Former Buffalo Sabres Player Hated Western New York
This former Sabre did not have nice things to say about the team and Buffalo.
There was a time in Buffalo Sabres history when it was pretty good to be part of the team. They were often in the playoffs, had superstar players, and always at least had a chance at a Stanley Cup. The past 13 years have put a damper on that. The team has set an NHL record for missing the playoffs for the last 13 years straight.
When one reads that a former player hated Western New York, let alone the team itself, it would be easy to assume that the player is from this era of Sabres hockey. After all, the team has finished dead last multiple times, and several players have left dejected. See Ryan O'Reilly, Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and tons of others.
However, you might be surprised to learn it wasn't a player from recent history. It was actually a player from a pretty good time in this team's history.
From 1991 to 1995, the Sabres had a really fun and interesting roster. Pat LaFontaine was the Captain. Alexander Mogilney was a goal-scoring force. Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr came in only to be outshined by Hall of Famer and greatest to ever play the goaltending position, Dominik Hasek. Rob Ray and Brad May would fight anyone who challenged these stars as well. While the team never made it to the Cup, they had a fun run in 1993, hampered by injuries. They had the talent to win it all, just not the luck... the story of the Sabres's existence.
Former Buffalo Sabres Player Hated Western New York
One of the players whPetr Svobodao was very important to those teams was defenseman . Wearing number 7 before the team retired it, Svoboda was a veteran who won a Stanley Cup with Montreal. He was traded to the Sabres for Kevin Haller just before the trade deadline in 1992.
Svoboda remained with the Sabres until 1995 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Gary Galley in a lockout-shortened season.
When he arrived, according to former teammate Chris Terrain, he did not have nice words about Buffalo.
WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS NSFW Language.
"What a city of losers..."
Players can be emotional after a trade. Who knows how he feels today as a now 58-year-old retired player? According to Wikipedia, He is currently the director of hockey operations for Lausanne HC.
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