As can be reasonably expected during a team’s 50th season, the Buffalo Sabres will celebrate the franchise’s history over the course of the 2019-2020 NHL season, with a number of special promotional themed games between October and April.
In case you missed it, here’s a list of the team’s announced schedule highlights:
During the Sabres’ home opener on Saturday, October 5, the team will celebrate Captains Night. Previous captains from the franchise are expected to be in attendance and honored. Although no specific players have been publicly confirmed yet, past captains who could be in attendance may include Mike Foligno, Danny Gare, Brian Gionta, Michael Peca and Craig Rivet.
The Sabres will then kick off their games honoring each decade with ‘70s Night on Saturday, November 2 against the New York Islanders. The inaugural Sabres team – which included players such as Gilbert Perreault, Floyd Smith, Dave Dryden and Roger Crozier – will be honored. The Sabres and Islanders played in three playoff series against one another in the 70s, which makes this a fitting day for such an occasion.
A few weeks later will be the Sabres’ annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Saturday, November 16 against the Ottawa Senators. The Sabres will almost certainly wear a special jersey during warmups, to be auctioned off later, and will honor cancer survivors & their families in partnership with Roswell Park.
Founders’ Night will be celebrated on Monday, December 2 as the team commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Knox brothers being awarded an NHL franchise in Buffalo (1969). The Sabres would begin play the following season.
On Thursday, December 12, the Sabres will celebrate ‘80s Night and honor Memorial Auditorium with Aud Night. Fans are encouraged to sport their goathead jerseys for ‘90s night on Saturday, January 4. The Sabres will honor the 2000s on Thursday, February 13 and 2010s on Friday, March 13.
Specific details for these celebrations should be released closer to the dates, but it’s not unreasonable to expect player appearances from those who suited up for the team during those respective decades. (What would also be a neat touch: adjusting concession prices, for one night only, to reflect what they were back in the day.)
Other special dates include Saturday, March 21, when the Sabres celebrate “Best of” Night, which will honor notable moments, players & personalities in the organization’s history; Sunday, March 22, which is Military Appreciation Night, and of course, Fan Appreciation Night at the home finale on Saturday, April 4.
The Sabres will also wear their gold third jerseys on most of the aforementioned dates, aside from Hockey Fights Cancer night, January 4 (wouldn’t it be sweet if they wore goathead jerseys that evening? I mean, can you *imagine* Jack Eichel in a goathead jersey on the ice?) and March 13.