As a team, 1974-75 and 1998-99 would be the defining seasons in Buffalo Sabres history. Buffalo went to the 1975 Stanley Cup finals, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers. The revisited the finals in 1999, bowing out to the Dallas Stars. Individually, however, the defining season in Sabres history is certainly 1992-93. The individual records for most goals, assists and points in a single season were set that year, and all still remain intact.

Alexander Mogilny exploded in 1992-93, scoring 76 goals for the Sabres. This stands as the fifth highest single season total in National Hockey League history and Alex is one of just eight players to score 70 goals or more. The 76 goals tied Mogilny for the league lead in 1992-93 with Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets. Despite the numbers, the only accolade for Alex in 1992-93 was being selected the right winger on the Second All-Star Team.

Mogilny was a fifth round pick by Buffalo at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, 89th overall. He played 990 NHL regular season games between 1989-90 and 2005-06 with the Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was with Buffalo from 1989-90 to 1994-95 and sits 10th on the team’s all-time goals scored list.

Pat Lafontaine assisted on 95 goals in 1992-93, of course, a team record. The total tied him for second in the NHL with Doug Gilmour of the Toronto Maple Leafs, two behind Adam Oates of the Boston Bruins. The 95 assists is the 17th highest single season total in NHL history. Like Mogilny, the only honour bestowed upon Pat in 1992-93 was a selection to the Second All-Star Team.

Lafontaine was the third overall pick at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, going to the New York Islanders. He played 865 regular season NHL games between 1983-84 and 1997-98 with the Islanders, Sabres and New York Rangers. He was with Buffalo from 1991-92 to 1996-97. Pat was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and his number 16 became one of six Buffalo Sabres retired numbers in 2006.

Pat also owns the Buffalo Sabres record for most points with 148. He was second only to Mario Lemieux in the race for the Art Ross Trophy in 1992-93. The 148 points is the 19th highest single season total in NHL history.

How did the 1992-93 Buffalo Sabres fare as a team? They finished fourth in the Adams Division during the regular season. The Sabres met the division champs, Boston Bruins, in the opening round and swept Boston in the upset. The eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens returned the favour by sweeping Buffalo in the second round. 1992-93 was the first year with Dominik Hasek in net for the Sabres, coming over in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.