The Buffalo Sabres have retired only eight numbers since the franchise's inception in 1970. The first Sabre to have his number retired was Gilbert Perreault (#11) on October 17, 1990. The combination of center Perreault, left wing Rick Martin and right wing Rene Robert was one of the greatest lines in hockey history and without a doubt the best in Buffalo Sabres history. The three wore the blue and gold together from 1972 to 1979 and were labeled "The French Connection", a name whose familiarity was helped by the 1971 movie of the same name. The trio was honored as Martin (#7) and Robert (#14) joined Perreault in a ceremony to retire the numbers of Buffalo's famed "French Connection" on November 15, 1995. The fourth Sabre to have his number retired was Tim Horton (#2) on January 5, 1996. The Sabres retired two more numbers during the 2005-06 season. Right winger Danny Gare (#18) was honored on November 22, 2005 while Pat LaFontaine's #16 was hoisted to the rafterse on March 3, 2006. On January 13, 2015, Dominik Hasek (#39) became the seventh player - and first goaltender - to have his number retired by the team. Ryan Miller (#30) became the second goaltender in franchise history to have his number raised to the rafters on January 19, 2023.
In addition to the retired numbers, the Sabres also have three additional banners hanging for important figures in the franchise's history. When the team moved to its current arena in 1996, the Sabres unveiled a banner honoring Seymour H. Knox III, who was one of the three founders of the franchise. Seymour's brother and fellow founder, Northrup, had his banner raised shortly thereafter in 1998. The Knox brothers were the principal owners of the franchise from the team's inception until their deaths. On April 1, 2022, Buffalo honored another legend by raising a banner for longtime play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret to the rafters. Jeanneret called games for the Sabres for more than 50 years, from the team's second season in 1971-72 until his retirement following the 2021-22 season.
