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Buffalo Sabres Four Nations Teams: USA

Posted on by Melissa Burgess
Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] View of a Team USA logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

As the 4 Nations Face-off ends tonight in Boston with what should be a rousing game between Canada and the United States, we continue our attempt to put together an all-Sabres Four Nations roster. Today, we continue with Team Canada.

This time, we’ve got a decent pool to select from: 370 Canadian-born players have suited up for the Sabres in their careers, so we’re able to make a full roster: three goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards

Again, I’m taking into consideration first and foremost, how these players performed during their careers – no matter how brief – with the Buffalo Sabres, but also considering their overall performances as pro hockey players in their careers, as unfortunately some players seem to blossom when they leave Buffalo. As you’ll see, some of these players have long since retired, so let’s have some fun and imagine an all-time team even if some of these guys would never have had the chance to play together.

Players are listed alphabetically within their position.

Forwards (13)

  • Tim Connolly: spent eight seasons with the Sabres from 2001-2011, scoring 320 points (94-226) in 464 games. Also played for New York Islanders & Toronto. Career NHL total 697 games, 431 points. Drafted 5th overall by NYI in 1999.
  • Chris Drury: played three seasons with the Sabres from 2003-2007, scoring 189 points (85-104) in 234 games. Also played for Colorado, New York Rangers & Calgary. Career NHL total 892 games, 615 points. Calder winner (1999). Captain from 2005-07, as well as in Nov. 2003 and March 2004.
  • Jack Eichel: drafted by the Sabres 2nd overall in 2015; played six seasons with Buffalo from 2015-2021, scoring 355 points (139-216) in 375 games. Also played for (currently plays for) Vegas. Career total to date 594 NHL games, 583 points. Captain from 2018-2021.
  • Marcus Foligno: drafted by the Sabres 104th overall in 2009; played six seasons with Buffalo from 2011-2017, scoring 116 points (49-67) in 347 games. Also played for (currently plays for) Minnesota. Career total to date 854 NHL games, 315 points.
  • Paul Gaustad: drafted by the Sabres 220th overall in 2000; played eight seasons with Buffalo from 2002-2011, amassing 181 points (71-110) in 479 games. Also played for Nashville. Career total 727 NHL games, 231 points. Career 56.8 faceoff win percentage (with 5,030 draws taken.)
  • Brian Holzinger: drafted by the Sabres 124th overall in 1991; spent six seasons with Buffalo from 1994-1999, scoring 167 points (70-97) in 352 games. Also played for Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh & Columbus. Career total 547 NHL games, 238 PTS, 805 shots on goal.
  • Pat LaFontaine: played six seasons with the Sabres from 1991-1997, amassing 385 points (158-227) in just 268 games. Captain from Oct. 1992-1997. Also played for New York Islanders & New York Rangers. Career total 865 games, 1,013 PTS (468-545).
  • Casey Mittelstadt: drafted by Buffalo 8th overall in 2017; played for the Sabres in seven seasons from 2017-2024, amassing 186 points (62-124) in 339 games. Current plays for Colorado. Career totals to date: 414 NHL games, 228 PTS.
  • Kyle Okposo: played eight seasons with the Sabres from 2016-2024, scoring 245 points (103-142) in 516 games. Also played for New York Islanders & Florida. Career NHL total 1,051 games, 614 points. Captain from 2022-2024.
  • Derek Plante: drafted by Buffalo 161st overall in 1989; played six seasons with the Sabres from 1993-1999, amassing 236 points (91-145) in 395 games. Also played with Dallas, Chicago & Philadelphia. Career total 450 NHL games, 248 points.
  • Drew Stafford: drafted by the Sabres 13th overall in 2004; played nine seasons with Buffalo from 2006-2015, amassing 327 points (145-177) in 563 games. Also played for Winnipeg, New Jersey & Boston. Career total 841 NHL games, 428 points.
  • Tage Thompson: has played for the Sabres since 2018, amassing 292 points (155-137) in 379 games. Career high 94 points (47-47) in 78 games in 2022-23. Also played for St. Louis. Career total 420 NHL games, 301 points. Currently in Boston as a reserve for the 4 Nations championship game.
  • Alex Tuch: has played for the Sabres since 2021, amassing 219 points (89-130) in 253 games. Previously played for Minnesota & Vegas. Career total to date 508 NHL games, 358 points.

