![Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D598PY/buffalo-sabres-head-coach-lindy-ruff-r-skates-with-defenseman-richard-smehlik-june-16-at-the-marine-midland-arena-in-buffalo-the-nhl-eastern-division-champions-were-practicing-before-their-departure-to-dallas-for-stanley-cup-game-five-ruff-is-a-former-sabres-player-and-smehlik-won-a-1998-olympic-gold-medal-playing-hockey-for-his-native-czech-republic-jtgb-2D598PY.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to
![Buffalo Sabres' Jaroslav Spacek (6), of Czech Republic, prepares to shoot the puck and score on Boston Bruins goalie Alex Auld as Sabres' Paul Gaustad (28) looks on during the first period Buffalo Sabres' Jaroslav Spacek (6), of Czech Republic, prepares to shoot the puck and score on Boston Bruins goalie Alex Auld as Sabres' Paul Gaustad (28) looks on during the first period](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAP90H/buffalo-sabres-jaroslav-spacek-6-of-czech-republic-prepares-to-shoot-the-puck-and-score-on-boston-bruins-goalie-alex-auld-as-sabres-paul-gaustad-28-looks-on-during-the-first-period-of-the-nhl-hockey-game-at-hsbc-arena-in-buffalo-ny-monday-dec-10-2007-ap-photodavid-duprey-2PAP90H.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres' Jaroslav Spacek (6), of Czech Republic, prepares to shoot the puck and score on Boston Bruins goalie Alex Auld as Sabres' Paul Gaustad (28) looks on during the first period
![Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TXGJ1R/buffalo-sabres-right-wing-ales-kotalik-of-the-czech-republic-skates-into-his-zone-against-the-new-york-rangers-in-the-first-period-of-game-one-of-the-nhl-eastern-conference-semifinals-at-the-hsbc-arena-in-buffalo-new-york-on-april-25-2007-upi-photojerome-davis-TXGJ1R.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals
![Boston Bruins forward Petr Tenkrat (17) of the Czech Republic and Buffalo Sabres Dmitri Kalinin (45) of Russia, both reach for a loose puck in the first period on February 1, 2007 Boston Bruins forward Petr Tenkrat (17) of the Czech Republic and Buffalo Sabres Dmitri Kalinin (45) of Russia, both reach for a loose puck in the first period on February 1, 2007](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TXG2FH/boston-bruins-forward-petr-tenkrat-17-of-the-czech-republic-and-buffalo-sabres-dmitri-kalinin-45-of-russia-both-reach-for-a-loose-puck-in-the-first-period-on-february-1-2007-at-the-td-banknorth-garden-in-boston-upi-photomatthew-healey-TXG2FH.jpg)
Boston Bruins forward Petr Tenkrat (17) of the Czech Republic and Buffalo Sabres Dmitri Kalinin (45) of Russia, both reach for a loose puck in the first period on February 1, 2007
![Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAFW4M/buffalo-sabres-defenseman-jaroslav-spacek-of-czech-republic-skates-past-florida-panthers-richard-zedniks-trail-of-blood-during-the-third-period-of-a-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-on-sunday-feb-10-2008-buffalo-won-5-3-zednik-was-taken-to-a-buffalo-hospital-after-his-neck-was-cut-by-a-teammates-skate-ap-photodon-heupel-2PAFW4M.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb.
![Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2NC2BJ4/florida-panthers-michal-repik-32-of-czech-republic-shoots-the-puck-under-pressure-from-buffalo-sabres-chris-butler-34-and-jordan-leopold-3-during-the-second-period-of-an-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-friday-march-25-2011-ap-photodavid-duprey-2NC2BJ4.jpg)
Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game
![Czech Republic natives, J.T. Compher, lead the Avalanche to 3-2 win over Buffalo Sabres – The Denver Post Czech Republic natives, J.T. Compher, lead the Avalanche to 3-2 win over Buffalo Sabres – The Denver Post](https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TDP-L-AVALANCHE-SABRES_JAC8719x.jpg?w=620)