2013–14 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2013–14 Buffalo Sabres season was the 44th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Sabres moved to the revamped Atlantic Division, which included the previous season's Northeast Division with the addition of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings. Ron Rolston, who started the season as head coach, was fired after 20 games and replaced by Ted Nolan, who had previously coached the team from 1995 to 1997. 
==Off-season==
Ron Rolston was made the permanent head coach when Darcy Regier removed the interim tag from his title. Regier did not interview any other candidates for the position. Rolston replaced Lindy Ruff 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 and Nikita Zadorov both made the opening day roster along with 2012 first round picks Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons and 2011 first round pick Joel Armia. Armia and Zadorov were both injured in the preseason and would not play right away.
The preseason saw the Sabres involved in a controversial game. In a road game at Toronto 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 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 10-minute misconduct penalties. During the fight Leaf David Clarkson would leave the bench to fight. Clarkson would later be suspended by the NHL for 10 regular season games. Phil Kessel received a 3 preseason game ban for slashing Scott with the intent to injure. Sabres 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. With the trade of team captain Jason Pominville the year before, the captaincy had remained vacant. Rolston used a rotating captaincy in the preseason. Steve Ott and Thomas Vanek were named co-captains for the 2013–14 season. Ott will wear the "C" for all road games and Vanek will wear it at home. Christian Ehrhoff will wear an "A" during all games. 
 
== Regular Season ==
Opening the season with a lineup that featured Zemgus Girgensons, Mikhail Grigorenko, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, the 2013–14 Sabres were the first team since the 1995–96 NHL season to include four teenagers.
On November 13, 2013, general manager Darcy Regier and head coach Ron Rolston were relived of their duties. Former Sabre Pat LaFontaine was hired as President of Hockey Operations (a position that had been left vacant since the departure of Larry Quinn in 2011) and Ted Nolan was hired as the interim head coach.LaFONTAINE & NOLAN RETURN TO THE SABRES After hiring Ottawa Senators Assistant GM Tim Murray to the vacant General Manager position on January 9th, 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 5th trading deadline. On February 28th they traded away veterans Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues. Then on trade deadline day, March 5th, they made three separate trades with the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals, and Los Angeles Kings.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Pre-season===
2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2013 Pre-Season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 15 	Buffalo 	5–4 	Montreal 	SO 	Hackett 	21,273 	1–0–0 	Recap
2 	September 17 	Buffalo 	3–1 	Columbus 	 	Hackett 	9,009 	2–0–0 	Recap
3 	September 19 	Carolina 	2–5 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	17,626 	3–0–0 	Recap
4 	September 21 	Toronto 	3–2 	Buffalo 	SO 	Enroth 	19,070 	3–0–1 	Recap
5 	September 22 	Buffalo 	3–5 	Toronto 	 	Miller 	19,001 	3–1–1 	Recap
6 	September 25 	Columbus 	0–3 	Buffalo 	 	Enroth 	17,346 	4–1–1 	Recap
7 	September 27 	Buffalo 	0–1 	Carolina 	 	Miller 	12,033 	4–2–1 	Recap
===Regular season===
2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)	2013–14 Game LogOverall: 21–51–10 (Home: 13–21–7; Road: 8–30–3)
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October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0) 	October: 2–12–1 (Home: 0–7–1 ; Road: 2–5–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 2 	Buffalo 	1–2 	Detroit 	 	Miller 	20,066 	0–1–0 	0 	Recap
2 	October 4 	Ottawa 	1–0 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	19,070 	0–2–0 	0 	Recap
3 	October 5 	Buffalo 	1–4 	Pittsburgh 	 	Enroth 	18,641 	0–3–0 	0 	Recap
4 	October 8 	Tampa Bay 	3–2 	Buffalo 	OT 	Enroth 	18,243 	0–3–1 	1 	Recap
5 	October 10 	Columbus 	4–1 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	18,210 	0–4–1 	1 	Recap
6 	October 12 	Buffalo 	1–2 	Chicago 	 	Miller 	21,261 	0–5–1 	1 	Recap
7 	October 14 	Minnesota 	2–1 	Buffalo 	 	Enroth 	18,111 	0–6–1 	1 	Recap
