I get where you are going with this...but separating Toronto/Montreal is impossible. Also the NY Metro area teams MUST stay together. in my opinion..
- Eklund

why?

they were in different conferences in the 90s let alone division.

Why is everyone saying NO WAY Drouin gets moved, what has he done, other than get drafted 3rd overall, to make you think that? He should not have gone before Seth Jones, Yzerman should have drafted Jones and never looked back. Drouin looks lost on the ice, he looks small. He can skate fast but so can a lot of other players. He gets pushed around and looks nervous. He has slick hands for sure but he does not look like an NHL star right now. Could he end up being one? Sure he could but he could also end up being a bust. I say the Lightning should trade him while they can, get a few more pieces to play with to make another run towards the Cup. They obviously did not need him to get there so add another shut down D and maybe a prospect and move on from the Drouin experiment.

Who did you think we were rivals with? I'm not that old but since I've been into hockey. (The mid 90's) Buffalo's biggest rivals mainly depend on who we're playing in the playoffs as they always seem to be the same team for a few years IE: Ottawa mid 2000's Boston 2009 - Present. But the Maple Leafs and surprisingly the Flyers have always been main stays in terms of no matter where each team is at in the standings you can guarantee the game will be intense. I don't know if its the same over in Edmonton against Calgary or Vancouver but I'd guess it were. Buffalo is one of the most passionate fanbases in the league and has a long standing relationship with the teams mentioned. Putting them against teams they've played maybe twice a year at best for the past decade would be terrible.
- bluengold12

To be fair, my primary focus has always been the western conference, so I guess I just never realized the Leafs/Sabres rivalry existed. I knew the two cities were close, but let's be honest, most eastern teams are close to each other (in comparison to the west). I always thought the Sabres main rivals were the Bruins, Flyers, and Senators for some reason, and I always considered the Leafs main rivals to be the Canadiens, Senators, and Bruins......I guess I was wrong.

This idea is perfect. Hope that NHL considers it.

"This is a format you should love then...8 games each year against each of your chief rivals...

- Eklund, Commissioner"


Really? Because the Blackhawks chief rival is the St. Louis Blues... or did you forget that?
- Katana777

I agree whole-heartedly, having lived in the St. Louis metro in the 90s. Of course, I said the same thing when they took Detroit out of that division.

To be fair, my primary focus has always been the western conference, so I guess I just never realized the Leafs/Sabres rivalry existed. I knew the two cities were close, but let's be honest, most eastern teams are close to each other (in comparison to the west). I always thought the Sabres main rivals were the Bruins, Flyers, and Senators for some reason, and I always considered the Leafs main rivals to be the Canadiens, Senators, and Bruins......I guess I was wrong.
- Sammy Van Hagar

you're not. Buffalo is close and easy to get to from TO. but rivalry? not really.

To be fair, my primary focus has always been the western conference, so I guess I just never realized the Leafs/Sabres rivalry existed. I knew the two cities were close, but let's be honest, most eastern teams are close to each other (in comparison to the west). I always thought the Sabres main rivals were the Bruins, Flyers, and Senators for some reason, and I always considered the Leafs main rivals to be the Canadiens, Senators, and Bruins......I guess I was wrong.
- Sammy Van Hagar

We've been rivalries with the Senators but it's been pretty stagnate for the last few years sadly. I always enjoyed going to a game against them when the rivalry is at it's strongest. With the Bruins, not trying to bash their fans here but during the time right after the lockout when the Sabres were really good and the Bruins were awful there really was no rivalry. Maybe a few fans from Boston would show up but other than that it was probably the least of passionate rivalry in the division at the time. Which is surprising. After the Lucic hit on Miller they probably became top rivals with us along with Toronto and Phili. I think a big part of the Toronto rivalry is the fact that no matter what a lot of their fans come down to Buffalo when we play each other and it sort of adds to the intensity of the matchups.

you're not. Buffalo is close and easy to get to from TO. but rivalry? not really.
- Fountain-San

I'd argue Buffalo and Toronto is a bigger rivalry overall in the last twenty years than Boston and Toronto... Besides the playoff series between the two of you.

I think Buffalo would be screwed as far as rivalries go. I mean, when you think of rivalries with the Sabres, the Wings, Hawks, and Wild don't really jump out at you... Not saying a rivalry couldn't develop, and with the understanding that no system will be perfect, with the "sister" divisions you'd have to keep some semblance from year to year. The NFL does this, and it works. So the system isn't really that farfetched. Also, for personal reasons, I would love Buffalo coming to Minny four times a year due to proximity.
- SDSabre

Rivalry, as in... You better not lose to Buffalo?

Everyone except Buffalo fans, hate buffalo.

I wish I never had to watch another one of their games again.

The only rivalry is about the 2 points, not the team.

*relocate buffalo to markham - making the markham marauders.

NOW THERES A RIVALRY

you're not. Buffalo is close and easy to get to from TO. but rivalry? not really.
- Fountain-San

Yes, please tell us Sabres fans who we consider to be our rivals. I'll wait til you decide. Thank you for making that clear to us.

I like it but Las Vegas has to be switched with Colorado.

I'd argue Buffalo and Toronto is a bigger rivalry overall in the last twenty years than Boston and Toronto... Besides the playoff series between the two of you.
- bluengold12

I've never considered the Maple Leafs to be a big rival of the Bruins.

