Buffalo Sabres

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Lore & Background

The Sabres attempted to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, but were eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th consecutive season after a 3–2 loss to the Dallas Stars on April 9, 2024. The Sabres and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) are tied for the longest active playoff drought in American sports, missing them for 12 consecutive years. This is the longest playoff drought in NHL history and professional sports only behind the New York Jets who also missed the playoffs.

In Their Own Story

The 2023–24 Buffalo Sabres season was the 54th season of play for the Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sabres failed to improve on a strong 2022–23 season (42–33–7; 91 points). After the 2022 Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB) clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2001 and the 2022–23 Sacramento Kings of National Basketball Association (NBA) clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2006, the Sabres and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) are tied for the longest active playoff drought in American sports, missing them for 12 consecutive years. They attempted to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011 (the current longest, and the longest playoff drought in NHL history and professional sports only behind the New York Jets who also missed the playoffs), but were eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th consecutive season after a 3–2 loss to the Dallas Stars on April 9, 2024.

Reader's Guide

The preseason schedule was published on June 21, 2023. The regular season schedule was published on June 27, 2023. At the 2023 NHL entry draft, held on June 28 and 29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, the Sabres selected Zach Benson from the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL with their first selection.

Did You Know?

• The Sabres failed to improve on a strong 2022–23 season (42–33–7; 91 points).
• The Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th consecutive season after a 3–2 loss to the Dallas Stars on April 9, 2024.
• The Sabres and New York Jets are tied for the longest active playoff drought in American sports, missing them for 12 consecutive years.
• The Sabres selected Zach Benson from the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL with their first selection at the 2023 NHL entry draft.
• The preseason schedule was published on June 21, 2023, and the regular season schedule was published on June 27, 2023.