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Blue background. White text reading RESCISSION PACKAGE and PASSED in red. DEFUNDED, NOT DEFEATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. in white text

One year later, Sabres' 'tank' a distant memory

The NHL conducts its annual draft lottery Saturday evening. Last year at this time, Buffalo Sabres fans were eagerly awaiting whether the team would draw the first or second overall pick in a draft that included two consensus "franchise players." That followed months of anticipation in what many observers called a "tank," — setting the team up to fail in the short-term in order to secure a cornerstone player.

Video shot and produced by Nick Lippa

Nick Lippa leads our Arts & Culture Coverage, and is also the lead reporter for the station's Mental Health Initiative, profiling the struggles and triumphs of those who battle mental health issues and the related stigma that can come from it.