The 2014-15 NHL regular season has mercifully concluded. Sabres fans have endured a long, painful trip over the rainbow and landed in a pot of gold that contains either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. The tank is over at long last, and instead of arguing about the ethics of losing, we can commence debating who’s the goalie of the future, how good Evander Kane will look next to Buffalo’s new superstar, or which defensive prospect is most destined to be a bust. You know, the sort of stuff that makes hockey… fun.
But before we get to that future, there’s still some hockey to be played. For me, having someone to root for does wonders for my playoff enjoyment. Furthermore, having some connection to the Sabres or the Buffalo area in general goes a long way in convincing me to throw my weight behind a playoff team. So just for fun, I set out to uncover as many connections as I could – whether it was a Sabres alumnus or Buffalo-area native (defined as the area from Buffalo to Syracuse for my purposes; after all, Buffalo is home to a lot of Orange fans) on the current roster, in the minors, on the coaching staff or in the front office. I even managed to come away with a couple rather interesting familial connections as well. I stopped short of uncovering father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommates, though – I mean, let’s not get too crazy. If I missed anyone, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
NY Rangers
Notable trade deadline bust Dominic Moore has joined five other teams since leaving the Sabres after ’09, but has settled in with the Blueshirts and even played a full 82 games this season. Former Sabres prospect Mike Kostka toils in the AHL for the Hartford Wolfpack. In the front office, Jim Schoenfeld holds the titles of Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel and General Manager, Hartford Wolfpack, which sounds incredibly busy. Scott Arniel, a Sabres forward during the late ’80s and early ’90s and also a former Blue Jackets head coach, is an associate coach with the Rangers.
NY Islanders
The Isles’ current goaltending corps is constructed entirely with Sabres alumni in the form of Jaroslav Halak and Michal Neuvirth. Former Sabres pugilist Eric Boulton is somehow still on an NHL roster. Infamous trade deadline re-acquisition and Joe’s all-time favorite player Bob Corkum is an assistant coach. Sabres GM Tim Murray apparently pulls double duty as the Islanders’ pro shop manager. (OK, that one probably isn’t true.)
Washington
The Buffalo cupboard is rather bare in the Caps organization. The closest thing I could find was Brooks Orpik, who grew up in Amherst and went to Nichols School (however, Orpik was actually born in San Francisco). Bucky Gleason will be pleased to know that his favorite son Tim Kennedy plays in the AHL for Hershey. Amongst the Capitals’ coaching ranks is goalie coach Mitch Korn, who held the same title with the Sabres from 1991 to 1998.
Ottawa
Just one Sabres alumnus on the current roster, but you likely remember his name: Clarke MacArthur. Binghamton’s Cole Schneider was born in Williamsville. And of course, Tim Murray’s uncle Bryan is still able to perform his duties as the Senators’ GM despite bravely battling Stage IV colon cancer.
Tampa Bay
The active roster consists of just one Buffalo-area connection that I can find: Ryan Callahan, who hails from Rochester. Former Sabres forward and all-time leader in power play goals Dave Andreychuk is the Vice President of Corporate and Community Affairs.
Montreal
The Habs boast possibly the most interesting and convoluted web of Sabres and Buffalo connections. On the current roster, both Brian Flynn and Torrey Mitchell were shipped to Montreal at this year’s trade deadline. In the front office, former Sabres player and coach Rick Dudley is the Habs’ senior vice president of hockey operations. Larry Carriere, a Sabres defenseman in the early ’70s and also the Sabres’ assistant GM from 1995 to 2004, is Montreal’s assistant GM. For extra bonus points, Larry’s son Nick Carriere is the head coach for Buffalo State’s men’s hockey team. And if all that isn’t enough, here’s perhaps the most interesting connection I came across: Canadiens draft pick Daniel Audette skates for Sherbrooke of the QMJHL and is, of course, the son of former Sabre Donald Audette – who himself is employed by Montreal as a scout. Wild stuff. My head is spinning.
Detroit
After the previous entry, I need a breather – and I find it in the form of the Red Wings, who have no Sabres alumni amongst their roster players or their minor leaguers. They do, however, have a pair of sort-of-local connections that really stretches the definition of local: Erik Cole (Oswego) and Jimmy Howard (Syracuse). Drew Miller continues to be the brother of former Sabre goaltender Ryan Miller. Red Wings prospect Dominic Turgeon, son of Pierre, plays for Portland of the WHL.