8 	October 15 	Buffalo 	4–3 	NY Islanders 	SO 	Miller 	10,512 	1–6–1 	3 	Recap
9 	October 17 	Vancouver 	3–0 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	18,374 	1–7–1 	3 	Recap
10 	October 19 	Colorado 	4–2 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	18,422 	1–8–1 	3 	Recap
11 	October 23 	Boston 	5–2 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	17,645 	1–9–1 	3 	Recap
12 	October 25 	Buffalo 	3–1 	Florida 	 	Enroth 	12,984 	2–9–1 	5 	Recap
13 	October 26 	Buffalo 	2–3 	Tampa Bay 	 	Miller 	18,088 	2–10–1 	5 	Recap
14 	October 28 	Dallas 	4–3 	Buffalo 	 	Miller 	18,295 	2–11–1 	5 	Recap
15 	October 31 	Buffalo 	0–2 	NY Rangers 	 	Miller 	18,006 	2–12–1 	5 	Recap
== Player stats ==
Final stats
;Skaters
 Regular Season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	72	20	24	44	 	20
 	80	21	22	43	 	42
 	70	16	18	34	 	39
 	79	6 	27	33	 	38
 	44	11	18	29	 	20
 	62	9 	13	22	 	58
 	70	8 	14	22	 	14
 	59	9 	11	20	 	55
 	74	7 	12	19	 	82
 	69	6 	11	17	 	14
 	58	0 	15	15	 	10
 	79	6 	7 	13	 	14
 	49	5 	6 	11	 	22
 	68	1 	8 	9 	 	73
 	13	4 	5 	9 	 	4
 	64	2 	6 	8 	 	34
 	44	1 	6 	7 	 	16
 	50	4 	2 	6 	 	4
 	19	3 	3 	6 	 	16
 	29	1 	4 	5 	 	45
 	28	0 	4 	4 	0	19
 	34	2 	2 	4 	 	6
 	18	2 	1 	3 	 	2
 	25	0 	2 	2 	 	8
 	9 	1 	1 	2 	 	4
 	13	0 	2 	2 	 	6
 	23	0 	1 	1 	 	33
 	12	0 	1 	1 	 	2
 	9 	1 	0 	1 	0	4
 	56	1 	0 	1 	 	125
 	12	1 	0 	1 	0	4
 	17	1 	0 	1 	 	18
 	7 	0 	1 	1 	 	15
 	21	0 	1 	1 	 	2
 	7 	1 	0 	1 	 	4
 	9 	0 	1 	1 	 	0
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	 	5
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	 	6
 	12	0 	0 	0 	1	6
;Goaltenders
 Regular Season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	40	40	2,383:47	15	22	3	108	2.72	1411	0.923	0	0	2	0
 	28	26	1,574:14	4 	17	5	74 	2.82	834 	0.911	0	0	0	0
 	8 	8 	426:06 	1 	6 	1	22 	3.10	239 	0.908	0	0	0	0
 	7 	5 	363:22 	1 	4 	0	18 	2.98	191 	0.906	0	0	0	0
 	2 	2 	117:03 	0 	2 	0	5 	2.56	98 	0.949	0	0	0	0
 	2 	1 	76:31 	0 	0 	1	4 	3.12	32 	0.875	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.
===Milestones===
 Regular Season
Player 	Milestone 	Reached
Zemgus Girgensons 	1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point 	October 2, 2013
Rasmus Ristolainen 	1st Career NHL Game 	October 2, 2013
Zemgus Girgensons 	1st Career NHL Assist 	October 14, 2013
Kevin Porter 	200th Career NHL Game 	October 14, 2013
Nikita Zadorov 	1st Career NHL Game 	October 19, 2013
Nikita Zadorov 	1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point 	October 23, 2013
Rasmus Ristolainen 	1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point 	October 25, 2013
Tyler Ennis 	200th Career NHL Game 	October 26, 2013
Johan Larsson 	1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point 	November 2, 2013
Tyler Myers 	300th Career NHL Game 	January 18, 2014
Steve Ott 	100th Career NHL Goal 	January 21, 2014
Phil Varone 	1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point	January 23, 2014
Phil Varone 	1st Career NHL Goal 	January 28, 2014
Nicolas Deslauriers	1st Career NHL Game 	March 7, 2014
Drew Stafford 	500th Career NHL Game 	March 11, 2014
Matt Ellis 	300th Career NHL Game 	March 11, 2014
Nathan Lieuwen 	1st Career NHL Game 	March 16, 2014
Rasmus Ristolainen 	1st Career NHL Assist 	March 29, 2014
Nathan Lieuwen 	1st Career NHL Win 	April 1, 2014
Jake McCabe 	1st Career NHL Game 	April 3, 2014
Nicolas Deslauriers	1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point 	April 4, 2014
Chad Ruhwedel 	1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point 	April 4, 2014
Connor Knapp 	1st Career NHL Game 	April 12, 2014
Jake McCabe 	1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point 	April 13, 2014
== Transactions ==
The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2013–14 season:
===Trades===
June 30, 2013 	To Carolina Hurricanes Andrej Sekera 	To Buffalo Sabres Jamie McBain2nd-round pick in 2013
July 7, 2013 	To New Jersey Devils Riley Boychuk 	To Buffalo Sabres Henrik Tallinder
October 27, 2013 	To New York Islanders Thomas Vanek 	To Buffalo Sabres Matt Moulson1st-round pick in 20152nd-round pick in 2015
December 19, 2013	To Edmonton Oilers conditional 6th-round pick in 2014 (Condition was not met, no pick traded) 	To Buffalo Sabres Linus Omark
February 28, 2014	To St. Louis Blues Ryan MillerSteve Ott 	To Buffalo Sabres Jaroslav HalakChris StewartWilliam Carrier1st-round pick in 2015Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2016
