Buffalo Sabres Logo PNG
Even incompatible things are compatible. The New York hockey team proved this, as the Buffalo Sabers logo features a bison and a cold weapon. The reason for such an emblem was the club’s name, whose leadership rejected standard, unexpressive, and boring options in search of a name.
Buffalo Sabres: Brand overview
| Founded: | 1970 |
| Founder: | Terry Pegula |
| Headquarters: | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Website: | nhl.com |
The Buffalo Sabres hockey team appeared in 1970 when the NHL expanded the league to 14 top franchises. The Buffalo Sabres were founded by the Knox brothers, Seymour and Northrup, in 1970. The team is based in Buffalo, New York, USA.
The Knox brothers held a contest to name the team and develop a more original and unique name for the franchise. Many ideas were proposed, such as “Mugwumps,” “Buzzing Bees,” “Buffalo Bisons,” “Flying Zeppelins,” “Buffalo Bulls,” etc. However, the brothers decided such names were too simple and artless for Buffalo teams. Additionally, “buffalo,” “bison,” and “bull” are related to large four-legged animals from the genus Bison. Eventually, the name Sabres won. The owners said they liked Sabres because it is an effective weapon in offense and defense, so they hoped their team would be the same. Anyway, “Bulls,” “Bisons,” and “Buffaloes” are root-related names for the team, as the Buffalo Sabres logo features a bison above two crossed sabers.
In the spring of 1996, Seymour Knox III, the principal owner of the Buffalo Sabres, died. In the 1996-97 season, the team changed its primary colors from blue-gold to black-red. The Sabres moved from Memorial Auditorium to the new HSBC Arena that same year.
Sabertooth – an anthropomorphic saber-toothed tiger – is the mascot of the “Buffalo Sabres.”
Meaning and History
The “Buffalo Sabres” is a hockey team whose logo features a mighty and aggressive bison, reflecting its spirit. Indeed, “katanas,” “sabs,” “sabers,” and “swords,” as fans call them (since, in addition to the wild animal, the Buffalo Sabres logo previously had two sabers), always try to demonstrate a fighting spirit and a ready-to-win attitude.
Although there is no text on the Buffalo Sabers logo, it still reflects the exact name of the team and the city where the club is located. The logo consists of two parts as if they were two words. The first represents the collective image of a “buffalo, bull, bison” – a representative of a large artiodactyl. The second conveys the sharpness of the skates the hockey players wear on the ice, so sabers are determination, a striking moment, and maneuverability. Although there are only two objects on all emblems, they still differ. The franchise has had five variants in total.
What is Buffalo Sabres?
The Buffalo Sabres is a professional hockey team founded in 1970 as an expansion franchise. The team is based in Buffalo, New York, and is a member of the Eastern Conference (Atlantic Division) of the NHL. Terry Pegula has owned the team since 2011.
1970 – 1996
Since the city was believed to be named after the American Bison that once roamed the state of New York in huge herds, this animal was chosen for the first Buffalo Sabres logo. The original logo was a blue circle with a yellow outline. It featured two crossed sabers with yellow handles and a white buffalo between them.
1996 – 1999
In the late 1990s, the team introduced a new logo and color scheme. The “Buffalo Sabres” moved away from the blue-yellow gamma in favor of black, red, and silver. The sabers from the logo were removed and replaced with the head of a buffalo with red eyes. This silver-black buffalo with a red outline was the emblem of the “Sabres” until 2006.
1999 – 2006
The “Sabres” logo underwent another slight redesign. The fourth logo received better color reproduction and improved graphics.
2006 – 2010
The return in 2007 to the original blue-yellow color scheme was a successful decision, but this design was considered one of the worst logos in sports history. The Buffaslug logo featured a yellow buffalo with white horns and bright red eyes. The animal was depicted in profile, helping to create the effect of a realistically running buffalo.
2010 – 2020
The “Sabres” logo returns to the original 1970 look, albeit with some changes, such as improved graphics and modern details. The current personal identification mark is an improved version of the debut logo. After several transformations, the team management concluded that the most successful symbolism was the first. Therefore, the team returned it in 2010 and has not changed it. Now, all elements are complemented by thin contour lines, which make the drawing precise and focused.
The bull looks incredibly menacing, although the designers removed the bright red eye color and replaced it with a dark shade. The animal is still depicted attacking from the left. Two surrounding strokes indicate that the hoofed animal is rapidly moving forward: the stripes are located above and below the torso. Thanks to the edging, the sabers also became much more expressive.
2020 – today
In 2020, the hockey team finally decided to return to its first logo, so all colors were replaced with classic ones. The circle acquired a royal blue hue, and the outer ring and saber handles became bright gold. Silver accents disappeared, making the elements no longer stand out and appear convex. The designers also slightly adjusted the details, making the drawing harmonious. Now, the name Sabers, chosen to emphasize the sharpness of the skates, is much better reflected in the long and well-sharpened blades of edged weapons. At the same time, two thin lines above and below the buffalo convey a rapid gliding motion. The red eye, which was not on the first emblem of the Buffalo Sabers, expresses a warlike mood and the ability to defeat any opponent.
Buffalo Sabres: Interesting Facts
The Buffalo Sabres are a hockey team with a long history and many fans.
- Start: They began in 1970, at the same time as the Vancouver Canucks, bringing hockey to Buffalo, New York.
- Name: “Sabres” was picked from a fan contest because it means a leader’s weapon and stands for leadership and action. It was unique compared to other team names.
- Early Days: 1970 they selected Gilbert Perreault as their first big player. He and two others formed a “French Connection” group, one of hockey’s most thrilling groups.
- Big Game: By 1975, only five years after starting, they played in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers but didn’t win.
- The Aud: Before 1996, they played in the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, which was loved by fans for its noisy and exciting games.
- Dominik Hasek: Known as “The Dominator,” Hasek was an amazing goalie for the Sabres in the 1990s, winning many awards for being the best goalie.
- Winning Season: In 2006-2007, they won the Presidents’ Trophy for having the most points. People loved how fast and skilled they played.
- Controversial Moment: In 1999, during the finals, a goal by the Dallas Stars was counted when it shouldn’t have been, according to the rules. Sabres fans still talk about this as “No Goal.”
- Honored Players: The team has honored several players by not letting anyone else use their numbers, including Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and Dominik Hasek.
- Helping Out: The Sabres help their area through the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, which focuses on youth hockey and health.
These points highlight the Buffalo Sabres’ memorable journey, with standout players, big moments, and a strong community spirit.
Font and Colors
The buffalo image underwent the most experimentation. The debut and current versions are fully depicted; from 1996 to 2006, the emblem only featured the head until 2010—part of the withers. But the menacing facial expression remained unchanged. The head was always tilted forward as if for a powerful attack on the enemy. The animal sharply extended its sharp horns, demonstrating readiness for attack.
Depending on the period, the central image was supplemented with various details. Often, it was a blue circle with a yellow border and two crossed sabers at the bottom. In other cases, the emphasis is on the withers or mane of the artiodactyl, highlighting the powerful horns.
Although the emblem does not contain text, it is sometimes accompanied by a separate inscription. The team name is rendered in a custom font and placed in two lines.
The emblem has undergone several minor experiments with color. It included red, gray, white, and black tones for some time, but now the white-blue-yellow palette predominates.