2016–17 Buffalo Sabres season

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

| League = NHL

| Season = 2016–17

| year = 2016

| Team = Buffalo Sabres

| Division = Atlantic

| DivisionRank = 8th

| Conference = Eastern

| ConferenceRank = 15th

| Record = 33–37–12

| HomeRecord = 20–15–6

| RoadRecord = 13–22–6

| GoalsFor = 201

| GoalsAgainst = 237

| GeneralManager = Tim Murray

| Coach = Dan Bylsma

| Captain = Brian Gionta

| AltCaptain = Josh Gorges
Ryan O'Reilly

| Arena = KeyBank Center

| Attendance =

| MinorLeague = Rochester Americans (AHL)
Elmira Jackals (ECHL)

| GoalsLeader = Evander Kane (28)

| AssistsLeader = Rasmus Ristolainen (39)

| PointsLeader = Jack Eichel (57)

| PlusMinusLeader = Taylor Fedun (+3)

| PIMLeader = Evander Kane (113)

| WinsLeader = Robin Lehner (23)

| GAALeader = Anders Nilsson (2.67)

| DivisionWin =

| PresidentsTrophy =

| ConferenceWin =

| StanleyCup =

}}

The 2016–17 Buffalo Sabres season was the 47th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.{{cite book |last=National Hockey League|title=The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011|year=2010 |publisher=Triumph Books |page=27|isbn=978-1-60078-422-4}} Buffalo missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Off-season

The Sabres held their annual development camp during the second weekend of July. After the previous two seasons in which the Sabres held the tournament in the First Niagara Center, this edition was held at HarborCenter.{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Brayton|title=Sabres announce development camp schedule and roster|url=http://www.wcmf.com/articles/sabres-announce-development-camp-schedule-and-roster|website=96.5 WCMF|publisher=WCMF Rochester|accessdate=15 July 2016|date=6 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702152456/http://www.wcmf.com/articles/sabres-announce-development-camp-schedule-and-roster|archive-date=July 2, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

The Sabres reprised their hosting of a prospect tournament for 2016, after the success of the first event in 2015. The New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins returned for the tournament, which ran September 16–19, partially opposite the 2016 World Cup of Hockey; in contrast to the previous season, the Sabres lost both prospect tournament games and finished in third place.{{Cite web|url=http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-host-prospects-tournament-september/|title = Sabres to host prospects tournament again in September|date = August 2, 2016}} The Sabres contributed three players to the World Cup: Jack Eichel for Team North America, Ryan O'Reilly for Canada, and Rasmus Ristolainen for Finland.

On July 16, 2016, the Sabres hired Tom Ward as an assistant coach. Ward had spent the previous 18 seasons as the head coach for the Minnesota High School boys prep team.

The Sabres also announced that the naming rights to their home arena will change. Due to First Niagara Financial Group, the arena's previous rights holder, being subsumed into KeyBank, the team's arena was renamed KeyBank Center for the 2016–17 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wkbw.com/news/first-niagara-center-to-receive-new-name|title = First Niagara Center to be renamed|date = May 11, 2016}} The arena naming rights have passed through a succession of regional banks, having been known as First Niagara Center, HSBC Arena and Marine Midland Arena, through its 20-year history.

Standings

Schedule and results

=Pre-season=

colspan=11 style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 5px solid;" \| 2016 Pre-season Game Log: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 2–0–1)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Recap
style="background:#fcc;" \| 1	September 26	Minnesota	2–1	Buffalo		Ullmark	–	0–1–0	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-min/2016/09/26/2016010005 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 2	September 27	Ottawa	2–3	Buffalo	OT	Lehner	17,868	1–1–0	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2016/09/27/2016010016 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 3	September 29	Buffalo	1–0	Toronto	SO	Nilsson	–	2–1–0	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2016/09/29/2016010037 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 4	September 30	Toronto	8–1	Buffalo		Kasdorf	17,866	2-2-0	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2016/09/30/2016010039 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 5	October 4	Carolina	0–2	Buffalo		Lehner	–	3–2–0	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-car/2016/10/04/2016010069 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 6	October 5	Buffalo	2–3	Carolina	SO	Ullmark	–	3–2–1	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-car/2016/10/05/2016010079 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 7	October 7	Buffalo	4–2	Ottawa		Lehner	14,216	4–2–1	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2016/10/07/2016010094 Recap]

