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10 years later: state of the Buffalo Sabres

10 years later: State of the Buffalo Sabres
Posted at 8:20 PM, Feb 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-22 20:20:53-05

BUFFALO, N.Y. [WKBW] — "Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup."

That's what Terry Pegula said 10 years ago today as he was formally introduced as the fourth owner in Buffalo Sabres franchise history.

Since taking over in 2011, the Sabres have had some of their worst seasons in franchise history and have fewer wins than any other team [excluding the Vegas Golden Knights, who joined the league in 2017-2018.]

During that span, the Sabres have a 281-354-94 record and own the longest playoff drought in the NHL. The team has had six head coaches since 2011 and four general managers. After hiring the current GM, Kevyn Adams, both Terry and Kim Pegula were confident in the direction of the organization.

"You know on the Bills side, it took us several times there, we feel like we've got the right people," Kim Pegula said in June of 2020. "We're going to keep trying, we feel like Kevyn is the right person."

"We believe in acting and not reacting to certain situations," Terry Pegula also said in June. "We as owners had a vision to where we need to go during these uncertain times."

So while things certainly looked promising 10 years ago, the wait continues and the question remains; when and how will the Pegula's live up to their Stanley Cup promise?