and international level, winning gold medals at both the World Junior Championships and Olympics in 2016. Known as one of Finland's top prospects, he made his debut with the Buffalo Sabres during their 2014-15 season, scoring two goals and five points in 19 games played that year.
In 2015-16, he established himself as a key player on defense for Team Finland at both major tournaments – helping them to win gold medal at the World Championship and silver medal at The Olympic Games.
His strong play led him to be named an alternate captain for Team Finland for their 2017 IIHF World Championship campaign where they finished runners up after losing 3 games out of 5 against.
Sweden in quarterfinal play-offs; this included being awarded Man of Game twice against Sweden including once when his team had been down 1–0 late into regulation time in game 4 of group stage which eventually lead to victory 2–1 thereby booking semi final berth off Swedes' hands).
As well as representing his country internationally, Ristolainen also competes with HC Jokerit of Liiga (the Finnish premier league) where he won back-to-back championship titles during the 2016/17 & 2017/18 seasons respectively playing alongside fellow NHL players such as Jesse Puljujarvi (Edmonton Oilers), Patrik Laine (Winnipeg Jets) Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) & Sebastian Aho(Carolina Hurricanes).
On 25 May 2019, it was announced that Rasmus would miss 6-8 weeks due to a lower body injury sustained whilst playing for Jokerit earlier that month against HPK; this leads him sidelined until early November 2019 [update].
27. René Robert
René Robert was a Canadian ballplayer who played for the Colorado Rockies from 1978 to 1981. He had a .270 batting average and scored 100 runs in each of his three seasons with the team.
Robert also stole 17 bases during that time period, which is still an MLB record among left-handed players. After retiring as a player, Robert became a color commentator for French-language broadcasts of MLB games in Quebec until he died at 72 years old due to cancer complications in 2021.
René Robert was a right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Rockies over his playing career.
René Robert is most notable for scoring the winning goal in game seven of the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Islanders which helped lead to Toronto's first NHL championship.
René Robert also played on Canada's World Championships teams in 1970, 1972 and 1974. After retiring from hockey, René Robert became a broadcaster with TSN and CBC Television before passing away in 2011 at age 63 after an extensive battle with cancer.
28. Zemgus Girgensons
Center
Zemgus Girgensons is a Latvia-born forward who has played for the Buffalo Sabres since 2016. He was drafted by the Sabres in 2012 and has spent most of his career playing with them in the AHL.
Girgensons is known for being an excellent skater, possessing great speed both forwards and backwards. This ability to get up and down the ice quickly can be very dangerous for opposing teams.
His offensive skills are also not to be underestimated; he is capable of putting up points at a high rate even if he isn't necessarily involved in the offence from start to finish.
One potential downside to Girgensons' game could be that he tends to gamble too much on plays instead of making simple, smart decisions - this may lead him into trouble more often than not against better opponents.
Despite this flaw, Girgensons still possesses all the requisite qualities needed for success at any level; he just needs to learn how best use them given his circumstances.- In short, Zemgus Girgensons is a talented player who should continue developing at whatever team he ends up playing for next season or beyond.
29. Henri Jokiharju
Defenseman
Henri Jokiharju is a right-handed defenseman who was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Jokiharju had an outstanding season with Oulu HC of the Finnish Liiga, posting 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists) in 49 games played.
He also made his debut for Finland at age 17, playing on their World Junior Championship gold medal squad last year. With such a young career ahead of him, Henri will continue to develop his skills at both the junior and professional level in North America with Chicago this upcoming season.
Keep your eyes out for Henri as he continues to make waves on Hockey’s biggest stage. Henri Jokiharju was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Draft.
In his first professional season, he played with their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He made his debut for Chicago in 2018-19 and has since appeared in 38 games for them, scoring two goals and adding six assists.
Jokiharju is a defenceman who plays both offensively and defensively well - something that makes him valuable to the Blackhawks on their blue line as they try to defend their Stanley Cup title this year.
He represented Finland at the 2019 World Championships where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Canada en route to back-to-back titles.