=Regular season=

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 5px solid;"\| 2016–17 Game Log{{cite web\|title=2016–2017 Regular Season Schedule/Results – Buffalo Sabres – Schedule\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm?season=20162017&gameType=2\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres}}
class="toccolours" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
colspan=12 \| {\| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| October: 3–3–2 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 2–1–2)
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#fcc;" \| 1	October 13	Montreal	4–1	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	0–1–0	0	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-mtl/2016/10/13/2016020005 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 2	October 16	Buffalo	6–2	Edmonton		Lehner	18,347	1–1–0	2	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-edm/2016/10/16/2016020031 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 3	October 18	Buffalo	3–4	Calgary	OT	Lehner	19,289	1–1–1	3	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-cgy/2016/10/18/2016020046 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 4	October 20	Buffalo	1–2	Vancouver		Lehner	17,809	1–2–1	3	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-van/2016/10/20/2016020061 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 5	October 25	Buffalo	3–4	Philadelphia	SO	Nilsson	19,209	1–2–2	4	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-phi/2016/10/25/2016020085 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 6	October 27	Minnesota	4–0	Buffalo		Nilsson	18,122	1–3–2	4	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-min/2016/10/27/2016020098 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 7	October 29	Florida	0–3	Buffalo		Nilsson	18,261	2–3–2	6	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-fla/2016/10/29/2016020113 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 8	October 30	Buffalo	3–1	Winnipeg		Lehner	15,294	3–3–2	8	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-wpg/2016/10/30/2016020123 Recap]

| colspan=12 |

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| November: 5–6–3 (Home: 2–2–3; Road: 3–4–0)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#cfc;" \| 9	November 1	Buffalo	2–1	Minnesota		Lehner	18,864	4–3–2	10	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-min/2016/11/01/2016020137 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 10	November 3	Toronto	2–1	Buffalo		Lehner	18,183	4–4–2	10	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2016/11/03/2016020146 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 11	November 5	Buffalo	2–1	Ottawa		Lehner	16,225	5–4–2	12	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2016/11/05/2016020165 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 12	November 7	Buffalo	0–4	Boston		Lehner	17,565	5–5–2	12	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-buf/2016/11/07/2016020180 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 13	November 9	Ottawa	2–1	Buffalo	SO	Lehner	17,884	5–5–3	13	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2016/11/09/2016020194 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 14	November 11	New Jersey	2–1	Buffalo	OT	Nilsson	18,301	5–5–4	14	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-njd/2016/11/11/2016020206 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 15	November 12	Buffalo	2–4	New Jersey		Lehner	16,514	5–6–4	14	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-njd/2016/11/12/2016020215 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 16	November 15	Buffalo	1–4	St. Louis		Lehner	16,884	5–7–4	14	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-stl/2016/11/15/2016020236 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 17	November 17	Tampa Bay	4–1	Buffalo		Lehner	17,870	5–8–4	14	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tbl/2016/11/17/2016020245 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 18	November 19	Pittsburgh	1–2	Buffalo	SO	Nilsson	18,817	6–8–4	16	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-pit/2016/11/19/2016020263 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 19	November 21	Calgary	2–4	Buffalo		Lehner	17,526	7–8–4	18	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-cgy/2016/11/21/2016020276 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 20	November 23	Detroit	2–1	Buffalo	SO	Lehner	18,360	7–8–5	19	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-det/2016/11/23/2016020288 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 21	November 25	Buffalo	1–3	Washington		Nilsson	18,506	7–9–5	19	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-wsh/2016/11/25/2016020306 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 22	November 29	Buffalo	5–4	Ottawa		Nilsson	14,259	8–9–5	21	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2016/11/29/2016020333 Recap]

