BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres opened their 2023-24 season at home Thursday night prepared to move forward from 12 difficult years of missing the playoffs.
Fans arrived outside KeyBank Center for a pregame Party in the Plaza with hopes higher than ever after recent contract extensions for star players, a near playoff berth last year and a young core returning.
“It’s the first time in probably 13 years I have complete faith in this organization,” Sabres fan Tyler Guard said. “These boys are onto something.”
Having not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season, the Sabres have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. That was on Sabres fans’ minds as the team returned to the ice.
But as much as fans tried to move on from the past, they also made a key point to honor it Thursday night.
Members of the Buffalo Common Council, the Sabres organization, and city officials dedicated a sign to legendary Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret before the game. The broadcaster died in August about a year and a half after retiring.
The sign designated “RJ Way” as the corner of Perry Street and Illinois Street outside KeyBank Center.
While many fans were in attendance to watch the Sabres play, those that spoke to 2 On Your Side said honoring RJ was just as important.
“I think he's always gonna live in Buffalo and live in everybody's hearts and souls,” Sabres fan Julie Mesi said.
“It's RJ. He is Buffalo,” added Sabres fan Gary Guiliani.
RJ’s wife, Sandra, took the podium and spoke about what the sign would have meant to her husband.
“This sign perfect because everyone knows he did it his way,” she said.
Now as the team and fan base works toward moving into a new and more hopeful era — and possibly making the playoffs this year — Thursday showed they don’t plan to do so without honoring the most important parts of their past.