2017–18 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2017–18 Buffalo Sabres season was the 48th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Sabres missed the playoffs again, finishing last in the division for the second straight year and last overall in the league.

Standings

Off-season General manager Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma were both fired at the end of the previous season. Two former Sabres players were hired in their places: Jason Botterill, at the time a front office executive with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was hired as general manager, while Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley, at the time defensive coordinator for the Nashville Predators, was named head coach.

The Sabres once again held a summer development camp during the second week of July. In contrast to the previous two seasons, no full Blue/White game was played; the four-team three-on-three tournament was reprised. Team White, led by 2017 first-round draft pick Casey Mittelstadt, won the tournament. The team will host its third annual Prospects Challenge in September; the tournament will expand to four teams, with the Pittsburgh Penguins joining the returning Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins in the tournament.

Schedule and results

Preseason The Sabres released their preseason schedule on June 19, 2017. 2017 preseason game log: 1–4–1 (Home: 1–2–1; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 18 Carolina 3–2 Buffalo OT Ullmark 16,310 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 19 Pittsburgh 3–4 Buffalo OT – – 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 22 Buffalo 0–3 Toronto – – 1–1–1 Recap 4 September 23 Toronto 3–1 Buffalo Lehner 17,345 1–2–1 Recap 5 September 27 Buffalo 4–5 Pittsburgh Johnson 17,693 1–3–1 Recap 6 September 29 NY Islanders 3–1 Buffalo Lehner 16,967 1–4–1 RecapNotes: Game was played at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. Game was played at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario.

