"Daren Puppa and Jacques Cloutier will again be the contenders for the No. 2 position. Puppa, who has played on U.S. national collegiate and American League champions, is the goalie Buffalo most wants to see develop. He is considered an excellent prospect and was sought by other clubs during the summer." (The Hockey News 1989 Yearbook, p. 30)

"Puppa erased almost all concerns about his ability to come up big in big games last season, and he even won a playoff game while suffering from a severe back strain. The Lightning could have extended the Flyers to seven games or even defeated them in their first-round series had Puppa been healthy. He's that good, and his third-place finish in the voting for the Vezina Trophy is an indication he's finally getting the recognition he deserves. Talent aside, though, Puppa remains a little unreliable. He certainly is not a workhorse. He has never played in more than 63 games in a season, so he requires a solid backup. (The Sporting News Hockey Yearbook 1996-97, p. 74)

"On the ice, it is up to Puppa and the kids. The goalie may steer this team back to the playoffs, even as growing pains are felt. (The Hockey News 1997-98 Yearbook, p. 167)

"With a healthy Puppa, the Bolts are strong between the pipes, but the situation is far from stable since Puppa's back is very frail. (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 139)

"Daren Puppa missed most of last season with a herniated disc in his back. The Lightning are so confident that he's okay, they returned Rick Tabaracci to Calgary." (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 50)

"Puppa has become the NHL's forgotten man due to his frequent bouts with persistent back troubles. When healthy, Puppa has guided teams to great heights on the strength of his goaltending. The veteran is big for a goaltender and covers a lot of net. However, his reflexes and timing have been thrown off by his chronic back woes. Puppa is a goaltender who can no longer give a team the strong play it would need to make the playoffs. Retirement is going to arrive soon for the 14-year vet, largely premature because of his ailing back. (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 141)

"A legitimate No. 1 goalie in the early '90s, the longtime NHL backstop is slower, less flexible and more fragile than ever - Puppa has missed over 120 games in the past two seasons. Even cleared NHL waivers in November 1999. (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 219)

• Selected by Buffalo Sabres in fourth round (sixth Sabres pick, 74th overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 8, 1983.
• Traded by Sabres (with LW Dave Andreychuk and first-round pick in 1993 draft (D Kenny Jonnson)) to Toronto Maple Leafs for G Grant Fuhr and conditional pick in 1995 draft, February 2, 1993.
• Selected by Florida Panthers in National Hockey League expansion draft, June 24, 1993.
• Selected by Tampa Bay Lightning in Phase II of National Hockey League expansion draft, June 25, 1993.

• First goaltender in East Coast Athletic Conference history to win 30 games in one season, 1984-85.
• Named to American Hockey League All-Star first team, 1986-87.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1990.
• Named to The Sporting News All-Star Second Team, 1989-90.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Star second team, 1989-90.
• Rated #36 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1993.
• Named Tampa Bay Lightning Most Valuable Player, 1993-94.
• Rated #21 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1994.
• Named Tampa Bay Lightning Most Valuable Player, 1994-95.
• Rated #14 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1995.
• Named National Hockey League player of the week, November 20-26, 1995.
• Finished fifth in voting for National Hockey League All-Star team, 1995-96.
• Finished third in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1995-96.

• Injured knee, February 1986.
• Fractured left index finger, October 1987.
• Sprained right wrist, January 14, 1989.
• Broke right arm, January 27, 1989.
• Injured back; missed nine games, November 21, 1990.
• Pulled groin and stomach muscles, February 19, 1991.
• Fractured left forearm; missed sixteen games, November 12, 1991. The injured occurred in the Sabres' morning practice before the team's game against San Jose; teammates were taking routine shots on goal when the accident happened. "I got hit with the puck in a place where there was just a little padding, and I heard a crack. I knew then there was a good chance it could be broken," said Puppa.
• Suffered sore knee; missed seven games, January 21, 1993.
• Suffered from tonsillitis; missed two games, December 11, 1993.
• Sprained lower back; missed two games, February 5, 1994.
• Injured hand; missed two games, April 2, 1995.
• Injured right forearm; missed one game, November 5, 1995.
• Injured right knee in game against Hartford Whalers, November 29, 1995.
• Underwent M.R.I. on right knee, November 30, 1995.
• Underwent surgery on right knee; missed twelve games, December 8, 1995.
• Strained groin; missed one game, January 6, 1996.
• Suffered back spasms; missd one game, February 23, 1996.
• Injured back; missed one game, April 12, 1996.
• Injured groin; missed nine games, October 5, 1996.
• underwent back surgery; missed forty-one games, November 6, 1996.
• Suffered sore back; missed one game, April 5, 1997.
• Suffered back spasms; missed remainder of season, December 27, 1997.
• Strained groin; missed remainder of season, November 21, 1998.
• Injured rib; missed final seventy-one games of season, November 2, 1999.

• On November 1, 1985, Daren recorded a shutout in his National Hockey League debut. And this was no ordinary shutout - Daren was at Northlands Coliseum, facing the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers. Daren was up to the task, however, stopping thirty-seven shots in a 2-0 blanking.