<P> The Sabres , along with the Vancouver Canucks , joined the NHL in the 1970 -- 71 season . Their first owners were Seymour H. Knox III and Northrup Knox , scions of a family long prominent in Western New York and grandsons of the co-founders of the Woolworth 's variety store chain ; along with Robert O. Swados , a Buffalo attorney . On the team 's inaugural board of directors were Robert E. Rich , Jr. , later the owner of the Buffalo Bisons minor league baseball team ; and George W. Strawbridge , Jr. , an heir to the Campbell Soup Company fortune . Buffalo had a history of professional hockey ; immediately prior to the Sabres ' establishment , the Buffalo Bisons were a pillar of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) , having existed since 1940 ( and before that , another Bisons hockey team played from 1928 to 1936 ) , winning the Calder Cup in their final season . </P>
<P> The Sabres , along with the Vancouver Canucks , joined the NHL in the 1970 -- 71 season . Their first owners were Seymour H. Knox III and Northrup Knox , scions of a family long prominent in Western New York and grandsons of the co-founders of the Woolworth 's variety store chain ; along with Robert O. Swados , a Buffalo attorney . On the team 's inaugural board of directors were Robert E. Rich , Jr. , later the owner of the Buffalo Bisons minor league baseball team ; and George W. Strawbridge , Jr. , an heir to the Campbell Soup Company fortune . Buffalo had a history of professional hockey ; immediately prior to the Sabres ' establishment , the Buffalo Bisons were a pillar of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) , having existed since 1940 ( and before that , another Bisons hockey team played from 1928 to 1936 ) , winning the Calder Cup in their final season . </P>
when did the buffalo sabres join the nhl
when did the buffalo sabres join the nhl
the 1970 -- 71 season
the 1970 -- 71 season