With a bright future ahead of him, Henri Jokiharju will be looking to help lead Chicago toward success this season and beyond - don't forget to check out your local Blackhawks game when you get a chance.
30. Jim Schoenfeld
Jim Schoenfeld is a 70-year-old Canadian football player who has played for the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. He was born on September 4, 1952 in Galt, Ontario and played college football at Syracuse University.
Schoenfeld was drafted by the Stamps in 1974 and made his debut with them in 1977. Over his career he won two Grey Cups (1978 & 1984) as well as being named an all-star five times.
After retiring from playing he moved into coaching, first joining the Montreal Alouettes before taking over as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 2004 where he remained until 2013 when he left to take up a position with ESPN Canada.
In 2017 Jim became Head Coach of The Ottawa Redblacks Schoenfeld was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round of the 1972 NHL Draft. He played for them from 1972-1985.
Schoenfeld had a successful playing career, amassing over 500 points in his 527 games played. Schoenfeld is best known for being one of only four players to score 100 goals and win 50 playoff games in his career (the others are Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, and Mario Lemieux).
After retiring as a player, Schoenfeld served as head coach of the Rochester Americans between 1989-1996 before joining Hockey Canada's coaching staff as an assistant coach at both the 1998 World Cup and 2006 Winter Olympics.
31. Rasmus Asplund
Center
Rasmus Asplund is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. He currently plays for HC Davos in the National League A (NLA). Asplund made his Elitserien debut with MODO Hockey during the 2016–17 season, scoring two goals and five assists in 34 games.
On 9 July 2017, Asplund was signed to a three-year contract extension by Davos worth CHF 2 million ($1.8 million USD).
After beginning the 2018–19 season with six points in eight games, including one goal and four assists against Skellefteå AIK on 20 October 2018, Asplund was injured against Växjö Lakers on 4 November 2018 and missed most of the remainder of that season due to injury.
In 41 NLA games as a forward for HC Davos this season he has scored 10 goals and added 16 assists for 26 points while averaging 12 minutes per game; leading all scorers at present time in Switzerland's top division.
32. Dylan Cozens
Center
Dylan Cozens was born in Whitehorse, Yukon on February 9, 2001. He is a Canadian actor and singer-songwriter who first came to prominence for his role as Noah Scott in the 2017 CBC television series "Heartland".
In 2018, he released his debut album "The Acoustic Album" which yielded two singles - "Tie Me Down" and "Invisible Boy".
Cozens also appeared in the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel Stardust which was released in 2019 to generally positive reviews from critics.
Dylan currently resides in Toronto with his family Dylan Cozens was drafted seventh overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft. He is a right-handed shooter and played for Canada at the World Junior Championships where he won a silver medal.
Dylan Cozens has been playing professional hockey since 2021 with the Buffalo Sabres and has recorded 83 points (36 goals, 49 assists) in 221 games so far.
He is considered to be one of the top prospects in hockey and is expected to make an impact on the team soon.
33. Bill Hajt
Hajt is a retired professional wrestler and actor. He started his career in the 1970s as an announcer for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). Hajt also portrayed The Executioner on the television series ThunderCats (1985) and Hawkman on the animated series Justice League International (1997).
Hajt was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003. He lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with his wife Linda and their two children Katrina and Nicklas.
Bill Hajt was a defenceman who played for the Buffalo Sabres from 1972 to 1987. He was drafted 33rd overall by the Sabres in 1971 and made his NHL debut that same year.
Hajt won two Stanley Cups with Buffalo, in 1975 and 1978. After retiring as a player, he served as an assistant coach for the team from 1988 to 1992 before joining their front office staff full time thereafter.
34. Mike Ramsey
Ramsey played for the Buffalo Sabres from 1988 to 1990. After leaving the Sabres, Ramsey spent a season with the Pittsburgh Penguins before retiring in 1992.
Ramsey has been involved in coaching and management throughout his career, most recently serving as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild from 2013 to 2014.
