2013–14 Buffalo Sabres 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.{{cite news|title=Ron Rolston introduced as Sabres' permanent coach|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/20130507/ron_rolston_introduced_as_sabres_x2019_permanent_coach.html|access-date=October 2, 2013|newspaper=Buffalo News|date=May 7, 2013}} Rolston replaced Lindy Ruff who was fired the season before after serving as head coach for nearly 16 seasons.

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 pre-season and would not play right away.{{cite web|title=FOLIGNO LIKELY TO MISS OPENER|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/blogpost.htm?id=20849|work=Sabres.com|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

The pre-season saw the Sabres involved in a controversial game. In a road game at the Toronto Maple Leafs, 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 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.{{cite web|last=Stubits|first=Brian|title=David Clarkson won't waste people's time; decides against appeal|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/23839168/david-clarkson-wont-waste-everybodys-time-with-appeal-of-suspension|work=CBS|publisher=CBS|access-date=October 2, 2013}} Phil Kessel received a three-game pre-season game ban for slashing Scott with the intent to injure.{{cite web|last=Stubits|first=Brian|title=Phil Kessel suspended for remainder of preseason for slashing in brawl|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/23825426/phil-kessel-suspended-for-remainder-of-preseason-for-slashing-in-brawl|work=CBS|publisher=CBS|access-date=October 2, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|last=Stubits|first=Brian|title=Report: Several coaches 'irate' at Ron Rolston's 'player selection' fine|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/23856239/report-several-coaches-irate-at-ron-rolstons-player-selection-fine|work=CBS|publisher=CBS|access-date=October 2, 2013}} Corey Tropp suffered a broken jaw and concussion in the fight.{{cite web|last=Ryndak|first=Chris|title=TROPP OUT 5–6 WEEKS WITH BROKEN JAW|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/blogpost.htm?id=20703|work=Sabres.com|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=October 2, 2013}}

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.{{cite web|title=OTT AND VANEK TO SHARE CAPTAINCY|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=684969&navid=DL%7cBUF%7chome|work=Sabres.com|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=October 2, 2013}} Ott would wear the "C" for all road games and Vanek would wear it at home. Christian Ehrhoff would wear an "A" during all games.

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 season to include four teenagers.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/391947019017007104|title=@PR_NHL status update|publisher=Twitter|access-date=October 20, 2013}}

On November 13, 2013, general manager Darcy Regier and Head Coach Ron Rolston were relieved 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.[http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=691326 LaFONTAINE & NOLAN RETURN TO THE SABRES] After hiring Ottawa Senators' Assistant general manager Tim Murray to the vacant general manager position on January 9,{{cite web |url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=699802 |title=MURRAY BRINGS A NO-NONSENSE APPROACH TO SABRES GM POSITION |publisher=Buffalo Sabres |date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |last1=Snow |first1=Kevin}} Pat LaFontaine resigned as President of Hockey Operations on March 1, 2014, to return to his previous position with the NHL.{{cite web |url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=707174|title=LaFONTAINE RESIGNS POSITION WITH BUFFALO SABRES - Buffalo Sabres - News |date=March 1, 2014|publisher=Buffalo Sabres}}

The Sabres made numerous trades leading up to and right before the March 5 trading deadline.{{cite web |url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=708097 |title=SABRES STAY BUSY ON DEADLINE DAY |publisher=Buffalo Sabres |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=March 6, 2014 |last1=Ryndak |first1=Chris}} On February 28, they traded away veterans Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues. Then on March 5, the NHL trade deadline day, they made three separate trades with the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings.

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

{{2013–14 NHL Atlantic Division standings|team=BUF}}

{{2013–14 NHL Eastern Conference Wild Card standings|team=BUF}}

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Legend:

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Final stats

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^†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.

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

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{{See also|List of Buffalo Sabres draft picks}}

Buffalo Sabres' picks at the 2013 NHL entry draft, to be held in Newark, New Jersey on June 30, 2013.{{cite web|title=NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=2013&team=BUF&position=&round=|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=July 1, 2013}}

;Draft notes{{cite web|title=2013 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions|url=http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/DraftTrades/Years/2013.htm|publisher=Pro Sports Transactions|access-date=June 15, 2013}}

• {{Note label|Note1|a|a}}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.{{cite web|title=SABRES ACQUIRE LARSSON, HACKETT & DRAFT PICKS FROM WILD – Buffalo Sabres – News|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=663935|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=April 3, 2013}}
• {{ref label|Note1|b|b}}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.{{cite web|last=Yerdon|first=Joe|title=Trade: Buffalo acquires McBain and pick from Carolina for Sekera|url=http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/30/trade-buffalo-acquires-mcbain-and-pick-from-carolina-for-sekera/|work=NBC|publisher=NBC|access-date=June 30, 2013}}
• {{Note label|Note1|c|c}}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.{{cite web|title=SABRES ACQUIRE TWO DRAFT PICKS FROM ST. LOUIS BLUES FOR DEFENSEMAN LEOPOLD – Buffalo Sabres – News|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=662956|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=March 30, 2013}}
• 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.{{cite web|title=SABRES ACQUIRE HODGSON, SULZER, FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK AT TRADE DEADLINE – Buffalo Sabres – News|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=619393|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=February 27, 2012}}
• {{Note label|Note1|d|d}}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.{{cite web|title=BRENNAN DEALT TO PANTHERS – Buffalo Sabres – News|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=660476|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=March 15, 2013}}
• {{Note label|Note1|e|e}}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.

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Category:Buffalo Sabres seasons

Buffalo Sabres season, 2013-14

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