Regular season The team's regular season schedule was published on June 22, 2017. 2017–18 game log October: 3–7–2 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 5 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo SO Lehner 19,070 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 7 Buffalo 3–6 NY Islanders Lehner 15,234 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 9 New Jersey 6–2 Buffalo Johnson 17,697 0–2–1 1 Recap 4 October 12 Buffalo 2–3 San Jose Lehner 17,402 0–3–1 1 Recap 5 October 14 Buffalo 2–4 Los Angeles Lehner 18,230 0–4–1 1 Recap 6 October 15 Buffalo 3–1 Anaheim Johnson 15,821 1–4–1 3 Recap 7 October 17 Buffalo 4–5 Vegas OT Johnson 17,617 1–4–2 4 Recap 8 October 20 Vancouver 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,050 1–5–2 4 Recap 9 October 21 Buffalo 5–4 Boston OT Lehner 17,565 2–5–2 6 Recap 10 October 24 Detroit 0–1 Buffalo Lehner 16,882 3–5–2 8 Recap 11 October 25 Buffalo 1–5 Columbus Johnson 14,383 3–6–2 8 Recap 12 October 28 San Jose 3–2 Buffalo Lehner 18,892 3–7–2 8 Recap November: 3–8–2 (Home: 2–5–0; Road: 1–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 2 Buffalo 5–4 Arizona Lehner 11,477 4–7–2 10 Recap 14 November 4 Buffalo 1–5 Dallas Lehner 18,236 4–8–2 10 Recap 15 November 7 Washington 1–3 Buffalo Lehner 17,146 5–8–2 12 Recap 16 November 10 Florida 4–1 Buffalo Lehner 17,812 5–9–2 12 Recap 17 November 11 Buffalo 1–2 Montreal OT Johnson 21,302 5–9–3 13 Recap 18 November 14 Buffalo 4–5 Pittsburgh OT Lehner 18,438 5–9–4 14 Recap 19 November 17 Buffalo 1–3 Detroit Lehner 19,515 5–10–4 14 Recap 20 November 18 Carolina 3–1 Buffalo Johnson 18,028 5–11–4 14 Recap 21 November 20 Columbus 3–2 Buffalo Lehner 16,551 5–12–4 14 Recap 22 November 22 Minnesota 5–4 Buffalo Lehner 17,418 5–13–4 14 Recap 23 November 24 Edmonton 1–3 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 6–13–4 16 Recap 24 November 25 Buffalo 0–3 Montreal Lehner 21,302 6–14–4 16 Recap 25 November 28 Tampa Bay 2–0 Buffalo Lehner 17,569 6–15–4 16 Recap December: 4–5–4 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 2–3–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Pittsburgh 4–0 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 6–16–4 16 Recap 27 December 2 Buffalo 1–5 Pittsburgh Johnson 18,582 6–17–4 16 Recap 28 December 5 Buffalo 4–2 Colorado Lehner 13,258 7–17–4 18 Recap 29 December 8 Buffalo 2–3 Chicago OT Lehner 21,542 7–17–5 19 Recap 30 December 10 Buffalo 2–3 St. Louis OT Lehner 17,310 7–17–6 20 Recap 31 December 12 Ottawa 2–3 Buffalo Lehner 17,454 8–17–6 22 Recap 32 December 14 Buffalo 1–2 Philadelphia Lehner 19,508 8–18–6 22 Recap 33 December 15 Carolina 5–4 Buffalo OT Johnson 17,610 8–18–7 23 Recap 34 December 19 Boston 3–0 Buffalo Lehner 17,811 8–19–7 23 Recap 35 December 22 Philadelphia 2–4 Buffalo Lehner 18,222 9–19–7 25 Recap 36 December 23 Buffalo 2–4 Carolina Johnson 14,470 9–20–7 25 Recap 37 December 27 Buffalo 2–3 NY Islanders OT Lehner 15,027 9–20–8 26 Recap 38 December 29 Buffalo 4–3 New Jersey OT Lehner 16,514 10–20–8 28 Recap January: 4–7–1 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 3–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 1 NY Rangers 3–2 Buffalo OT Lehner 41,821(outdoors) 10–20–9 29 Recap 40 January 4 Buffalo 2–6 Minnesota Lehner 19,017 10–21–9 29 Recap 41 January 5 Buffalo 3–4 Winnipeg Johnson 15,321 10–22–9 29 Recap 42 January 7 Buffalo 1–4 Philadelphia Lehner 19,662 10–23–9 29 Recap 43 January 9 Winnipeg 7–4 Buffalo Johnson 17,398 10–24–9 29 Recap 44 January 11 Columbus 1–3 Buffalo Ullmark 18,071 11–24–9 31 Recap 45 January 18 Buffalo 3–4 NY Rangers Lehner 18,006 11–25–9 31 Recap 46 January 20 Dallas 7–1 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 11–26–9 31 Recap 47 January 22 Buffalo 2–1 Calgary OT Johnson 18,349 12–26–9 33 Recap 48 January 23 Buffalo 5–0 Edmonton Lehner 18,347 13–26–9 35 Recap 49 January 25 Buffalo 4–0 Vancouver Lehner 18,340 14–26–9 37 Recap 50 January 30 New Jersey 3–1 Buffalo Lehner 17,460 14–27–9 37 Recap February: 6–6–2 (Home: 3–5–1; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Florida 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 16,707 14–28–9 37 Recap 52 February 3 St. Louis 1–0 Buffalo Lehner 18,777 14–29–9 37 Recap 53 February 6 Anaheim 4–3 Buffalo OT Lehner 16,788 14–29–10 38 Recap 54 February 8 NY Islanders 3–4 Buffalo Lehner 16,872 15–29–10 40 Recap 55 February 10 Buffalo 4–2 Boston Johnson 17,565 16–29–10 42 Recap 56 February 11 Colorado 5–4 Buffalo Lehner 17,646 16–30–10 42 Recap 57 February 13 Tampa Bay 3–5 Buffalo Johnson 16,530 17–30–10 44 Recap 58 February 15 Buffalo 2–3 Ottawa OT Lehner 13,371 17–30–11 45 Recap 59 February 17 Los Angeles 4–2 Buffalo Lehner 18,632 17–31–11 45 Recap 60 February 19 Washington 3–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,228 17–32–11 45 Recap 61 February 22 Buffalo 3–2 Detroit OT Lehner 19,515 18–32–11 47 Recap 62 February 24 Buffalo 1–5 Washington Lehner 18,506 18–33–11 47 Recap 63 February 25 Boston 1–4 Buffalo Johnson 18,522 19–33–11 49 Recap 64 February 28 Buffalo 2–1 Tampa Bay OT Johnson 19,092 20–33–11 51 Recap March: 5–8–1 (Home: 2–6–1; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 2 Buffalo 1–4 Florida Lehner 12,759 20–34–11 51 Recap 66 March 5 Toronto 3–5 Buffalo Johnson 18,705 21–34–11 53 Recap 67 March 7 Calgary 5–1 Buffalo Johnson 17,773 21–35–11 53 Recap 68 March 8 Buffalo 4–3 Ottawa SO Lehner 13,377 22–35–11 55 Recap 69 March 10 Vegas 2–1 Buffalo SO Lehner 19,070 22–35–12 56 Recap 70 March 15 Toronto 5–2 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 22–36–12 56 Recap 71 March 17 Chicago 3–5 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 23–36–12 58 Recap 72 March 19 Nashville 4–0 Buffalo Ullmark 17,507 23–37–12 58 Recap 73 March 21 Arizona 4–1 Buffalo Johnson 17,029 23–38–12 58 Recap 74 March 23 Montreal 3–0 Buffalo Ullmark 18,594 23–39–12 58 Recap 75 March 24 Buffalo 1–5 NY Rangers Lehner 18,006 23–40–12 58 Recap 76 March 26 Buffalo 3–2 Toronto Johnson 19,108 24–40–12 60 Recap 77 March 29 Detroit 6–3 Buffalo Johnson 18,493 24–41–12 60 Recap 78 March 31 Buffalo 7–4 Nashville Johnson 17,551 25–41–12 62 Recap April: 0–4–0 (Home: 0–1–0; Road: 0–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 Buffalo 2–5 Toronto Johnson 18,846 25–42–12 62 Recap 80 April 4 Ottawa 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,919 25–43–12 62 Recap 81 April 6 Buffalo 5–7 Tampa Bay Johnson 19,092 25–44–12 62 Recap 82 April 7 Buffalo 3–4 Florida Wilcox 16,254 25–45–12 62 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final stats. Skaters