In 2000, Ramsey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class. Mike Ramsey is currently a color commentator for both television broadcasts and online streaming games for NHL team Dallas Stars Mike Ramsey was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1979.
He played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1980-1996 and recorded over 900 points during his career. Mike is a two time Olympic gold medalist and retired with the most games played of any American player in NHL history.
After retiring, Mike became an assistant coach with the St Louis Blues before being named head coach of their AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage in 2016.
35. JJ Peterka
Right winger
Career
- NHL Draft: 34th overall, 2020, Buffalo Sabres
- Playing career: 2019–present
JJ Peterka is a young German centre who has impressed in the Bundesliga this season. JJ Peterka made his senior debut for Bayern Munich at just 18 years old, and he quickly established himself as one of the best prospects in Germany.
JJ Peterka is good on the ball and can create chances for team-mates with his passing ability. He's also strong in defence and capable of breaking up play effectively.
JJ Peterka could be a major player for Germany at next year's World Cup, and he'll be looking to continue his excellent form in UEFA Champions League action this week against Barcelona.
JJPeterka was born on January 14th 2002, making him just 20 years old when he first made an appearance for Bayern Munich - impressive bearing in mind that many top players don't make their professional debuts until much later down the line.
With huge potential still ahead of him, it will be interesting to see how well JJ Peters performs over the coming seasons - we can only hope that he continues developing into one of Europe's brightest stars.
36. Miroslav Šatan
Miroslav Šatan is a Czech professional ice hockey player who plays for HC Kladno in the Czech Extraliga. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 8th round (236th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.
HC Sparta Prague, HC Vítkovice Jihlava, and HC Slovan Bratislava during his career. In 2010, he joined Kladno on a one-year contract extension through to 2011–12 season. World Championships – 1995, 1999 and 2003 – as well as two Olympic Games – 1998 and 2002 – without ever winning a medal."
Miroslav Šatan is an accomplished ice hockey player who has spent most of his playing career with teams located in the Czech Republic but he did have some success abroad including stints with Sparta Prague and Vítkovice Jihlava before signing with Kladno ahead of the 2010/11 season where he currently remains based.
37. Jacob Bryson
Jacob Bryson is a Canadian ice hockey player who was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round, 26th overall at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He played with Providence College of the Hockey East Conference during his freshman season and led all NCAA freshmen in points (51) and assists (27).
In 2018-19, he tallied 25 goals and 41 assists for 66 points in 38 games as a sophomore while helping lead Providence to their second consecutive regular-season conference championship. As a junior, Jacob registered 33 goals and 53 assists for 86 points in 39 games en route to being named ECAC Player of the Year.
On February 8th 2019, Bryson helped Canada win bronze at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships after scoring 2 goals against Denmark in overtime to clinch victory on home soil for Team Canada.
38. Mike Foligno
Foligno was born in Sudbury, Ontario and played hockey for the local minor league team before being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1980. Foligno spent most of his career with the Sabres, amassing over 650 points including 50 goals during his time there.
In 2003 foligno was traded to Ottawa where he continued to play until retiring at the end of the 2011-12 season.
Since retirement Foligno has devoted himself to coaching youth hockey and acting as a spokesperson for various charities and organizations related to children's health issues Mike Foligno is a veteran of the NHL and has over 500 career points.
He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings third overall in 1979 and spent his entire playing career with them. He won two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings in 1997 and 2002, as well as an Olympic Gold medal in 1998.
In 1994 he was traded to Buffalo Sabres where he continued to play until 2003 before retiring from professional hockey altogether. After retirement, Mike Foligno became a television commentator for both Hockey Night in Canada and TSN Sportsnet, alongside Don Cherry.
39. Peyton Krebs
Forward
Peyton Krebs is a young centre who plays for the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL. Peyton was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 3rd round, 68th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Peyton has represented Canada at both junior and international levels, including winning a gold medal at the World Juniors Championship last year. He is originally from Okotoks, Alberta but now lives and plays hockey in Calgary with his family.
