![Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D598PY/buffalo-sabres-head-coach-lindy-ruff-r-skates-with-defenseman-richard-smehlik-june-16-at-the-marine-midland-arena-in-buffalo-the-nhl-eastern-division-champions-were-practicing-before-their-departure-to-dallas-for-stanley-cup-game-five-ruff-is-a-former-sabres-player-and-smehlik-won-a-1998-olympic-gold-medal-playing-hockey-for-his-native-czech-republic-jtgb-2D598PY.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to
![Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated on his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, left, and forwards Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated on his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, left, and forwards Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAR726/buffalo-sabres-defenseman-jaroslav-spacek-6-of-the-czech-republic-is-congratulated-on-his-goal-against-the-carolina-hurricanes-by-sabres-defenseman-brian-campbell-left-and-forwards-maxim-afinogenov-61-of-russia-and-jochen-hecht-right-of-germany-during-the-third-period-an-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-on-saturday-dec-1-2007-buffalo-won-8-1-ap-photodon-heupel-2PAR726.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated on his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, left, and forwards Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia,
![Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TXGJ1R/buffalo-sabres-right-wing-ales-kotalik-of-the-czech-republic-skates-into-his-zone-against-the-new-york-rangers-in-the-first-period-of-game-one-of-the-nhl-eastern-conference-semifinals-at-the-hsbc-arena-in-buffalo-new-york-on-april-25-2007-upi-photojerome-davis-TXGJ1R.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals
![Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAFW4M/buffalo-sabres-defenseman-jaroslav-spacek-of-czech-republic-skates-past-florida-panthers-richard-zedniks-trail-of-blood-during-the-third-period-of-a-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-on-sunday-feb-10-2008-buffalo-won-5-3-zednik-was-taken-to-a-buffalo-hospital-after-his-neck-was-cut-by-a-teammates-skate-ap-photodon-heupel-2PAFW4M.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb.
![Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2NC2BJ4/florida-panthers-michal-repik-32-of-czech-republic-shoots-the-puck-under-pressure-from-buffalo-sabres-chris-butler-34-and-jordan-leopold-3-during-the-second-period-of-an-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-friday-march-25-2011-ap-photodavid-duprey-2NC2BJ4.jpg)