March 5, 2014 	To Los Angeles Kings Brayden McNabbJonathan ParkerLAK's 2nd-round pick in 2014LAK's 2nd round pick in 2015	To Buffalo Sabres Nicolas DeslauriersHudson Fasching
March 5, 2014 	To Washington Capitals Jaroslav Halak3rd-round pick in 2015 	To Buffalo Sabres Michal NeuvirthRostislav Klesla
March 5, 2014 	To Minnesota Wild Matt MoulsonCody McCormick 	To Buffalo Sabres Torrey MitchellWPG's 2nd-round pick in 20142nd-round pick in 2016
=== Free agents acquired ===
Player 	Former team 	Contract terms
Drew Bagnall	Houston Aeros 	2 years, $1.1 million
Jamie Tardif	Providence Bruins	1 year, $550,000
=== Free agents lost ===
Player 	New team 	Contract terms
Mark Mancari	St. Louis Blues 	1 year, $600,000
Adam Pardy 	Winnipeg Jets 	1 year, $600,000
Nathan Gerbe	Carolina Hurricanes	1 year, $550,000
=== Claimed via waivers ===
Player 	Previous team 	Date
Matt D'AgostiniSABRES CLAIM D'AGOSTINI OFF WAIVERS 	Pittsburgh Penguins	November 27, 2013
Zenon KonopkaKONOPKA CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY BUFFALO	Minnesota Wild 	January 3, 2014
Cory ConacherSABRES CLAIM CORY CONACHER 	Ottawa Senators 	March 5, 2014
=== Lost via waivers ===
Player 	New team 	Date
Corey TroppBlue Jackets claim forward Corey Tropp off waivers from Buffalo	Columbus Blue Jackets	November 28, 2013
=== Lost via retirement ===
Player
Jochen Hecht
=== Players released ===
Player 	Date
Linus OmarkSABRES TERMINATE OMARK CONTRACT	February 18, 2014
=== Player signings ===
Player 	Date 	Contract terms
Matt Ellis 	July 3, 2013 	2 years, $1.1 million
Alexander Sulzer 	July 5, 2013 	1 year, $725,000
Rasmus Ristolainen 	July 12, 2013 	3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract
Nick Crawford 	July 19, 2013 	1 year, $550,000
Brian Flynn 	July 19, 2013 	2 years, $1.275 million
Matt Hackett 	July 23, 2013 	1 year, $715,000
Luke Adam 	July 23, 2013 	1 year, $735,000
Corey Tropp 	August 6, 2013 	1 year, $577,500
Cody Hodgson 	September 11, 2013	6 years, $25.5 million
Nikita Zadorov 	September 25, 2013	3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract
Justin Kea 	April 1, 2014 	3 years, $1.94 million entry-level contract
Jake McCabe 	April 2, 2014 	3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract
Nicolas Deslauriers	May 26, 2014 	2 years, $1.275 million contract extension
Linus Ullmark 	May 27, 2014 	3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract
Brady Austin 	May 29, 2014 	3 years, $1.88 million entry-level contract
Nicholas Baptiste 	May 31, 2014 	3 years, $2.7 million entry-level contract
==Draft picks==
Buffalo Sabres' picks at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, to be held in Newark, New Jersey on June 30, 2013.
Round	# 	Player 	Pos 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	8 	Rasmus Ristolainen	Defence 	 	TPS (SM-liiga)
1 	16 	Nikita Zadorov 	Defence 	 	CSKA Moscow (KHL)
2 	35 	JT Compher 	Center 	 	USA Development Program
2 	38 	Connor Hurley 	Center 	 	Edina High School (MN High School)
2 	52 	Justin Bailey 	Right Wing	 	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 	69 	Nicholas Baptiste 	Right Wing	 	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
5 	129	Calvin Petersen 	Goalie 	 	Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
5 	130	Gustav Possler 	Right Wing	 	MODO J20 (J20 SuperElit)
5 	143	Anthony Florentino	Defence 	 	South Kent Prep. (USHS)
6 	159	Sean Malone 	Center 	 	Selects U18 – South Kent (HIGH–CT)
7 	189	Eric Locke 	Center 	 	Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
;Draft notes
* The Minnesota Wild's first-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of an April 3, 2013 trade that sent Jason Pominville and a 2014 fourth-round pick to the Wild in exchange for Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett and this pick.
* The Carolina Hurricanes' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres at the draft in a trade that sent Andrej Sekera to Carolina for Jamie McBain and this pick.
* The St. Louis Blues' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a March 30, 2013 trade that sent Jordan Leopold 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 as the result of a February 27, 2012 trade that sent a 2012 first-round pick (#21–Mark Jankowski) to the Sabres in exchange for Paul Gaustad and this pick.
* The New Jersey Devils' 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 St. Louis Blues' fifth-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a March 30, 2013 trade that sent Jordan Leopold to the Blues in exchange for a 2013 second-round pick and this pick.
==References==
Category:Buffalo Sabres seasons
Category:2014 in hockey