Peyton loves to play physical and aggressive hockey and has quickly become one of Calgary's most promising young players. Peyton Krebs is a left-shot defenceman who was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 17th round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Krebs played for Buffalo Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights before joining the NHL club full time in 2021. Peyton Krebs has appeared in 233 games over four seasons with Vegas, recording 36 points (6 goals, 32 assists).
In 2020–21, Peyton Krebs led all rookie defencemen in scoring with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 56 games played as part of an eventual Stanley Cup championship team.
After being traded to Nashville Predators at the trade deadline during the 2021–22 season, Krebs helped lead his new team to their first playoff appearance since 2014 later that year.
As a pending restricted free agent following the 2022–23 season, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury signed an eight-year contract extension with Las Vegas worth $92 million on July 1st which made.
Peyton Krebs surplus to requirements and he was dealt to Vancouver Canucks on September 3rd where he remained until December when he was traded back to Las Vegas once again.
40. Craig Ramsay
Craig Ramsay is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 1971 NHL Entry Draft.
Ramsay played with the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings over his career. He won three Stanley Cups with Boston in 1974, 1975 and 1978 as well as two Vezina Trophies as one of the league's best goaltenders during that time period.
After retiring from playing professionally, he served as General Manager for both Hartford Wolf Pack of AHL and Manchester Monarchs of ECHL before being fired after just eight games into his tenure with Manchester due to financial mismanagement allegations made against him by team owner Paul Kariya.
In February 2009, Ramsay was appointed head coach for Team Canada at their attempt to win back-to-back World Championships but resigned from this position after only four months due to health concerns related to multiple sclerosis.
On January 5th, 2014 it was announced that Craig had been named president and general manager of Ottawa Senators expansion franchise Belleville Senators replacing David Cameron who moved on to become President & CEO of The Ontario Hockey Federation.
41. Jack Quinn
Career
- NHL Draft: 8th overall, 2020, Buffalo Sabres
- Playing career: 2021–present
Jack Quinn is a young Canadian basketball player who was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Jack Quinn has been playing professionally since he was 17 years old and has played for several teams, including the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers.
In college, Quinn played at Duke University where he won two NCAA championships (2017 & 2019). He also represented Canada at both the U17 and U20 World Championships, winning gold medals in both cases.
After finishing his collegiate career, Jack signed with an Italian team but decided to return home to play for his hometown Cobden Raptors in Ontario during their inaugural season in 2020-21 CBL season as a 20 year old rookie.
As one of only a few players under 21 years old on any professional team this upcoming season, expect big things from Jack Quinn.
42. Anders Bjork
Forward
Anders Bjork was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins in 2017-18.
In 58 games with Providence, he scored 11 goals and 22 assists for 35 points. He made his NHL debut on October 12th, 2018 against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden.
In 10 games played with Boston this season, he has 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points overall including a goal and an assist in 8 playoff games so far as they make it to the Eastern Conference Finals Anders Bjork played for the Boston Bruins in 2017-2018 before being traded to the Minnesota Wild on February 26th, 2018.
Anders Bjork was drafted 146th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2014 and has spent most of his career playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Rochester Americans and now with Minnesota Wild.
Anders Bjork is a left-handed shot who primarily plays as a defenceman but can also play center or right wing if needed. His defensive abilities have drawn comparisons to Zdeno Chara, another great defenseman from Sweden.
Anders Bjork has competed for Team Sweden at multiple international tournaments, including World Championships and Olympics, where he has found success both individually and as part of team competition.
He is considered one of Sweden's top young talents and looks set to continue developing into an even better player over time.
43. Mattias Samuelsson
Defenseman
Mattias Samuelsson is a young player with a lot of potential. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL draft in 2016. His talent has already been recognized, and he has received many awards and accolades during his short career so far.
Mattias Samuelsson is an incredibly hard working player who puts in 110% effort on every shift, no matter what the situation may be. He loves to play hockey and strives to improve every day; he definitely represents his team and country well throughout his career thus far.
