I go back to the beginning of the Sabres (10 years older then the team) and remember the Richard stories. My friends and I would hang out at Holiday Twin Rinks to watch the Sabres practices (and get autographs and still have the entire 74 team autograph homemade poster) and I remember one Dad saying he was surprise the Richard could even skate today. I think it stuck with me because Larry Carrierre was a favorite of mine. Hell I still have the Rocky Farr broken stick from practice in my garage.
I left BFLO in 88 so I missed the most of the Slug era and miss much if not all of the Hasek era and was pissed reading how he held the Sabres hostage. I hope they never retire his number.