History of the Affiliation
After three seasons with the Portland Pirates, the Buffalo Sabres renewed their affiliation with the Rochester Americans before the 2011-12 season. The 2025-26 season will mark the 44th season of affiliation between the Sabres and Amerks, one of the longest relationships between an NHL team and its AHL affiliate.
The Amerks are entering their historic 70th season in the American Hockey League and the team will once again be an essential pipeline for future Sabres stars.
It was during the 1979-80 campaign that the two organizations first formed a professional hockey partnership. Billy Inglis was the first head coach of the Amerks during the affiliation. Future coaches would include Mike Keenan, Joe Crozier, Jim Schoenfeld, Don Lever, John Van Boxmeer, John Tortorella, Brian McCutcheon and Randy Cunneyworth. Both Keenan (New York Rangers, 1994) and Tortorella (Tampa Bay Lightning, 2004) went on to coach NHL teams to Stanley Cup victories.
Besides the Sabres, the Amerks have been affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers.
Affiliation Timeline 1956-2020
Years Affiliation
1956-57 Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1957-58 Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1958-59 Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1959-60 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1960-61 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1961-62 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1962-63 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1963-64 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1964-65 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1965-66 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1966-67 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1967-68 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
1968-69 Vancouver Canucks (WHL)
1969-70 Vancouver Canucks (WHL)
1970-71 Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
1971-72 Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
1972-73 Independent
1973-74 Independent
1974-75 Boston Bruins (NHL)
1975-76 Boston Bruins (NHL)
1976-77 Boston Bruins (NHL)
1977-78 Boston Bruins (NHL)
1978-79 Boston Bruins (NHL)
1979-80 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1980-81 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1981-82 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1982-83 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1983-84 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1984-85 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1985-86 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1986-87 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1987-88 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1988-89 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1989-90 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1990-91 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1991-92 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1992-93 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1993-94 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1994-95 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1995-96 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1996-97 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1997-98 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1998-99 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
1999-00 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2000-01 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2001-02 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2002-03 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2003-04 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2004-05 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2005-06 Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and Florida Panthers (NHL)
2006-07 Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and Florida Panthers (NHL)
2007-08 Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and Florida Panthers (NHL)
2008-09 Florida Panthers (NHL)
2009-10 Florida Panthers (NHL)
2010-11 Florida Panthers (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2011-12 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2012-13 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2013-14 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2014-15 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2015-16 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2016-17 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2017-18 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2018-19 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2019-20 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2020-21 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2021-22 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2022-23 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
2023-24 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL)
2024-25 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL)
2025-26 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)/Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL)