2015–16 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2015–16 Buffalo Sabres season was the 46th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season began its regular games on October 8, 2015 against the Ottawa Senators with a 3–1 loss.

This was originally to be the final season in which Rick Jeanneret serves as the team's play-by-play announcer; he had been in that position since the team's second season in 1971. As he did until 2022, he rotated with Dan Dunleavy in the position. However, Jeanneret agreed to continue indefinitely as part-time announcer as long as his health allowed it.

The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

Off-season The Sabres fired head coach Ted Nolan on April 12, 2015, amid poor on-ice record and disagreements with general manager Tim Murray. The team then made overtures to Mike Babcock, the most prominent head coach on the free agent market; despite a record-setting offer, Babcock instead sought (and received) the head coaching position for the Sabres' division and regional rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Sabres failing to land Babcock, the team's second choice, Dan Bylsma, was subsequently hired on May 28. Bylsma had spent the 2014-15 season out of professional hockey after spending the previous five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Sabres held the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft after finishing last in the league in 2014-15 and losing the draft lottery to the Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres selected Jack Eichel with their pick.

The Sabres fired President Ted Black on July 27, 2015, and replaced him with Russ Brandon. Brandon also serves as President of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League and will continue in that capacity in addition to his duties with the Sabres.

Training camp As in previous years, the Sabres held a summer development camp from July 6–11, 2015. The highlight of the camp was the "blue and gold" scrimmage on July 10; the scrimmage, which pit a "gold" team led by 2015 second overall pick Jack Eichel against a "blue" team led by 2014 second overall pick Sam Reinhart, drew 17,115 paying fans, nearly double the crowd that attended the 2014 event.What you need to know for the Sabres scrimmage . WGR. Retrieved July 9, 2015. An additional 1,500 fans attended the less-publicized 3-on-3 scrimmage, which closed out the camp on July 11.Hoppe, Bill (July 12, 2015). Josh Chapman unlikely standout at Sabres development camp. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved July 12, 2015.

The Sabres did not participate in the Detroit Red Wings' annual prospect tournament in Traverse City, Michigan as they have in recent years and instead launched their own "Prospect Challenge" beginning this season. For the first year, the Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins prospects faced each other in a single round-robin mini-tournament. Buffalo won both of their games and the tournament.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason 2015 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota Lieuwen 17,217 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 23 Ottawa 5–2 Buffalo Lehner 17,298 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 25 Buffalo 6–4 Toronto Lieuwen 17,403 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 26 Buffalo 6–4 Ottawa Johnson 16,738 3–1–0 Recap 5 September 29 Toronto 0–4 Buffalo Lehner 17,357 4–1–0 Recap 6 October 1 Buffalo 1–6 Minnesota Johnson 17,214 4–2–0 Recap 7 October 2 Columbus 6–4 Buffalo Lehner 17,578 4–3–0 Recap

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 4–7–0 (Home: 3–4–0; Road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Ottawa 3–1 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 10 Tampa Bay 4–1 Buffalo Johnson 17,739 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 12 Columbus 2–4 Buffalo Johnson 18,075 1–2–0 2 Recap 4 October 15 Buffalo 2–3 Florida Johnson 11,616 1–3–0 2 Recap 5 October 17 Buffalo 1–2 Tampa Bay Johnson 19,092 1–4–0 2 Recap 6 October 21 Toronto 1–2 Buffalo SO Johnson 17,762 2–4–0 4 Recap 7 October 23 Montreal 7–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,214 2–5–0 4 Recap 8 October 24 New Jersey 4–3 Buffalo Ullmark 18,040 2–6–0 4 Recap 9 October 27 Buffalo 4–3 Philadelphia OT Johnson 19,432 3–6–0 6 Recap 10 October 29 Buffalo 3–4 Pittsburgh Johnson 18,415 3–7–0 6 Recap 11 October 30 Philadelphia 1–3 Buffalo Ullmark 15,962 4–7–0 8 Reacp November: 6–5–2 (Home: 2–4–1; Road: 4–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Buffalo 2–1 NY Islanders Ullmark 11,278 5–7–0 10 Recap 13 November 5 Tampa Bay 4–1 Buffalo Ullmark 18,161 5–8–0 10 Recap 14 November 7 Vancouver 2–3 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 6–8–0 12 Recap 15 November 10 Buffalo 4–1 Tampa Bay Johnson 19,092 7–8–0 14 Recap 16 November 12 Buffalo 3–2 Florida Ullmark 11,271 8–8–0 16 Recap 17 November 14 San Jose 2–1 Buffalo OT Johnson 18,611 8–8–1 17 Recap 18 November 17 Dallas 3–1 Buffalo Ullmark 18,101 8–9–1 17 Recap 19 November 19 Buffalo 2–3 St. Louis SO Ullmark 17,359 8–9–2 18 Recap 20 November 21 Buffalo 0–3 Dallas Johnson 18,532 8–10–2 18 Recap 21 November 23 St. Louis 2–1 Buffalo Ullmark 17,563 8–11–2 18 Recap 22 November 25 Nashville 3–2 Buffalo Ullmark 17,871 8–12–2 18 Recap 23 November 27 Carolina 1–4 Buffalo Johnson 18,052 9–12–2 20 Recap 24 November 28 Buffalo 4–1 Nashville Johnson 17,217 10–12–2 22 Recap December: 5–7–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Buffalo 4–5 Detroit SO Ullmark 20,027 10–12–3 23 Recap 26 December 4 Arizona 2–5 Buffalo Johnson 18,204 11–12–3 25 Recap 27 December 6 Buffalo 2–4 Edmonton Johnson 16,839 11–13–3 25 Recap 28 December 7 Buffalo 2–5 Vancouver Ullmark 18,278 11–14–3 25 Recap 29 December 10 Buffalo 3–4 Calgary Johnson 18,565 11–15–3 25 Recap 30 December 12 Los Angeles 1–2 Buffalo OT Ullmark 18,133 12–15–3 27 Recap 31 December 14 Buffalo 2–1 Detroit Johnson 20,027 13–15–3 29 Recap 32 December 15 New Jersey 2–0 Buffalo Ullmark 18,297 13–16–3 29 Recap 33 December 17 Anaheim 0–3 Buffalo Johnson 18,801 14–16–3 31 Recap 34 December 19 Chicago 3–2 Buffalo SO Johnson 18,870 14–16–4 32 Recap 35 December 26 Buffalo 6–3 Boston Johnson 17,565 15–16–4 34 Recap 36 December 28 Washington 2–0 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 15–17–4 34 Recap 37 December 30 Buffalo 2–5 Washington Johnson 18,506 15–18–4 34 Recap 38 December 31 NY Islanders 2–1 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 15–19–4 34 Recap January: 5–7–0 (Home: 1–4–0; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Detroit 4–3 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 15–20–4 34 Recap 40 January 5 Florida 5–1 Buffalo Ullmark 18,560 15–21–4 34 Recap 41 January 8 Buffalo 1–3 Chicago Johnson 22,142 15–22–4 34 Recap 42 January 10 Buffalo 4–2 Winnipeg Ullmark 15,294 16–22–4 36 Recap 43 January 12 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota Ullmark 19,034 17–22–4 38 Recap 44 January 15 Boston 4–1 Buffalo Lehner 18,704 17–23–4 38 Recap 45 January 16 Washington 1–4 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 18–23–4 40 Recap 46 January 18 Buffalo 2–1 Arizona Johnson 11,134 19–23–4 42 Recap 47 January 20 Buffalo 1–2 Colorado Lehner 13,274 19–24–4 42 Recap 48 January 22 Detroit 3–0 Buffalo Lehner 18,601 19–25–4 42 Recap 49 January 25 Buffalo 3–6 NY Rangers Johnson 18,006 19–26–4 42 Recap 50 January 26 Buffalo 3–2 Ottawa Lehner 16,815 20–26–4 44 Recap February: 5–5–3 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 3–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 3 Buffalo 4–2 Montreal Lehner 21,288 21–26–4 46 Recap 52 February 4 Boston 3–2 Buffalo SO Johnson 18,845 21–26–5 47 Recap 53 February 6 Buffalo 1–2 Boston OT Lehner 17,565 21–26–6 48 Recap 54 February 9 Florida 7–4 Buffalo Johnson 18,837 21–27–6 48 Recap 55 February 11 Buffalo 1–5 Philadelphia Lehner 19,019 21–28–6 48 Recap 56 February 12 Montreal 4–6 Buffalo Johnson 18,505 22–28–6 50 Recap 57 February 14 Colorado 1–4 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 23–28–6 52 Recap 58 February 16 Buffalo 1–2 Ottawa SO Lehner 15,893 23–28–7 53 Recap 59 February 19 Buffalo 4–0 Columbus Lehner 14,923 24–28–7 55 Recap 60 February 21 Pittsburgh 4–3 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 24–29–7 55 Recap 61 February 24 Buffalo 0–1 Anaheim Lehner 16,543 24–30–7 55 Recap 62 February 26 Buffalo 3–1 San Jose Johnson 17,562 25–30–7 57 Recap 63 February 27 Buffalo 0–2 Los Angeles Lehner 18,230 25–31–7 57 Recap March: 7–4–4 (Home: 5–1–3; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Edmonton 2–1 Buffalo OT Lehner 19,070 25–31–8 58 Recap 65 March 3 Calgary 3–6 Buffalo Lehner 18,651 26–31–8 60 Recap 66 March 5 Minnesota 3–2 Buffalo SO Lehner 19,070 26–31–9 61 Recap 67 March 7 Buffalo 4–3 Toronto SO Johnson 18,950 27–31–9 63 Recap 68 March 8 NY Rangers 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,651 27–32–9 63 Recap 69 March 10 Buffalo 2–3 Montreal Lehner 21,288 27–33–9 63 Recap 70 March 12 Carolina 2–3 Buffalo OT Johnson 19,070 28–33–9 65 Recap 71 March 16 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo OT Lehner 18,815 28–33–10 66 Recap 72 March 18 Ottawa 1–3 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 29–33–10 68 Recap 73 March 19 Buffalo 1–4 Toronto Johnson 18,829 29–34–10 68 Recap 74 March 22 Buffalo 3–2 Carolina Johnson 10,372 30–34–10 70 Recap 75 March 26 Winnipeg 2–3 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 31–34–10 72 Recap 76 March 28 Buffalo 2–3 Detroit Johnson 20,027 31–35–10 72 Recap 77 March 29 Buffalo 4–5 Pittsburgh SO Johnson 18,513 31–35–11 73 Recap 78 March 31 Toronto 1–4 Buffalo Johnson 18,873 32–35–11 75 Recap April: 3–1–0 (Home: 0–1–0; Road: 3–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 Buffalo 4–3 NY Rangers Johnson 18,006 33–35–11 77 Recap 80 April 5 Buffalo 3–1 New Jersey Johnson 14,773 34–35–11 79 Recap 81 April 8 Columbus 4–1 Buffalo Kasdorf 19,070 34–36–11 79 Recap 82 April 9 Buffalo 4–3 NY Islanders OT Ullmark 14,811 35–36–11 81 RecapLegend:

Player stats Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 71 21 39 60 −16 8 81 24 32 56 −16 22 79 23 19 42 −8 8 82 9 32 41 −21 33 65 20 15 35 −14 91 79 12 21 33 −5 12 ‡ 63 14 13 27 −10 10 64 7 17 24 −11 68 75 10 13 23 4 79 81 8 13 21 −5 16 71 7 11 18 0 20 74 10 7 17 −4 27 59 4 13 17 −5 26 79 5 9 14 −4 14 77 4 10 14 6 51 70 6 6 12 −14 59 77 2 10 12 −7 72 23 3 8 11 −9 11 55 1 10 11 −1 32 20 3 4 7 −1 2 36 1 4 5 −11 10 ‡ 35 1 4 5 3 32 7 0 4 4 1 8 17 1 2 3 3 2 7 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 1 2 2 2 ‡ 5 1 1 2 1 2 11 0 0 0 −2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 0 0 −2 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 45 40 2591:05 22 16 4 102 2.36 1270 .920 1 0 2 0 21 21 1164:05 5 9 5 48 2.47 634 .924 1 0 1 8 20 20 1130:40 8 10 2 49 2.60 565 .913 0 0 0 0 1 1 60:00 0 1 0 4 4.00 30 .867 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Sabres. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL Third Star of the Week February 1, 2016

Milestones