In addition to playing hockey, Mattias Samuelson also enjoys skiing, skating, basketball and tennis – which just goes to show how athletic he really is. There isn’t much else that we can say about this amazing young man – other than keep an eye out for him as he continues to make waves in both sport and society alike.
44. Pierre Turgeon
Career
- 1984–85: Bourassa Angevins
- 1985–86: Granby Bisons
- 1985–86: Canada
- 1986–87: Granby Bisons
- 1987–88: Buffalo Sabres
- 1988–89: Buffalo Sabres
- 1989–90: Buffalo Sabres
- 1990–91: Buffalo Sabres
- 1991–92: Buffalo Sabres
- 1991–92: New York Islanders
- 1992–93: New York Islanders
- 1993–94: New York Islanders
- 1994–95: New York Islanders
Turgeon is a skilled centre who has played for six different teams in fourteen seasons. He began his career with the Quebec Remparts before moving to the Hartford Wolf Pack, then on to the Nashville Predators and finally ending up in Montreal.
Pierre has racked up over 600 points during his career, including 50 goals and 200 assists. Turgeon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 as part of its second class of inductees, along with Jaromir Jagr and Ray Bourque.
Pierre retired from playing professionally after the 2013-14 season but remains a highly respected commentator on hockey broadcasts across North America Pierre Turgeon was drafted 1st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1987 NHL Draft.
Pierre played his entire career with the Sabres, amassing over 500 points during that time. He also appeared in over 1000 games and helped lead Buffalo to two Stanley Cup titles (1991, 1993).
After leaving the Sabres in 2007, Pierre joined Montreal as a free agent and won another championship with them in 2011.
He retired from playing at age 41 after that season. Pierre is currently an assistant coach for the Islanders organization and has been involved with several youth hockey programs across North America since retiring from playing professionally.
Pierre is considered one of the most successful Canadian players ever, having represented his country at multiple international tournaments including World Championships and Olympic Games alike.
45. Vinnie Hinostroza
Center
Hinostroza was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Hinostroza has spent his entire NHL career with the Coyotes, amassing 97 points (48 goals and 53 assists) in 223 games.
Hinostroza led all Coyotes forwards in scoring during the 2018-19 season, tallying 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points over 72 games. Hinostroza is a versatile forward who can play both on offense and defense, making him an important part of any team's lineup.
Hinostroza represented Team USA at both World Junior Championships (2013 and 2017) as well as Olympic Games 2016 qualifying campaign, but failed to make it onto either roster due to injury or poor performance.
He announced his retirement from professional hockey following Game 7 of the Western Conference Final against Vegas Golden Knights on May 25th 2019 after playing 8 seasons with @ArizonaCoyotes.
#ForeverVinnie pic.twitter .com/Gc7rvnfW1Q — FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSportsAZ) May 26, 2019.
46. Lindy Ruff
Lindy Ruff began his National Hockey League career with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 1980. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1984, and then to the Dallas Stars in 1988.
Ruff played for three teams before retiring as a player after the 1999-2000 season. After retirement, Ruff became an assistant coach with Dallas (2001-2006) and St Louis (2007-2012).
In 2013, he was named head coach of the Buffalo Sabres and led them to their first playoff appearance since 2006 that year Lindy Ruff is a NHL coach who has had success with the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars.
He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1979, and played for them until 1993. In 1993 he began coaching with the team, leading them to several playoff appearances before taking over as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2007.
He led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2013-14, making him one of only two coaches (the other being Scotty Bowman) to win both an NCAA Championship and a Stanley Cup with different teams during his career.
As of 2019, he is currently coaching the New York Rangers.
47. Chris Drury
Chris Drury played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and Buffalo Sabres before joining the New York Rangers in 2014. A product of Trumbull High School in Connecticut, Chris was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche with their second round pick (44th overall) in 1996.
He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche during the 1997-98 season and went on to play 921 games over 17 seasons with Denver, Calgary and Buffalo.
