# 1983–84 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1983–84 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 14th season. Tom Barrasso was drafted by the Sabres with the 5th overall pick in the 1983 NHL entry draft, becoming the highest drafted goalie ever until Roberto Luongo was taken 4th overall in 1997. Skipping a college career, he went straight from high school to the NHL where he exceeded all expectations. Barrasso won the Calder Memorial Trophy and Vezina Trophy in his first season, becoming just the third player to win both awards in the same year.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 5 | Tom Barrasso | United States | Acton-Boxboro H.S. (USHS-MA) |
| 1 | 10 | Normand Lacombe | Canada | University of New Hampshire (Hockey East) |
| 1 | 11 | Adam Creighton | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 2 | 31 | John Tucker | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 2 | 34 | Richard Hajdu | Canada | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
| 4 | 74 | Daren Puppa | Canada | Kirkland Lake Midget All-Stars (USHS-MN) |
| 5 | 94 | Jason Meyer | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 6 | 114 | Jim Hofford | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) |
| 7 | 134 | Christian Ruuttu | Finland | Pori (Finland) |
| 8 | 154 | Donald McSween | United States | Redford Royals (NAJHL) |
| 9 | 174 | Tim Hoover | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 10 | 194 | Mark Ferner | Canada | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
| 11 | 214 | Uwe Krupp | West Germany | Cologne (West Germany) |
| 12 | 234 | Marc Hemelin | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 12 | 235 | Kermit Salfi | United States | Northwood School (USHS-NY) |