Pittsburgh
Christian Ehrhoff, he of the bought-out ten year contract, is the lone Sabres alumnus on the Penguins roster. Former Sabre Jason Botterill is Pittsburgh’s associate GM, and Bob Errey, who had a cup of coffee with the Sabres in the 1992-93 season, is the Penguins’ TV color analyst.
St. Louis
Steve Ott is licking visors and otherwise being generally annoying for the Blues. Chris Butler has made his way home to his St. Louis birthplace after being included in the trade that brought Robyn Regehr to Buffalo from Calgary. Minor leaguer David Shields was born in Buffalo. Former Sabres goalie coach Jim Corsi and his incredible mustache are now employed by the Blues in the same role.
Vancouver
Ryan Miller is expected to back up Eddie Lack as he continues to recover from a knee injury that cost him a couple months. Zack Kassian is also on the roster, ready at a moment’s notice to two-hand some unsuspecting bastard in the face. The roster also includes Niagara Falls (hey, my hometown!) native Adam Clendening.
Calgary
The other piece of the Regehr trade, Paul Byron, appears to have finally earned a permanent NHL role in his fourth season with the Flames. Jacques Cloutier, once the third head of a three-headed goaltending monster that included Tom Barrasso and Daren Puppa, is Calgary’s goalie coach.
Chicago
Did you know superstar winger Patrick Kane was born in Buffalo? I wonder why no one ever brings this up. Kane is the only player on either the active roster or the minors with a Sabres or Buffalo connection, but the Hawks’ front office and coaching staff is flush with such ties, led by legendary Sabres coach and current Hawks Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations Scotty Bowman and his son, VP and GM Stan. Also in the ranks are amateur scout Gord Donnelly and a pair of pro scouts, Mike Grier and former Sabre and assistant coach Don Lever. Finally, a pair of Hawks prospects have familial connections to the Sabres: Jack Ramsey, son of Mike Ramsey, who plays for Penticton in the BCHL; and Luc Snuggerud, nephew of Dave Snuggerud, who reached the NCAA Frozen Four this year with Nebraska-Omaha.
Minnesota
The Wild, or “Sabres Midwest” as they ought to be called, have the most (and most well-known) Sabres alumni on the roster: Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Jordan Leopold, and Chris Stewart. In related news, I’m pretty sure the Sabres have all of the Wild’s second-round picks through 2050 or so. Minor leaguer Alex Tuch is from Syracuse.
Winnipeg
In addition to the obvious – Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers – another pair of former Sabres, Chris Thorburn and Adam Pardy, are Jets. Well-traveled West Seneca native Lee Stempniak is also on the roster. Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux, the other components of the Kane/Bogosian trade, are in the system as well. Former Sabre defenseman Charlie Huddy is an assistant coach.
Nashville
Paul Gaustad – years after somehow being flipped for a first-round pick that was flipped for another first-round pick that became Zemgus Girgensons – is still in Nashville, likely winning a million faceoffs a season. Phil Housley, the all-time leading scorer amongst Sabres defensemen and coach of the 2013 gold medal-winning USA junior team, is an assistant coach. Former Sabres and Bisons radio play-by-play man Pete Weber has called every Predators game on TV except for two over the Preds’ 17 seasons. (Really, it’s been that long now?)
Anaheim
Move along folks, nothing to see here – no one on the active roster, in the minors, or in the front office with a Sabres or Buffalo connection. The only thing I could find is goaltending consultant Dwayne Roloson, who backed up Dominik Hasek from 1998-2000.
So there you have it. I already dislike most of the teams in the East, and I don’t find enough connections among them to be interested in giving my support. I think Minnesota, boasting quite a few of the most popular ex-Sabres, is an easy choice. Being a big (pun totally intended) fan of Tyler Myers, I also find myself with a soft spot for Winnipeg as well. (For what it’s worth, I’d love to see the Wild and Jets face each other at some point – I think they’re natural geographical rivals that are a playoff series away from taking said rivalry to the next level.)
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