The Sabres are going to honor the best goalie in team history Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings. Buffalo is going to do the long over due honor of retiring the number of Dominik Hasek. Hasek was the face of the Sabres from 1992 to 2001. Due to a controversial departure in 2001, the Sabres didn’t bring Hasek back until Terry Pegula took over as owner. Pegula did the right thing when he first bought the team and made the Sabres alumni a very important part of the organization. The Sabres inducted Hasek into the Sabres Hall of Fame last April, paving the way to his jersey retirement this year.
Remembering a Great Career
Hasek played 15 NHL seasons for mostly the Sabres and Red Wings. In his 15 year career, Hasek won two MVP awards in 1997 and 1998. To go along with that Hasek added six Vezina awards in 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, and 01. In 1998, Hasek had one of his greatest moments on the ice by leading his Czech Republic national team to a Gold Medal. Topping it all off, the Dominator won two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings in 2002 and 2008. Here is a look at what Hasek was able to achieve during his great career in Buffalo:
INFOGRAPHIC: Another look at Dominik Hasek's incredible achievements in Buffalo. PDF: http://t.co/Mtu2Bb7YQM #HHOF pic.twitter.com/sM2nIYHZmQ
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 18, 2014
Night in and night out Hasek gave the Sabres the opportunity to win. He led them to two Eastern Conference finals and a Stanley Cup final appearance in 1999. The Sabres never had a great team in front of Hasek, but were always a competitive team due to Hasek’s awkward and acrobatic style of goaltending.
Great Night to Come
Tuesday night is going to be a special night for Hasek and the Buffalo Sabres organization. It was well planned on the Sabres part to have the ceremony on the night that the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings. Both teams will have a role in the retirement ceremony. Fans who will be in attendance will be a part of perhaps the best moment of the Sabres season. The Hall of Fame goaltender will finally be able to see his jersey rose to the rafters of the First Niagara Center where it truly belongs.
In another sign of respect the Sabres and Red Wings are going to be starting Czech natives Michal Neuvirth and Petr Mrazek. Both young goaltenders grew up in in the Czech Republic idolizing Hasek. Neuvirth told reporters after practice today, he remembered watching Hasek win Gold in the Olympics in school and Hasek became his role model ever since. A great night full of excitement and honor awaits all in attendance.
