The 2013–14 Buffalo Sabres season was the 44th season for the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Sabres moved to the realigned Atlantic Division, which included the previous season's Northeast Division with the addition of the

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

and

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

Ron Rolston Ronald Rolston (born October 14, 1966) is an American ice hockey coach who is currently Associate Head Coach at Providence College. He was previously the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He has served as head coa ...

, who started the season as head coach, was fired after 20 games and replaced by

Ted Nolan Theodore John Nolan (born April 7, 1958) is an Indigenous Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played as a left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL) and served as the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres and the Latvi ...

, who had previously coached the team from 1995 to 1997. In terms of point percentage, this is the worst season in Sabres franchise history, and the third worst in the salary cap era behind the 2016-2017 Colorado Avalanche and the 2019-2020 Detroit Red Wings.

Off-season

was made the permanent head coach when

Darcy Regier Darcy John Regier (born November 27, 1956) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. Regier was general manager of the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League from 1997 until 2013. He was the longest-serving and winnin ...

removed the interim tag from his title. Regier did not interview any other candidates for the position. Rolston replaced

Lindy Ruff Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the List of NHL head coaches, head coach for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ruff was previously the head coa ...

who was fired the season before after serving as head coach for nearly 16 seasons.

Training camp

The Sabres' training camp saw the arrival of many highly touted prospects into the Sabres' lineup. Newly acquired first round picks

Rasmus Ristolainen Rasmus Ristolainen (born 27 October 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL entry draft. Playing ...

and

Nikita Zadorov Nikita Sergeyevich Zadorov (; born 16 April 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 16th overall, in the ...

both made the opening day roster along with

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

first round picks

Mikhail Grigorenko Mikhail Olegovich Grigorenko (; born 16 May 1994, Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born and raised in Russia, Grigorenko moved to N ...

Zemgus Girgensons Zemgus Girgensons (born 5 January 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Dr ...

and

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

first round pick

Joel Armia Joel Armia (; born 31 May 1993) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Ar ...

. Armia and Zadorov were both injured in the pre-season and would not play right away. The pre-season saw the Sabres involved in a controversial game. In a road game at the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

, a fight between Corey Tropp and Toronto winger Jamie Devane ended with Tropp injured. On the ensuing faceoff, Sabres' enforcer John Scott lined up opposite to

Phil Kessel Philip Joseph Kessel Jr. (born October 2, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey winger (ice hockey), winger who is an unrestricted free agent. Nicknamed "Phil the Thrill", he has previously played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Lea ...

and attempted to engage him in a fight. A line brawl followed in which 209 minutes in penalties were handed out, including 11 fighting majors and 14 ten-minute misconduct penalties. During the fight, Maple Leaf David Clarkson would leave the bench to fight. Clarkson would later be suspended by the NHL for ten regular season games. Phil Kessel received a three-game pre-season game ban for slashing Scott with the intent to injure. Sabres Head Coach Ron Rolston was fined an undisclosed amount for "player selection." The fine was controversial due to the fact that Scott was on the ice the previous shift and the Leafs, being the home team, had last change. Corey Tropp suffered a broken jaw and concussion in the fight. The day before the start of the regular season, Rolston named the new team

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. With the trade of team captain

Jason Pominville Jason John Pominville (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian- American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Amateur As a youth ...

the year before, the captaincy had remained vacant. Rolston used a rotating captaincy in the preseason.

Steve Ott Steven Bradley Ott (born August 19, 1982) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and current assistant coach of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first rou ...

and

Thomas Vanek Thomas Vanek (born 19 January 1984) is an Austrian former professional ice hockey winger who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnes ...

were named co-captains for the 2013–14 season. Ott would wear the "C" for all road games and Vanek would wear it at home.

Christian Ehrhoff Christian Ehrhoff (born 6 July 1982) is a German professional ice hockey defenceman for Krefeld Pinguine of the German DEL2. In 2018, he won silver at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Winter Olympics. He played more than 800 games in the National Hocke ...

would wear an "A" during all games.