| colspan=12 |

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| December: 5–6–3 (Home: 4–4–0; Road: 1–2–3)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#cfc;" \| 23	December 1	NY Rangers	3–4	Buffalo		Nilsson	18,047	9–9–5	23	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyr/2016/12/01/2016020346 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 24	December 3	Boston	2–1	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	9–10–5	23	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-buf/2016/12/03/2016020359 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 25	December 5	Buffalo	2–3	Washington	OT	Lehner	18,506	9–10–6	24	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-wsh/2016/12/05/2016020380 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 26	December 6	Edmonton	3–4	Buffalo	OT	Nilsson	18,149	10–10–6	26	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-edm/2016/12/06/2016020382 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 27	December 9	Washington	4–1	Buffalo		Lehner	18,234	10–11–6	26	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-wsh/2016/12/09/2016020405 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 28	December 13	Los Angeles	3–6	Buffalo		Lehner	18,375	11–11–6	28	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-lak/2016/12/13/2016020431 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 29	December 16	NY Islanders	2–3	Buffalo	OT	Lehner	18,903	12–11–6	30	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyi/2016/12/16/2016020453 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 30	December 17	Buffalo	1–2	Carolina	SO	Nilsson	11,682	12–11–7	31	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-car/2016/12/17/2016020466 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 31	December 20	Buffalo	3–4	Florida	SO	Lehner	14,265	12–11–8	32	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-fla/2016/12/20/2016020487 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 32	December 22	Carolina	3–1	Buffalo		Lehner	18,863	12–12–8	32	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-car/2016/12/22/2016020495 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 33	December 23	Buffalo	1–5	NY Islanders		Nilsson	13,852	12–13–8	32	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyi/2016/12/23/2016020505 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 34	December 27	Buffalo	4–3	Detroit		Lehner	20,027	13–13–8	34	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-det/2016/12/27/2016020521 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 35	December 29	Boston	4–2	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	13–14–8	34	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-buf/2016/12/29/2016020532 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 36	December 31	Buffalo	1–3	Boston		Lehner	17,565	13–15–8	34	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-buf/2016/12/31/2016020548 Recap]

| colspan=12 |

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| January: 7–5–1 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 3–5–1)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#cfc;" \| 37	January 3	Buffalo	4–1	NY Rangers		Nilsson	18,006	14–15–8	36	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyr/2017/01/03/2016020565 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 38	January 5	Buffalo	3–4	Chicago	OT	Nilsson	21,824	14–15–9	37	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-chi/2017/01/05/2016020582 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 39	January 7	Winnipeg	3–4	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	15–15–9	39	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-wpg/2017/01/07/2016020591 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 40	January 10	Philadelphia	1–4	Buffalo		Nilsson	18,920	16–15–9	41	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-phi/2017/01/10/2016020613 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 41	January 12	Buffalo	2–4	Tampa Bay		Nilsson	19,092	16–16–9	41	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ott-vs-pit/2017/01/12/2016020625 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 42	January 13	Buffalo	2–5	Carolina		Nilsson	11,992	16–17–9	41	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-car/2017/01/13/2016020637 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 43	January 16	Dallas	1–4	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	17–17–9	43	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-dal/2017/01/16/2016020657 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 44	January 17	Buffalo	3–4	Toronto		Nilsson	19,122	17–18–9	43	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2017/01/17/2016020665 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 45	January 20	Detroit	2–3	Buffalo	OT	Nilsson	18,842	18–18–9	45	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-det/2017/01/20/2016020686 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 46	January 21	Buffalo	3–2	Montreal	OT	Lehner	21,288	19–18–9	47	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-mtl/2017/01/21/2016020694 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 47	January 24	Buffalo	5–4	Nashville	OT	Lehner	17,113	20–18–9	49	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nsh/2017/01/24/2016020720 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 48	January 26	Buffalo	3–4	Dallas		Nilsson	17,856	20–19–9	49	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-dal/2017/01/26/2016020738 Recap]
style="background:#bbcaff;" \|colspan="2" \| January 27–29	colspan="10" \| All-Star Break in Los Angeles
style="background:#fcc;" \| 49	January 31	Buffalo	2–5	Montreal		Lehner	21,288	20–20–9	49	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-mtl/2017/01/31/2016020745 Recap]

