Returning to Sabres, a homecoming for Jason Pominville

The preseason promotion video began to roll. Jason Pominville walked to the top row of the 300 level inside KeyBank Center. He unrolled the banner that read "Pominville" and hung it on the wall. In the background, the voice of legendary Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret detailed highlight-reel Pominville goals.

Pominville was officially back home in Buffalo. It was a homecoming that, quite frankly, he never expected to experience but is so thankful to have.

"Yeah, it was pretty cool," Pominville said with a smile. "I had a chance to meet the guys who brought the sign in, which was nice. It was definitely a cool promotional shot. Hearing from a lot of fans they definitely enjoyed seeing it. It was pretty cool that they put RJ’s voice in the background."

Pominville, 34, originally was taken by the Sabres in the second round (55th) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He spent eight seasons with the Sabres and was a key piece of the puzzle when the Sabres made it to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals in 2006 and 2007. He wore the ‘C’ for two months in 2008 under coach Lindy Ruff’s rotating captaincy plan. Pominville served as the Sabres’ 16th full-time captain from October 2011 until he was traded to Minnesota at the 2013 trade deadline.