Regular season

Opening the season with a lineup that featured

and

, the 2013–14 Sabres were the first team since the 1995–96 season to include four teenagers. On November 13, 2013, general manager

and Head Coach

were relieved of their duties. Former Sabre

Pat LaFontaine Patrick Michael LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965) is an American former ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and spent his entire playing career with the league's New York State-based teams. He was inducted into the ...

was hired as President of Hockey Operations (a position that had been left vacant since the departure of

Larry Quinn Lawrence J. Quinn (born March 9, 1963) was an All-American lacrosse goaltender at the Johns Hopkins University from 1982 to 1985, leading the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1984 and 1985, and two additional ...

in 2011) and

was hired as the interim head coach. After hiring

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

' Assistant general manager

Tim Murray Timothy Patrick Murray (born June 7, 1968) is an American lawyer and member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party who served as the 71st Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2 ...

to the vacant general manager position on January 9, Pat LaFontaine resigned as President of Hockey Operations on March 1, 2014, to return to his previous position with the NHL. The Sabres made numerous trades leading up to and right before the March 5 trading deadline. On February 28, they traded away veterans

Ryan Miller Ryan Dean Miller (born July 17, 1980) is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) mostly for the Buffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL E ...

and

to the

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

. Then on March 5, the

NHL trade deadline In professional sports within the United States and Canada, a trade is a sports league transaction between sports clubs involving the exchange of player rights from one team to another. Though player rights are the primary trading assets, draft ...

day, they made three separate trades with the

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

and

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

Playoffs

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

Player stats

Final stats ;Skaters ;Goaltenders ^†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.

Milestones

Transactions

The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2013–14 season:

Trades

Free agents acquired

Free agents lost

Claimed via waivers

Lost via waivers

Lost via retirement

Players released

Player signings

Draft picks

Buffalo Sabres' picks at the 2013 NHL entry draft, to be held in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...

on June 30, 2013. ;Draft notes * The

's first-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of an April 3, 2013, trade that sent

and a 2014 fourth-round pick to the Wild in exchange for

Johan Larsson Johan Larsson may refer to: * Johan Larsson (bassist) (born 1974), Swedish heavy metal bass guitarist * Johan Larsson (ice hockey, born 1986), Swedish ice hockey player * Johan Larsson (ice hockey, born 1992) Johan Oskar Torgny Larsson (born 25 ...

Matt Hackett Matthew Hackett (born March 7, 1990) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. He played 26 games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres between 2011 and 2015. The rest of his career, which lasted from 2010 to ...

and this pick. * The

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres at the draft in a trade that sent

Andrej Sekera Andrej Sekera (born 8 June 1986) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born and rai ...

to Carolina for Jamie McBain and this pick. * The

' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a March 30, 2013, trade that sent

Jordan Leopold Jordan Douglas Leopold (born August 3, 1980) is an Americans, American former professional ice hockey defenceman, defenseman. He was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1999 NHL Entry Draft, ...

to the Blues in exchange for a conditional 2013 fifth-round pick and this pick. * The Buffalo Sabres' fourth-round pick went to the

Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...

as the result of a February 27, 2012, trade that sent a 2012 first-round pick (#21–

Mark Jankowski Mark Jankowski (born September 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jankowski was selected in the first round, 21st overall, at the 2012 NHL entry draft, by the C ...

) to the Sabres in exchange for

Paul Gaustad Paul Michael Gaustad (born February 3, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey center (ice hockey), centerman who played for the Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is nicknamed "Goose." Pla ...

and this pick. * The

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

' fifth-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres (via Los Angeles and Florida), Florida traded this pick to Buffalo as a result of a March 15, 2013, trade that sent T. J. Brennan to the Panthers in exchange for this pick. * The

' fifth-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a March 30, 2013, trade that sent

to the Blues in exchange for a 2013 second-round pick and this pick.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2013-14 Buffalo Sabres Season Buffalo Sabres seasons Buffalo Sabres season, 2013-14

Buffalo Buffalo most commonly refers to: * True buffalo or Bubalina, a subtribe of wild cattle, including most "Old World" buffalo, such as water buffalo * Bison, a genus of wild cattle, including the American buffalo * Buffalo, New York, a city in the n ...