Defenders (7)

  • Richie Dunn: played nine seasons with the Sabres in two stints between 1977-1989, amassing 132 points (105 assists) in 327 games. Also played with Hartford & Calgary. Career total 483 NHL games, 176 points, 314 PIMs and 749 shots on goal.
  • Rory Fitzpatrick: played four seasons with the Sabres between 2001-2006, registering 24 points (9-15) in 157 games. Also had 114 PIMs. Also played with Montreal, St. Louis, Nashville, Vancouver & Philadelphia. Career total 287 NHL games, 35 points, 201 PIMs.
  • Lee Fogolin: drafted by Buffalo 11th overall in 1974; played six seasons with the Sabres in two stints, mostly from 1974-1979. With the Sabres, he scored 78 points (70 assists) in 338 games. Also played for Edmonton. Career total 924 NHL games, 238 points, and 1,318 PIMs.
  • Phil Housley: drafted by the Sabres 6th overall in 1982; played eight seasons with Buffalo from 1982-1990, Amassed 558 points (178-380) in 608 games with the Sabres. Also played with Calgary, Winnipeg, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, New Jersey & Toronto. Career total 1,495 NHL games, 1,242 points and 822 PIMs. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
  • Jordan Leopold: played three years with the Sabres from 2010-2013, appearing in 174 games and putting up 67 points from the blueline. Also played for Calgary, Colorado, St. Louis, Florida, Pittsburgh, Columbus & Minnesota. Career total 695 NHL games, 214 PTS and 942 shots on goal.
  • Jake McCabe: drafted by Buffalo 44th overall in 2012; played eight seasons with the Sabres from 2013-2021, amassing 77 points (59 assists) in 353 games. Also played for Chicago, and currently plays for Toronto. Career totals to date: 623 NHL games, 166 points, 655 shots on goal.
  • Mike Ramsey: drafted by Buffalo 11th overall in 1979; played 14 seasons wtih the Sabres from 1979-1993, amassing 329 points (73-256) in 911 games. Also played for Detroit & Pittsburgh. Career total 1,070 NHL games, 345 PTS, and 1,012 PIMs. Captain from Jan. 1991-Oct. 1992.

Goaltender (3)

  • Craig Anderson: hear me out; his time in Buffalo wasn’t the best or his best, but he would be a serviceable veteran 3rd goaltender with a wealth of knowledge & experience to bring to the table. Played two seasons with the Sabres from 2012-23, appearing in 57 games with a 28-23-4 record. Also played with Ottawa, Chicago, Florida, Colorado & Washington. Career total: 20 years in the NHL, 709 games played, 319-275-73, 2.86 GAA and .912 save percentage.
  • Tom Barrasso: drafted by the Sabres 5th overall in 1983; played six seasons in Buffalo from 1983-1989, appearing in 266 games with a 124-102-28 record, 3.29 GAA and .884 save percentage. Also played in Pittsburgh, Carolina, Ottawa, St. Louis & Toronto. Career NHL totals: 777 games played, 369-277-86, 3.24 GAA and .892 save percentage.
  • Ryan Miller: the obvious of most obvious choices, right? Drafted by the Sabres 138th overall in 1999. Played 11 seasons with Buffalo from 2002-2014, appearing in 540 games with a 284-186-57 record. Broke multiple records! Vezina winner in 2010! Also played with St. Louis, Vancouver & Anaheim. Career total: 18 years in the NHL, 796 games played, 391-289-88, 2.64 GAA and .914 save percentage.
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