| colspan=12 |

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| February: 6–6–2 (Home: 4–3–2; Road: 2–3–0)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#ffc;" \| 50	February 2	NY Rangers	2–1	Buffalo	OT	Lehner	18,941	20–20–10	50	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyr/2017/02/02/2016020758 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 51	February 4	Ottawa	0–4	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	21–20–10	52	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2017/02/04/2016020775 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 52	February 6	Buffalo	1–2	New Jersey		Lehner	12,105	21–21–10	52	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-njd/2017/02/06/2016020787 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 53	February 7	San Jose	4–5	Buffalo	OT	Nilsson	18,462	22–21–10	54	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-sjs/2017/02/07/2016020790 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 54	February 9	Anaheim	5–2	Buffalo		Lehner	18,027	22–22–10	54	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ana-vs-buf/2017/02/09/2016020803 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 55	February 11	Buffalo	3–1	Toronto		Lehner	19,427	23–22–10	56	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2017/02/11/2016020821 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 56	February 12	Vancouver	4–2	Buffalo		Lehner	18,876	23–23–10	56	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-van/2017/02/12/2016020833 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 57	February 14	Buffalo	3–2	Ottawa		Lehner	16,832	24–23–10	58	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-ott/2017/02/14/2016020839 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 58	February 16	Colorado	0–2	Buffalo		Lehner	18,335	25–23–10	60	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-col/2017/02/16/2016020847 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 59	February 18	St. Louis	2–3	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	26–23–10	62	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-stl/2017/02/18/2016020858 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 60	February 19	Chicago	5–1	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	26–24–10	62	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-chi/2017/02/19/2016020872 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 61	February 25	Buffalo	3–5	Colorado		Lehner	15,362	26–25–10	62	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-col/2017/02/25/2016020910 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 62	February 26	Buffalo	2–3	Arizona		Nilsson	13,432	26–26–10	62	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ari-vs-buf/2017/02/26/2016020918 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 63	February 28	Nashville	5–4	Buffalo	OT	Lehner	18,634	26–26–11	63	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nsh/2017/02/28/2016020923 Recap]

| colspan=12 |

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| March: 6–7–1 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 3–4–0)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#cfc;" \| 64	March 2	Arizona	3–6	Buffalo		Lehner	18,116	27–26–11	65	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ari-vs-buf/2017/03/02/2016020937 Recap]
style="background:#ffc;" \| 65	March 4	Tampa Bay	2–1	Buffalo	SO	Lehner	18,935	27–26–12	66	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tbl/2017/03/04/2016020953 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 66	March 5	Buffalo	3–4	Pittsburgh		Nilsson	18,653	27–27–12	66	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-pit/2017/03/05/2016020964 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 67	March 7	Philadelphia	6–3	Buffalo		Lehner	18,233	27–28–12	66	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-phi/2017/03/07/2016020973 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 68	March 10	Buffalo	3–4	Columbus		Lehner	17,530	27–29–12	66	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-cbj/2017/03/10/2016020995 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 69	March 11	Columbus	3–5	Buffalo		Nilsson	18,744	28–29–12	68	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-cbj/2017/03/11/2016021002 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 70	March 14	Buffalo	1–4	San Jose		Lehner	17,386	28–30–12	68	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-sjs/2017/03/14/2016021032 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 71	March 16	Buffalo	0–2	Los Angeles		Lehner	18,230	28–31–12	68	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-lak/2017/03/16/2016021047 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 72	March 17	Buffalo	2–1	Anaheim	SO	Nilsson	14,556	29–31–12	70	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ana-vs-buf/2017/03/17/2016021052 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 73	March 20	Buffalo	2–1	Detroit		Lehner	20,027	30–31–12	72	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-det/2017/03/20/2016021071 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 74	March 21	Pittsburgh	3–1	Buffalo		Lehner	18,313	30–32–12	72	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-pit/2017/03/21/2016021076 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 75	March 25	Toronto	2–5	Buffalo		Lehner	19,070	31–32–12	74	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2017/03/25/2016021107 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 76	March 27	Florida	2–4	Buffalo		Lehner	18,564	32–32–12	76	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-fla/2017/03/27/2016021122 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 77	March 28	Buffalo	1–3	Columbus		Nilsson	14,533	32–33–12	76	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-cbj/2017/03/28/2016021130 Recap]

| colspan=12 |

colspan="12" style="background:#fff; border-top:#002D62 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB930 2px solid;"\| April: 1–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 0–2–0)
class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#ddd;" ! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Record !! Pts !! Recap
style="background:#fcc;" \| 78	April 2	NY Islanders	4–2	Buffalo	Lehner	19,070	32–34–12	76	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyi/2017/04/02/2016021166 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 79	April 3	Toronto	4–2	Buffalo	Lehner	18,829	32–35–12	76	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tor/2017/04/03/2016021176 Recap]
style="background:#cfc;" \| 80	April 5	Montreal	1–2	Buffalo	Lehner	18,815	33–35–12	78	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-mtl/2017/04/05/2016021192 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 81	April 8	Buffalo	0–3	Florida	Lehner	17,235	33–36–12	78	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-fla/2017/04/08/2016021213 Recap]
style="background:#fcc;" \| 82	April 9	Buffalo	2–4	Tampa Bay	Ullmark	19,092	33–37–12	78	[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-tbl/2017/04/09/2016021222 Recap]

| colspan="11" style="text-align:center;"|

Legend:

