When the Buffalo Sabres drafted a player who didn't exist in the 1974 NHL draft 

The Buffalo Sabres made history in the 1974 NHL draft when they drafted a player who didn't exist. The bizarre incident occurred in the 11th round of the draft when the Sabres selected a player named Taro Tsujimoto from the Tokyo Katanas of the Japanese Hockey League.

The selection of Tsujimoto was met with confusion and disbelief by fans and officials alike. There was no record of a player named Taro Tsujimoto ever having played for the Tokyo Katanas, and some speculated that the pick was a joke or a mistake.

It was later revealed that the selection of Tsujimoto was, in fact, a hoax perpetrated by then-Sabres general manager Punch Imlach. Imlach had grown frustrated with the length of the draft and decided to have some fun by creating a fictitious player.

The pick was not discovered to be a hoax until several weeks later when the NHL received a letter from Tokyo Katanas denying the existence of Taro Tsujimoto. The NHL then invalidated the pick and removed Tsujimoto from the Sabres' draft list.

Despite the embarrassment caused by the incident, the Sabres went on to have a successful season in 1974-75, finishing first in the league's Eastern Conference. The team went on to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were ultimately defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The incident remains one of the most bizarre moments in NHL draft history, and it has become a legendary tale among hockey fans.

While the Sabres' selection of Tsujimoto was ultimately a joke, it serves as a reminder of the excitement and unpredictability of the NHL draft and the passion and creativity of the sport's fans and officials.

Buffalo Sabres' performance this NHL season

The Buffalo Sabres have struggled immensely during the 2022-23 NHL season, sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 32-28-4 as of March 11, 2023. The team has struggled to find consistency on both ends of the ice, ranking near the bottom of the league in both goals scored and goals allowed.

The team has struggled to find a consistent scoring touch, with only a handful of players contributing consistently on the offensive end. On the defensive side, the Buffalo Sabres have also had their fair share of struggles.

Goaltending has been a particular issue, with neither Aaron Dell nor Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen able to establish themselves as reliable starters.

Despite the team's struggles, there have been some bright spots for the Buffalo Sabres this season. Young forwards Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt have shown flashes of potential, while defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has continued to develop into a key player for the team.

Moving forward, the Buffalo Sabres will need to address their issues on both ends of the ice if they wish to turn things around. The Sabres will also need to continue to develop their young talent, with an eye towards building a competitive team in the years to come.