In 2008, he was named an alternate captain of the Avalanche alongside Peter Forsberg and Daniel Briere and led them to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance that year against Detroit but they were defeated 4-1 in seven games.
On July 1st 2014, Chris signed a three-year contract extension with the Rangers worth $12 million per season which will keep him at Madison Square Garden until at least 2024.
48. Alex Tuch
Forward
Alex Tuch is a 26-year-old American forward who was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round (27th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He previously played for Boston University, where he scored 36 goals and 72 points in 57 games as a junior before signing with Vegas as an undrafted free agent.
In his rookie season with Vegas, Tuch recorded 21 goals and 43 points in 82 games while playing on both penalty kill and power play units. At 6'4", 220 pounds, Alex possesses solid size and strength at centre ice which should only continue to develop over time.
As one of the younger members of Team USA's World Cup roster, Alex will be looking to make an impact this year at both the NHL level and international competition alike Alex Tuch was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild.
He has spent his entire playing career with the Wild, appearing in over 530 games and registering 191 points (90 goals, 111 assists). Alex is a right wing who shoots right-handed.
In 2016–17 he led all rookies in scoring with 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 82 games played for Minnesota. 5. On July 1st of this year, Alex signed a six-year contract extension with the Wild worth $30 million dollars.
49. Victor Olofsson
Right winger
Victor Olofsson was born in 1995 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. He is 5 ft 11 inches tall and weighs 182 pounds. Victor currently plays for the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) team HV71 as a left winger.
Victor has played internationally for Sweden at both the U17 and U20 levels, amassing 16 goals and 34 points over 58 games respectively. In April of 2016, he signed his first professional contract with SHL side Skelleftea AIK after impressing during a try-out camp that summer.
After scoring 12 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 50 games with Skelleftea AIK last season, Victor was nominated for the 2017-2018 SHL Rookie of the Year Award alongside teammate Filip Zadina.
On June 22nd 2018, he scored two goals against HC Sochi within 17 seconds of each other to help lead HV71 to their fourth consecutive Swedish Championship Final appearance.
becoming only the second player ever (after Peter Forsberg) to score a hat trick in an SHL final game... eventually losing 2-1 to Modo on May 20th 2019.
50. Kale Clague
Kale Clague was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on June 5th, 1998. Clague played with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2017-2020.
In 2020, he signed a two-year contract with HC Davos of the National League A (NLA). He has also represented Canada at both junior and senior levels and won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 2018.
Kale is currently playing for HC Davos of the NLA and is considered one of their key players as they attempt to win back-to-back championships this season Kale Clague is a left-handed defenceman who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 51st overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft.
He has spent his entire playing career with the LA Kings, appearing in over 200 games and accumulating 25 goals and 100 points. In 2018–19, he led all defensemen in ice time per game (27:16) and ranked second among rookies for points (24).
Clague also represented Team Canada at the World Championships where he recorded one goal and two assists in six games played.
51. Riley Sheahan
Riley Sheahan was born in 1991 in St. Catharines, Ontario. He is a Canadian ice hockey center who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Riley Sheahan has played for several teams throughout his career, including the Plymouth Whalers and Guelph Storm of the OHL, the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL, and the Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.
In the 2017-18 season, he scored 32 points (17 goals and 15 assists) in 82 games playing with Pittsburgh to help them reach their first Stanley Cup Final since the 1992-93 season where they lost to The Montreal Canadiens 4-1.
Prior to this season, he had spent time with Detroit Red Wings as well as Boston Bruins following signing as an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, 2018.
Born December 7th 1991 Riley started skating at age 3 after watching Mario Lemieux play professionally. He always loved being around athletes whether it be practicing or playing sports himself.
His parents instilled values such as hard work ethic honesty & integrity into him from an early age which have helped mold him into who he is today both on & off the ice.
Final Words
. . The Buffalo Sabres are an iconic team in the National Hockey League, having been part of the league since 1970. Over that time, they have boasted some of the best players to ever play the game.
Some of these players include Rick Martin, Phil Housley, Dominik Hasek and Pat LaFontaine.
