What former Sabres players still live in WNY?

[AustonsNostrils]

We know the ones who are still involved in the sport or work for the Sabres but I think there are ex-players still around who people assume left and went back to Canada or Europe. The one who surprised me not long ago listening to the Instigators was I think Richard Smehlik who is still in the area running some non-hockey related business.

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[TheMistyStranger]

Smehlik runs a pet hotel for people who need temporary animal care or something like that.

 

[markpenske]

Saw Daren Puppa shopping. Not a Sabre but also saw Darryl Sittler shopping at BJ's

 

[AustonsNostrils]

Saw Daren Puppa shopping. Not a Sabre but also saw Darryl Sittler shopping at BJ's

I had no idea Darryl Sittler still lived in the Buffalo area - i knew he did at one time but assumed he moved back to Ontario. And never knew Puppa lives in the area either.

I don't remember why Sittler moved here, never played or worked for the Sabres - maybe he liked the lower cost of living/houses and what the area offered.

 

[LongWayDown37]

Not Slava Kozlov.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Has Ville Leino gotten out of prison yet?

 

[Buffaloed]

An unusual number of NHL players who come to Buffalo for hockey make it their home for good.
The draw of living close to Jeff Skinner's parents pulls them in like a magnet.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

An unusual number of NHL players who come to Buffalo for hockey make it their home for good.
The draw of living close to Jeff Skinner's parents pulls them in like a magnet.

a lot of names on that list from 2007 i wasn't aware were living in Buffalo. I wonder if Andreychuck still has his home, probably does. As he says, it costs him next to nothing.

i don't think Buffalo does a good job at promoting itself as a place to move to.

 

[Member 308457]

Not an ex-Sabre but Marcel Dionne has a sports shop and diner in Niagara Falls Canada...

Welcome to the Marcel Dionne Official Website

 

[VaporTrail]

Scotty Bowman

 

[GMjack]

Smehlik runs a pet hotel for people who need temporary animal care or something like that.

yep, the amherst boarding kennel

 

[DJN21]

Kaleta!!

 

[JThorne]

Fairly certain that McKee does. If not close to the border on the Ontario side, then definitely in Buffalo as I saw him at the downtown Tops quite a bit over the past 10 years.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

McKee is definitely in Buffalo, Andrew Peters did a feature video for the Instigators TV show where he visited McKee at his home. His daughter is a local tennis star who competes nationally.

Dionne has ties to the area - he played junior in St. Catharines(i will never spell that city correctly the first attempt) and attended high school in Welland.

 

[Burgmania]

Larry Playfair is in the area.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Larry Playfair is in the area.

His nephew was my 4th grade teacher, dude was great.

Kinda off topic, but I do wonder if the Buffalo area feels like home to a lotta players. I was around Eichel’s hometown in Mass. visiting family for Christmas, and it just felt exactly like where I grew up. For a lot of northeastern or Canadian dudes, idk, Buffalo can be kinda that Norman Rockwell sorta old school city. It’s not for everyone, but there’s definitely something there when so many former players decide to stay in the area.

 

[ForsakenSabre]

Daniel Paille lives in Buffalo. He's a regular at the Bidwell farmers market

 

[5 Minute Major]

Brett Hull lives in WNY.

Rent free.

 

[missingmika]

Yuri Khmylev does!

 

[Buffaloed]

Brian Gionta never left.

 

[Cirris]

Brian Gionta never left.

Technically not Buffalo. He lives northwest of Rochester on Lake Ontario.

Also the Buffalo Rising list is old, Barnaby moved to Canada awhile ago.

And Sadly, Rick Martin has passed on.

 

[Burgmania]

Daniel Paille lives in Buffalo. He's a regular at the Bidwell farmers market

He was a volunteer assistant coach for Canisius this past season!