Starting the 1988–89 season with the Penguins, Bodger was traded along with Darrin Shannon to the Buffalo Sabres on November 12, 1988 for Tom Barasso and a third-round draft choice in the 1990 draft. He played 61 games with the Sabres that season, scoring 7 goals and 40 assists, to make a total of 8 goals and 44 assists for the entire year.