{{legend2|#ffc|Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)|border=1px solid #ffffcc}}

Player stats

As of April 9, 2017

=Skaters=

Player ! {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|G\|Goals}} ! {{abbr\|A\|Assists}} ! {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! data-sort-type="number" \| {{abbr\|+/−\|Plus/minus}} ! {{abbr\|PIM\|Penalty minutes}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;" \|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#002D62 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDBB30 5px solid;"\| Regular season{{cite web\|title=2016–2017 – Regular Season – Buffalo Sabres – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats\|url=http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=20152016&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=1&teamId=7&pos=S\|publisher=NHL}}
{{sortname\|Jack\|Eichel}}	61	24	33	57	−13	22
{{sortname\|Ryan\|O'Reilly}}	72	20	35	55	−1	10
{{sortname\|Sam\|Reinhart}}	79	17	30	47	−11	8
{{sortname\|Kyle\|Okposo}}	65	19	26	45	−7	24
{{sortname\|Rasmus\|Ristolainen}}	79	6	39	45	−9	58
{{sortname\|Evander\|Kane}}	70	28	15	43	−17	113
{{sortname\|Brian\|Gionta}}	82	15	20	35	−11	22
{{sortname\|Matt\|Moulson}}	81	14	18	32	−4	10
{{sortname\|Marcus\|Foligno}}	80	13	10	23	−1	73
{{sortname\|Jake\|McCabe}}	76	3	17	20	−7	26
{{sortname\|Cody\|Franson}}	68	3	16	19	−5	34
{{sortname\|Zemgus\|Girgensons}}	75	7	9	16	−7	18
{{sortname\|Tyler\|Ennis\|dab=ice hockey}}	51	5	8	13	−10	12
{{sortname\|Johan\|Larsson\|dab=ice hockey, born 1992}}	36	6	5	11	−7	20
{{sortname\|Zach\|Bogosian}}	56	2	9	11	−17	46
{{sortname\|William\|Carrier\|William Carrier (ice hockey)}}	41	5	3	8	−1	21
{{sortname\|Justin\|Falk}}	52	0	8	8	−3	29
{{sortname\|Taylor\|Fedun}}	27	0	7	7	3	16
{{sortname\|Evan\|Rodrigues}}	30	4	2	6	−7	4
{{sortname\|Josh\|Gorges}}	66	1	5	6	−3	50
{{sortname\|Dmitry\|Kulikov\|Dmitri Kulikov (ice hockey)}}	47	2	3	5	−26	26
{{sortname\|Nicholas\|Baptiste}}	14	3	1	4	1	6
{{sortname\|Justin\|Bailey}}	32	2	2	4	0	4
{{sortname\|Derek\|Grant\|Derek Grant (ice hockey, born 1990)}}^‡†	40	0	3	3	−3	19
{{sortname\|Nicolas\|Deslauriers}}	42	0	2	2	−6	38
{{sortname\|Hudson\|Fasching}}	10	0	1	1	−1	2
{{sortname\|Alexander\|Nylander}}	4	0	1	1	−2	0
{{sortname\|Cal\|O'Reilly}}	11	0	1	1	−6	0
{{sortname\|Cole\|Schneider}}	4	0	1	1	2	0
{{sortname\|C. J.\|Smith\|C. J. Smith (ice hockey)}}	2	0	1	1	−1	0
{{sortname\|Brady\|Austin}}	5	0	0	0	0	4
{{sortname\|Erik\|Burgdoerfer}}	2	0	0	0	−1	0
{{sortname\|Brendan\|Guhle}}	3	0	0	0	1	0
{{sortname\|Sean\|Malone\|Sean Malone (ice hockey)}}	1	0	0	0	0	0
{{sortname\|Casey\|Nelson}}	11	0	0	0	−3	4