Regular season Player 67 25 39 64 −25 32 81 24 37 61 −23 2 82 25 25 50 −24 26 76 15 29 44 −34 40 73 6 35 41 −25 48 ‡ 61 20 20 40 −14 57 82 16 18 34 −17 8 48 7 18 25 −10 14 82 5 17 22 −15 37 74 13 6 19 −8 22 80 4 13 17 −30 49 71 7 8 15 −12 26 † 49 6 8 14 −17 8 53 3 9 12 −11 26 47 0 10 10 −9 18 59 1 8 9 −19 36 69 4 4 8 −13 69 37 3 5 8 −14 8 33 4 2 6 −4 14 6 1 4 5 1 2 18 0 5 5 −6 10 12 3 1 4 −2 2 39 2 2 4 −4 6 21 2 1 3 −6 6 46 1 1 2 −16 28 34 0 2 2 −4 17 3 1 0 1 −3 0 7 0 1 1 −1 2 18 0 1 1 −9 20 15 0 0 0 −8 8 3 0 0 0 1 2 14 0 0 0 −9 2 9 0 0 0 −4 4 5 0 0 0 −1 2 † 2 0 0 0 1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 53 50 2,852:01 14 26 9 143 3.01 1,560 .908 3 0 0 2 36 29 1,773:32 10 16 3 105 3.55 962 .891 0 0 0 0 5 3 240:18 1 2 0 8 2.00 123 .935 0 0 0 0 1 0 38:39 0 1 0 0 0.00 14 1.000 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.

Transactions The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2017–18 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Montreal Canadiens3rd-round pick in 2017 To Buffalo SabresNathan Beaulieu To Vegas Golden Knights6th-round pick in 2017 To Buffalo SabresExpansion draft considerations To Minnesota WildTyler EnnisMarcus Foligno3rd-round pick in 2018 To Buffalo Sabres seasonJason PominvilleMarco Scandella4th-round pick in 2018 To Montreal CanadiensNicolas Deslauriers To Buffalo SabresZach Redmond To Detroit Red Wings5th-round pick in 2019 To Buffalo SabresScott Wilson To San Jose SharksEvander Kane To Buffalo SabresDanny O'ReganConditional 1st-round in 2019Conditional 4th-round pick in 2020 To Arizona CoyotesHudson Fasching To Buffalo SabresRights to Brandon HickeyRights to Mike Sislo Notes: The Vegas Golden Knights selected William Carrier in the 2017 NHL expansion draft. The draft pick was exchanged so that the Golden Knights would not select Linus Ullmark.

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Kyle Criscuolo Grand Rapids Griffins 2-year, $1.3 million Seth Griffith Toronto Maple Leafs 1-year, $650,000 Chad Johnson Arizona Coyotes 1-year, $2.5 million Jacob Josefson New Jersey Devils 1-year, $700,000 Kevin Porter Pittsburgh Penguins 2-year, $1.3 million Benoit Pouliot Edmonton Oilers 1-year, $1.15 million Matt Tennyson Carolina Hurricanes 2-year, $1.3 million Adam Wilcox Florida Panthers 1-year, $650,000 Andrew Oglevie University of Notre Dame 2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract Lawrence Pilut HV71 2-year, $2.7 million entry-level contract

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Mat Bodie Tampa Bay Lightning 1-year Erik Burgdoerfer Ottawa Senators 2-year, $1.3 million Derek Grant Anaheim Ducks 1-year, $650,000 Dmitry Kulikov Winnipeg Jets 3-year Anders Nilsson Vancouver Canucks 2-year, $5 million Cal O'Reilly Minnesota Wild 2-year, $1.4 million Cole Schneider New York Rangers 2-year, $1.3 million Jean Dupuy Toronto Marlies Unknown Justin Kea Florida Everblades 1-year Brian Gionta Team USA Through Olympics, $0 Jacob Josefson Djurgårdens IF 4-year Zach Redmond Rochester Americans 2-year

Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date Ref Jordan Nolan Los Angeles Kings

Lost via waivers Player New team Date Ref

Players released Date Player Via Ref

Lost via retirement Date Player Ref

Player signings