'General manager Darcy Regier signed a six-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, who reached the Stanley Cup finals once during his four years with the team. Regier came to the Sabres before the 1997-98 season from the New York Islanders. In each of his four seasons with the Sabres, the team reached the playoffs. In 1999, the Sabres lost to Dallas in the Stanley Cup Finals.'