## Regular season
### Season standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 49 | 25 | 6 | 336 | 261 | 104 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 48 | 25 | 7 | 315 | 257 | 103 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 42 | 28 | 10 | 360 | 278 | 94 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 286 | 295 | 75 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 28 | 42 | 10 | 288 | 320 | 66 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Boston
—4–45–2–16–24–419–12–1
Buffalo
4–4—5–38–01–6–118–13–1
Hartford
2–5–13–5—0–7−11–3−46–20–6
Montreal
2–60–87–0−1—3–512–19–1
Quebec
4–46–1–13–1−45–3—18–9–5
Vs. Patrick Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
2−12−0−12−0–11−1−13−02−112−3−3
Buffalo
2−0−10−31−1−13−03−02−0−111−4−3
Hartford
1−1–12–12–12–11–21−29−8−1
Montreal
2−10−32–10−2−12−0−10−36−10−2
Quebec
2−12−10−2–10−2−13−02−19−7−2
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Boston
1–22–11–23–01–28–7–0
Buffalo
1−21−1−11−22−12−0−17−6−2
Hartford
2–11–1−13−02–12–110–4–1
Montreal
2−0–13−01–23–02−111–3–1
Quebec
1–1−11–22–0−12–0–12–18–4–3
Vs. Smythe Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
2−0−11−23−02−0−12−110−3−2
Buffalo
3−01–22−0−13−03−012−2−1
Hartford
0−2–11–22–10–30–2–13–10–2
Montreal
2−11−21−21–21−1−16−8−1
Quebec
2−10−33−01−21−27−8−0 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 5, 1983 | 5–3 | Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 8, 1983 | 2–9 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 9, 1983 | 5–2 | Washington Capitals (1983–84) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | T | October 12, 1983 | 4–4 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–84) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 15, 1983 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | L | October 16, 1983 | 2–3 | New York Islanders (1983–84) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | W | October 18, 1983 | 3–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | W | October 22, 1983 | 5–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 23, 1983 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1983–84) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | L | October 26, 1983 | 5–6 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1983–84) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | T | October 28, 1983 | 3–3 OT | Los Angeles Kings (1983–84) | 5–4–2 |
| 12 | W | October 30, 1983 | 5–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 6–4–2 |
| 13 | T | November 2, 1983 | 3–3 OT | New York Rangers (1983–84) | 6–4–3 |
| 14 | L | November 5, 1983 | 0–4 | @ New York Islanders (1983–84) | 6–5–3 |
| 15 | L | November 6, 1983 | 1–7 | Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 6–6–3 |
| 16 | W | November 9, 1983 | 3–1 | Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 7–6–3 |
| 17 | W | November 11, 1983 | 3–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–84) | 8–6–3 |
| 18 | W | November 13, 1983 | 11–2 | Calgary Flames (1983–84) | 9–6–3 |
| 19 | W | November 16, 1983 | 6–5 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1983–84) | 10–6–3 |
| 20 | L | November 18, 1983 | 0–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1983–84) | 10–7–3 |
| 21 | W | November 19, 1983 | 5–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1983–84) | 11–7–3 |
| 22 | W | November 23, 1983 | 6–4 | @ New York Rangers (1983–84) | 12–7–3 |
| 23 | W | November 25, 1983 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1983–84) | 13–7–3 |
| 24 | L | November 26, 1983 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 13–8–3 |
| 25 | W | November 29, 1983 | 5–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 14–8–3 |
| 26 | W | December 2, 1983 | 7–6 | St. Louis Blues (1983–84) | 15–8–3 |
| 27 | W | December 4, 1983 | 6–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 16–8–3 |
| 28 | L | December 6, 1983 | 2–8 | @ St. Louis Blues (1983–84) | 16–9–3 |
| 29 | L | December 7, 1983 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1983–84) | 16–10–3 |
| 30 | W | December 10, 1983 | 4–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 17–10–3 |
| 31 | W | December 11, 1983 | 6–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 18–10–3 |
| 32 | T | December 14, 1983 | 3–3 OT | New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 18–10–4 |
| 33 | W | December 17, 1983 | 4–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 19–10–4 |
| 34 | W | December 18, 1983 | 3–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1983–84) | 20–10–4 |
| 35 | L | December 21, 1983 | 3–6 | Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 20–11–4 |
| 36 | L | December 26, 1983 | 1–2 | Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 20–12–4 |
| 37 | W | December 27, 1983 | 7–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 21–12–4 |
| 38 | W | December 29, 1983 | 8–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 22–12–4 |
| 39 | L | December 31, 1983 | 2–3 | New York Rangers (1983–84) | 22–13–4 |
| 40 | W | January 4, 1984 | 9–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1983–84) | 23–13–4 |
| 41 | W | January 7, 1984 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1983–84) | 24–13–4 |
| 42 | W | January 8, 1984 | 4–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 25–13–4 |
| 43 | W | January 11, 1984 | 6–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 26–13–4 |
| 44 | W | January 13, 1984 | 3–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1983–84) | 27–13–4 |
| 45 | W | January 14, 1984 | 2–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1983–84) | 28–13–4 |
| 46 | W | January 17, 1984 | 5–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1983–84) | 29–13–4 |
| 47 | W | January 18, 1984 | 4–0 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1983–84) | 30–13–4 |
| 48 | W | January 21, 1984 | 2–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1983–84) | 31–13–4 |
| 49 | W | January 23, 1984 | 5–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 32–13–4 |
| 50 | T | January 25, 1984 | 2–2 OT | Washington Capitals (1983–84) | 32–13–5 |
| 51 | T | January 27, 1984 | 2–2 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1983–84) | 32–13–6 |
| 52 | W | January 29, 1984 | 7–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 33–13–6 |
| 53 | L | February 2, 1984 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 33–14–6 |
| 54 | L | February 3, 1984 | 1–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1983–84) | 33–15–6 |
| 55 | L | February 5, 1984 | 1–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 33–16–6 |
| 56 | W | February 8, 1984 | 6–5 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 34–16–6 |
| 57 | W | February 9, 1984 | 8–5 | New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 35–16–6 |
| 58 | W | February 11, 1984 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 36–16–6 |
| 59 | W | February 15, 1984 | 7–4 | Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 37–16–6 |
| 60 | W | February 17, 1984 | 5–4 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1983–84) | 38–16–6 |
| 61 | W | February 19, 1984 | 5–2 | Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 39–16–6 |
| 62 | W | February 21, 1984 | 5–4 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 40–16–6 |
| 63 | L | February 23, 1984 | 2–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 40–17–6 |
| 64 | L | February 25, 1984 | 1–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1983–84) | 40–18–6 |
| 65 | L | February 27, 1984 | 1–3 | Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 40–19–6 |
| 66 | L | February 29, 1984 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1983–84) | 40–20–6 |
| 67 | L | March 3, 1984 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 40–21–6 |
| 68 | T | March 4, 1984 | 1–1 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 40–21–7 |
| 69 | W | March 6, 1984 | 8–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 41–21–7 |
| 70 | W | March 9, 1984 | 7–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1983–84) | 42–21–7 |
| 71 | W | March 11, 1984 | 4–3 OT | Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 43–21–7 |
| 72 | W | March 14, 1984 | 4–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1983–84) | 44–21–7 |
| 73 | W | March 17, 1984 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1983–84) | 45–21–7 |
| 74 | L | March 18, 1984 | 3–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1983–84) | 45–22–7 |
| 75 | W | March 21, 1984 | 4–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 46–22–7 |
| 76 | W | March 24, 1984 | 6–0 | @ New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 47–22–7 |
| 77 | L | March 25, 1984 | 3–5 | New York Islanders (1983–84) | 47–23–7 |
| 78 | L | March 27, 1984 | 1–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 47–24–7 |
| 79 | L | March 31, 1984 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 47–25–7 |
| 80 | W | April 1, 1984 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–84) | 48–25–7 |

## Playoffs

The Sabres qualified for the playoffs and lost to the Quebec Nordiques 3 games to 0, in the Adams Division Semifinals.

## Awards and records

* Tom Barrasso, Calder Memorial Trophy
* Tom Barrasso, Vezina Trophy
* Tom Barrasso, Goaltender, NHL First Team All-Star