Sabres welcome back 15 former captains to celebrate opening night
Team kicked off 50th anniversary season with special ceremony
ByPat Pickens @Pat_Pickens / NHL.com Staff Writer
What's the best way to celebrate your 50th anniversary? Bring back some of your all-time greats.
The Buffalo Sabres honored 15 former captains to participate in the ceremonial puck drop before their home opener against the New Jersey Devils. The Sabres welcomed back Gerry Meehan, Don Luce, Danny Gare, Gilbert Perreault, Mike Foligno, Michael Peca, Donald Audette, Stu Barnes, Jochen Hecht, Toni Lydman, Brian Campbell, Craig Rivet, Jason Pominville and Brian Gionta.
The captains then watched as Floyd Smith, Buffalo's initial captain in 1970, dropped the puck during a special ceremony. "It's great," Perreault told MSG before the game. "It's always great to see the boys and guys you played with for so many years in the early years of the franchise, and it's always nice to see them." Jack Eichel, the Sabres' current captain, capped Captains Night by scoring his first goal of the season in their 7-2 win against New Jersey .
