"The Buffalo Sabres mourn the loss of alumnus Fred Stanfield," the team said in a statement. "A two-time Stanley Cup champion before he donned blue and gold, Fred joined the Sabres during the 1974-75 season and instantly became a key producer and respected veteran on one of the great teams in franchise history. We are honored that he chose to make Western New York his home for more than four decades after his retirement. We extend our sympathies to Fred's family and friends during this difficult time.
Stanfield was acquired by the Sabres on Jan. 27, 1975, a move made by general manager Punch Imlach to add veteran experience at forward and a left shot at the point on the power play. He tallied 33 points over the final 32 games that season and added six points during the team's playoff run.
"I felt very comfortable here in Buffalo because of the players here and I felt we could win every game," Stanfield said in 2019. "So, I had a lot of respect for my teammates, and they made me feel comfortable right from day one."
