As the dawn of the 2015-16 NHL season approaches, the Buffalo Sabres are poised for an upswing. The rebuild has been painful but the organization is now turning a corner as it works toward a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The vibe in Buffalo is simply fantastic when the Sabres qualify for the playoffs. Over the years, Sabres playoff games have dazzled sellout crowds at the First Niagara Center. Meanwhile, hundreds of fans gathered to watch playoff games together at the Party in the Plaza just outside the arena. Others preferred to take the game in at local restaurants and bars or at home with family and friends.

Unfortunately for the Buffalo community, the Sabres have not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2010-11 season. Buffalo, as a city, has blossomed during the Sabres’ absence from the NHL’s big dance. The HarborCenter has been built, along with many other development projects on the Buffalo waterfront and throughout the city.

Today’s Buffalo is a very different place than it was the last time the Sabres qualified for the playoffs. The present-day Sabres and the city are both beginning a new chapter in their respective histories. Excitement is building in western New York, while the potential energy of the Sabres and the city begin to come to fruition. As the Sabres and the city of Buffalo move toward a bright future, here is a where are they now look at the 2010-11 Buffalo Sabres’ roster – the last edition of the Sabres to qualify for the playoffs.

[See Also: Pominville Trade Added Fuel to Buffalo Sabres’ Rebuild]

Buffalo Sabres Head Coach:

Lindy Ruff – will begin his third season as head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2015-16

Buffalo Sabres General Manager:

Darcy Regier – hired in July 2014 as the assistant general manager and senior vice president of the Arizona Coyotes

Goalies:

Ryan Miller – entering the second year of a three-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks

Jhonas Enroth – signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings this summer

Patrick Lalime – retired after the 2010-11 NHL season and accepted a position with RDS as an analyst

Defensemen:

Chris Butler – currently playing on a one-year contract for the St. Louis Blues – played for the Blues and the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last season

Jordan Leopold – spent time with the St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild last season – currently an unrestricted free agent

Steve Montador  – tragically, Montador passed away in February 2015 – in his honor, the Sabres have established the Steve Montador “Dream Big” Scholarship Fund

Shaone Morrisonn – played for Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL during the 2014-15 season

Tyler Myers – entering the fourth year of a seven-year deal and is now with the Winnipeg Jets

Craig Rivet – the former Sabres’ captain was put on waivers by the club in February 2011 and he was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets – he signed a contract with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals during the 2011-12 season

Andrej Sekera – signed a six-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers this summer

Mike Weber – entering the final year of a three-year deal with the Sabres

Forwards:

Luke Adam – recently signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers

Matt Ellis – played for the Sabres and the Rochester Americans last season – currently an unrestricted free agent

Marc-Andre Gragnani – recently signed a one-year deal with the New Jersey Devils after spending the past two seasons playing overseas

Colin Stuart – Stuart had a short tenure in Buffalo but in 2014-15, he played for the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden and the Providence Bruins of the AHL

Thomas Vanek – entering his second year of a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild

Brad Boyes – played for the Florida Panthers last season but he was recently bought out by the club – currently an unrestricted free agent

Paul Byron – recently signed a one-year deal with the Calgary Flames

Tim Connolly – after signing a contract and appearing in 70 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2011-12 season, Connolly last played for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in 2012-13

Tyler Ennis – entering the second year of a five-year contract with the Sabres

Paul Gaustad – will begin the final year of a four-year deal with the Nashville Predators this season

Nathan Gerbe – playing in his second year of a two-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes

Jochen Hecht – spent the last two seasons playing for the Mannheim Eagles in Germany

Cody McCormick – entering the second year of a three-year deal with the Sabres

Rob Niedermayer – last played during the 2011-12 season for Lugano of the Swiss-A league

Derek Roy – split time last season with the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers – currently an unrestricted free agent

Mike Grier – last appeared in the NHL during the 2010-11 season for the Sabres and he has been enjoying retirement ever since

Patrick Kaleta – appeared in 42 games for the Sabres last season – currently an unrestricted free agent

Mark Mancari – played in 74 games during the 2014-15 season for the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL

Mark Parrish – last played during the 2011-12 season for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL

Jason Pominville – entering the second year of a five-year contract with the Minnesota Wild

Drew Stafford – after being traded by the Sabres to the Winnipeg Jets, Stafford signed a two-year contract with the Jets this summer

[See Also: Briere Helped Revive Hockey in Buffalo by Chad DeDominicis]

Data for this report was compiled from various sources including Hockey-Reference.com, hockeydb.com, and GeneralFanager.com. Tim Olewniczak is a Buffalo Sabres contributor for The Hockey Writers. Follow him on Twitter, @TOHockeyTHW.