The Buffalo Sabres, who are preparing to celebrate their 40th anniversary season, promised a commemorative jersey that would reflect the city's hockey roots. The team has accomplished that, though folks are seeing the new sweater much earlier than the Sabres would have liked.

Photos of the Sabres' new third jersey and new full-time white sweater have been leaked on the Internet prior to the official unveiling set for Sept. 18. The photos, apparently taken anonymously because of a confidentiality agreement signed by most parties involved in the manufacture of the jerseys, spread quickly throughout Sabreland and were confirmed as authentic by several parties who have seen the sweaters.

The team would neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of the photos Wednesday, saying only that the players will introduce the jerseys to the public Sept. 18 as part of "Puck Drop 2010," a daylong event at HSBC Arena to celebrate the opening day of training camp.

The focal point of the blue commemorative jersey is the word "Buffalo" printed in white capital letters across the chest. The script is nearly identical to that used on the well-known bottle cap logo of the Buffalo Bisons, the Sabres' hockey predecessors who were owned by the Pastor family in the 1950s and '60s.

The Sabres had previously touted that the "classically designed uniform is a tribute to not only the history of Buffalo hockey, but early NHL jersey designs."

"Buffalo" is framed by slightly curved white lines above and underneath the word. Just below it is the Sabres' regular logo of a buffalo between two crossed swords. It has been modified to include the year 1970, the team's first season. The year is split by the crossed sabres, with 19 on one side and 70 on the other. The jersey also includes four gold stripes along the waist and on each arm.

The white jersey that was leaked resembles the team's original sweater and will join last year's vintage/alternate jersey as the team's regular uniform. The primary jersey and logo from the past four seasons -- derided as the "slug" and largely lambasted since its introduction in September 2006 -- has been phased out.

The white jersey has been modified from its original form in several areas. The first white, worn from 1970 through 1995, featured two gold stripes sandwiching a blue stripe along the waist. The new version has it reversed, with two blue stripes outside a gold stripe, and that format is also on the arms. The outer stripes are thinner than the original.

Silver makes several appearances, allowing the white road jersey to match the home blue. Thin silver stripes touch the blue ones along the waist and arms. Silver piping also curves along the outside of the torso from the shoulders toward the waist. The armpit areas are silver as well.

The jerseys are scheduled to go on sale at the Sabres Store inside HSBC Arena when the team takes the ice Sept. 18.

After the Sabres introduced their 2006 version, they dominated NHL jersey sales for the season. A similar result should be expected based on early fan reaction. As of 10:55 p.m. Wednesday, more than 4,100 fans voted in a poll about the anniversary jersey at buffalonews.com, and 72 percent liked the jersey design.