For Buffalo Sabres fans, hope springs eternal each season, but the weight of history casts a long shadow. Thirteen consecutive playoff-less years have left one of hockey’s most devoted fanbases in despair, clinging to the promise of better days. Central to this narrative is the infamous 2014-2015 “tank year,” a season designed to fail but intended to build a brighter future. What was supposed to be the start of a championship foundation instead became the root of a so-called curse—a decision that seems to haunt the franchise to this day.
The Tank Year: A Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off
The 2014-2015 Sabres season was an open secret. The team was stripped to its bare bones, intentionally aiming for losses to secure a high draft pick in one of the NHL’s most anticipated lotteries. With generational talents like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel at stake, fans embraced the tank. Chants for losses and cheers for opponents’ goals became commonplace at the KeyBank Center, with the understanding that short-term pain would yield long-term gain.
But fate—or the hockey gods—had other plans. Despite holding the best lottery odds, the Sabres fell to the second pick. McDavid went to Edmonton, while Buffalo selected Jack Eichel. Though immensely talented, Eichel couldn’t lift the Sabres to the heights fans had envisioned. His tenure was marred by turmoil, capped by a public dispute over injury management that led to his trade to the Vegas Golden Knights. Adding insult to injury, Eichel celebrated a Stanley Cup victory with Vegas in 2023, leaving Sabres fans to lament what could have been.
The Fallout of the Tank
Since the tank year, the Sabres have struggled to regain their footing. Coaching turnover, front office instability, and a lack of cohesive vision have plagued the franchise. The decision to trade Ryan Miller in 2014, followed by the controversial departure of Sabres President of Hockey Operations Pat LaFontaine, signaled the chaotic leadership environment that has persisted throughout the playoff drought.
Meanwhile, the exodus of key players like Ryan O’Reilly, Sam Reinhart, and Eichel only deepened the wound. Each of these former Sabres went on to win the Stanley Cup elsewhere, further fueling the narrative that Buffalo is cursed. For fans, watching players who once wore blue and gold thrive on hockey’s biggest stage has been a cruel twist of fate.
A Fractured Fan Base
The tank year also left an indelible mark on the fanbase. While some saw it as a necessary evil, others believed it fundamentally altered the Sabres’ identity. Once a franchise synonymous with grit and determination, the deliberate pursuit of failure created a philosophical rift. Can a team that embraced losing ever fully recover its spirit?
For Buffalo, a city that prides itself on its underdog status, rooting for losses felt like a betrayal. The scars of that season remain, magnified by the team’s inability to break free from the losing culture it willingly embraced.
Signs of Hope Amid the Gloom
Despite the prolonged drought, there are reasons to believe the Sabres’ fortunes could change. A core led by Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen offers a glimpse of what could be.
Meanwhile, Lindy Ruff‘s return as head coach in 2024 feels like a nod to Buffalo’s most competitive era. Ruff, who led the team to numerous playoff runs during his first tenure, brings stability and familiarity. Whether he can replicate his earlier success remains to be seen, but his presence offers a sense of continuity that has been sorely lacking.
Breaking the Curse
The so-called “Curse of the Sabres” is as much about psychology as it is about hockey. Breaking it will require more than playoff appearances; it demands a cultural shift. Leadership must commit to a unified vision, ensuring the team’s young core receives the support needed to thrive. Success won’t come overnight, but with patience, strategic decisions, and perhaps a touch of luck, the Sabres can shed the burdens of their past.
For now, the fans wait—hopeful but wary. The tank year may have cursed Buffalo, but it’s also a reminder of the passion and resilience of a fanbase that continues to believe in a brighter future.