As the Stanley Cup Final begins, Western New York fans will see at least two former Buffalo Sabres win a championship. The rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will feature five former Buffalo players. For Edmonton, wingers Evander Kane and Jeff Skinner will be seeking their first Cup rings.
Former Sabres In Edmonton
Kane played for the Sabres from 2015 to 2018. He scored 43 points (28 goals, 15 assists) for Buffalo in 2016-17. With his contract expiring, he was dealt by the Sabres to the San Jose Sharks prior to the trade deadline in 2018. Although he missed much of the 2024-25 campaign due to injury, Kane has been a solid contributor for Edmonton this postseason, tallying 11 points in 15 playoff games.
Skinner, 33, spent six seasons in Buffalo and was a successful goal scorer at times with the Sabres, including a career high 40 in 2018-19.
His goal total dropped to twenty-four in 23-24. He had his contract bought out by the Sabres last summer. Skinner then signed a one year free agent deal with the Oilers.
Declining production has resulted in Skinner appearing in just two post-season contests for the Oilers this year. He returned to the Edmonton lineup in the Game 5 clincher of the Western Conference Final against Dallas. Skinner scored a key goal in the contest, giving his team.a 3-0 lead.
Former Sabres In Florida
On the Florida side, three former Sabres will be seeking a second consecutive Stanley Cup title. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov had a short, injury-plagued tenure with Buffalo in 2016-2017. He has since become a solid performer for the Panthers, contributing four points in seventeen playoff games already this post season.
31-year-old center Evan Rodriguez spent four seasons in Buffalo and showed promise. With improving play during stops in Pittsburgh and Colorado, Rodriguez is now an important part of the Panthers offensive attack.
Sam Reinhart, the Sabres former second-overall pick in 2014, was a consistent offensive performer in Buffalo, despite the team failing to achieve a postseason berth. The Sabres were never willing to offer him a long-term contract and traded him before the final year of his contract began in 2021 for goalie Devon Levi and a 2022 first-round pick. He scored a crucial goal in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final to help the Panthers secure the victory.
Many years of losing and a record-setting 14-year playoff drought have left many players discontented. Talented former Sabres have continued to flourish elsewhere and for the Buffalo fanbase, it is another June where they are left wondering what went wrong.and what might have been.
Rousek Signs With SHL Club
Winger Lukas Rousek has signed a two-year contract with HV71 in Sweden. The 26-year-old is a talented forward prospect in an organization that simply has too many and was to become a restricted free agent this summer.
The Czech native was selected by the Sabres in the sixth round (160th overall) in the 2019 NHL draft and scored four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 17 games with Buffalo over two seasons. Rousek spent the entire season with the Rochester Americans, posting 42 points in 72 regular-season games and added two goals and six assists in seven playoff contests for the Amerks this spring.
The Sabres selected Rousek.
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