Two factors reportedly influenced the selection of “Sabres” when the team was founded in 1970. One was that the owners wanted to break free of buffalo/bison variations, such as used by the NFL’s Bills and minor league baseball’s Bisons. Then, too, they supposedly had an interest in knights and chivalry themes, so when a name-the-team contest suggested Sabres, that was an attractive choice that was unclaimed by any other major pro team.

GARY WIEPERT/AP
Buffalo Sabres' Jochen Hecht (55), of Germany, celebrates with Drew Stafford (21) after an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders' in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, April 26, 2013. Buffalo won, 2-1.