Yes, please tell us Sabres fans who we consider to be our rivals. I'll wait til you decide. Thank you for making that clear to us.
- SDSabre

Sabres have no rivals. There are the mosquitoes of the NHL.

Arizona, Florida and soon to be Las Vegas are the Raccoons.

Get rid of them all for brands that will earn money

Yes, please tell us Sabres fans who we consider to be our rivals. I'll wait til you decide. Thank you for making that clear to us.
- SDSabre

no need to be a female dog about it. are you really big rivals? don't rivals need to have a history of playing big games against each other?

whatever.

Rivalry, as in... You better not lose to Buffalo?

Everyone except Buffalo fans, hate buffalo.

I wish I never had to watch another one of their games again.

The only rivalry is about the 2 points, not the team.

*relocate buffalo to markham - making the markham marauders.

NOW THERES A RIVALRY
- CanadianBodmon

I was at first going to logically destroy you but I decided it wasn't worth it. In a world filled with stupid troll comments you sir have taken the cake as most illogically incompetent troll comment in the site.

To be fair, my primary focus has always been the western conference, so I guess I just never realized the Leafs/Sabres rivalry existed. I knew the two cities were close, but let's be honest, most eastern teams are close to each other (in comparison to the west). I always thought the Sabres main rivals were the Bruins, Flyers, and Senators for some reason, and I always considered the Leafs main rivals to be the Canadiens, Senators, and Bruins......I guess I was wrong.
- Sammy Van Hagar

They'be only met in the playoffs once, only been in the same division the last 15 years or so. Sabres fans might think of the Leafs as their biggest rivals, but the opposite isn't true. Compared to the rivalries being talked about, it's not really a big deal.

Sabres have no rivals. There are the mosquitoes of the NHL.

Arizona, Florida and soon to be Las Vegas are the Raccoons.

Get rid of them all for brands that will earn money
- CanadianBodmon

110-70-18

Looks like the "mosquitoes" have a winning record against the center of the hockey universe, no?

Seeding the NHL teams 1 through 16 will never happen.

The travel will make it grossly unfair for the teams that have to go from east to west in the first few rounds.
- Charliebox

There isn't that much of a difference between that and travelling from Toronto to Florida or Winnipeg to LA. If they want to reduce the stress of travel then go the AHL format: Home, Home, Away, Away, Away, Home, Home.

Fact is you cannot make everyone happy but at least you can make things fair. Having the conferences 16 & 14 now and as bad as 18 & 14 after is dumb and needs to be addressed.

no need to be a female dog about it. are you really big rivals? don't rivals need to have a history of playing big games against each other?

whatever.
- Fountain-San

To be fair, the Sabres haven't played that many big games. And I don't think that has to be the case. I think there can just be a heightened sense during a game that you wouldn't normally get from playing other teams. The Sabres have/had that with: the Leafs, the Bruins, the Sens, and the Habs at some point in their history. What level of rivalry is up to the person I'd guess.

110-70-18

Looks like the "mosquitoes" have a winning record against the center of the hockey universe, no?
- SDSabre

What does that have to do about a Rivalry?

The Leafs broke their legs, arms, face, neck, back and lost all eyesight temporarily.

They're finally getting out of recovery from their injuries.

There's NOTHING to be proud about for you guys.. Beating the disabled Leafs is not an accomplishment.

They'be only met in the playoffs once, only been in the same division the last 15 years or so. Sabres fans might think of the Leafs as their biggest rivals, but the opposite isn't true. Compared to the rivalries being talked about, it's not really a big deal.
- Antilles

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. It was just brought up because the Sabres get thrown into a division with the Wings, Wild, and Hawks where they have played against these teams very minimally in their existence.

To be fair, the Sabres haven't played that many big games. And I don't think that has to be the case. I think there can just be a heightened sense during a game that you wouldn't normally get from playing other teams. The Sabres have/had that with: the Leafs, the Bruins, the Sens, and the Habs at some point in their history. What level of rivalry is up to the person I'd guess.
- SDSabre

i would say that the Sabres and Bruins or even the Sabres and Habs are bigger rivalries from the old Adams Division days.

i mean the leafs were a Western conference team until 1999, let alone a NE division team.

Eklund: How about 8 divisions of 4 teams? Drouin to StL/Dallas? Buzzcast @1
- Eklund

How about NO

What does that have to do about a Rivalry?

The Leafs broke their legs, arms, face, neck, back and lost all eyesight temporarily.

They're finally getting out of recovery from their injuries.

There's NOTHING to be proud about for you guys.. Beating the disabled Leafs is not an accomplishment.
- CanadianBodmon

So winning the cup in '67 is something to be proud of? Were you born yet? If not, you've seen your team win just as many cups as I have.

i would say that the Sabres and Bruins or even the Sabres and Habs are bigger rivalries from the old Adams Division days.

i mean the leafs were a Western conference team until 1999, let alone a NE division team.
- Fountain-San

I get it. And I understand where your coming from. I personally think that rivalries are fan driven, with a few exceptions of players that absolutely hate the other teams. I just love when the Sabres beat the Leafs more than any other team. So to me, personally, I'd consider the Leafs the Sabres main rival. Not saying they have to reciprocate that feeling.