=Goaltenders=

Player ! {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|GS\|Games started}} ! {{abbr\|TOI\|Time on ice}} ! {{abbr\|W\|Win}} ! {{abbr\|L\|Loss}} ! {{abbr\|OT\|Overtime loss}} ! {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}} ! {{abbr\|GAA\|Goals against average}} ! {{abbr\|SA\|Shots against}} ! {{abbr\|SV%\|Save percentage}} ! {{abbr\|SO\|Shutouts}} ! {{abbr\|G\|Goals}} ! {{abbr\|A\|Assists}} ! {{abbr\|PIM\|Penalty minutes}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;" \|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#002D62 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDBB30 5px solid;"\| Regular season{{cite web\|title=2016–2017 – Regular Season – Buffalo Sabres – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats\|url=http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=20152016&gameType=2&sort=wins&aggregate=1&teamId=7&pos=G\|publisher=NHL}}
style=white-space:nowrap\| {{sortname\|Robin\|Lehner}}	59	58	3405:28	23	26	8	152	2.68	1,910	.920	2	0	1	6
style=white-space:nowrap\| {{sortname\|Anders\|Nilsson\|Anders Nilsson (ice hockey)}}	26	23	1484:15	10	10	4	66	2.67	857	.923	1	0	0	0
style=white-space:nowrap\| {{sortname\|Linus\|Ullmark}}	1	1	58:44	0	1	0	3	\| 3.05	36	.917	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.

Transactions

The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2016–17 season:

=Trades=

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse" bordercolor="#DFDFDF" cellpadding="5" width=90%

style="background:#ddd;"

|Date

!colspan="2"|{{center|Details}}

!Ref

style="background:#eee;"

|{{start date|2016|06|25}}

| valign="top"| To Florida Panthers

----Mark Pysyk
2nd-round pick in 2016
STL's 3rd-round pick in 2016

| valign="top"| To Buffalo Sabres

----Dmitry Kulikov
VAN's 2nd-round pick in 2016

|{{cite web|title=SABRES ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN KULIKOV FROM PANTHERS|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=887298|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=June 25, 2016}}

| valign="top"| To St. Louis Blues

----5th-round pick in 2017

| valign="top"| To Buffalo Sabres

----Anders Nilsson

|{{cite web|title=SABRES ACQUIRE NILSSON FROM BLUES|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888514|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=July 2, 2016}}

style="background:#eee;"

|{{start date|2017|02|28}}

| valign="top"| To New York Rangers

----Daniel Catenacci

| valign="top"| To Buffalo Sabres

----Mat Bodie

|{{cite web|title=Sabres acquire Bodie from Rangers|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-rangers-mat-bodie-trade/c-287209572|publisher=Buffalo Sabres|date=February 28, 2017}}

;Notes

=Free agents acquired=

class="wikitable" width=98%
style="background:#ddd;" \| Date	Player	Former team	Contract terms (in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 1, 2016	Kyle Okposo	New York Islanders	7 years, $42 million contract	{{cite web\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888373\|title=OKPOSO SIGNS 7-YEAR DEAL WITH SABRES\|work=nhl.com\|accessdate=July 5, 2016}}
July 1, 2016	Taylor Fedun	Utica Comets	1 year, $600,000 two-way contract
July 1, 2016	Justin Falk	Columbus Blue Jackets	1 year, $650,000, two-way contract
July 2, 2016	Derek Grant	Stockton Heat	1 year, $650,000, two-way contract	{{cite web\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888516\|title=SABRES SIGN GRANT TO ONE-YEAR DEAL\|work=nhl.com\|accessdate=July 5, 2016}}
July 21, 2016	Erik Burgdoerfer	Hershey Bears	1 year, $575,000 two-way contract	{{cite web\|title=SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN BURGDOERFER\|url=http://www.amerks.com/article/SABRES%20SIGN%20DEFENSEMAN%20BURGDOERFER\|website=Amerks.com\|publisher=Rochester Americans\|accessdate=21 July 2016\|date=21 July 2016}}
March 30, 2017	C. J. Smith	UMass Lowell	2 years, $1.85 million entry-level contract	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-cj-smith/c-288245886\|title=Sabres sign forward Smith\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=March 30, 2017\|accessdate=April 9, 2017}}
May 25, 2017	Victor Antipin	Metallurg Magnitogorsk	1 year, $1.775 million entry-level contract	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-defenseman-antipin/c-289610264\|title=Sabres sign defenseman Antipin\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=May 25, 2017\|accessdate=June 6, 2017}}

=Free agents lost=

class="wikitable" width=97%
style="background:#ddd;" \| Date	Player	New team	Contract terms (in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 1, 2016	Chad Johnson	Calgary Flames	1 year, $1.7 million	Hoppe, Bill (July 1, 2016). [http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/reports-sabres-sign-kyle-okposo-7-year-contract/ Reports: Sabres sign Kyle Okposo to 7-year contract]. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
July 1, 2016	Chad Ruhwedel	Pittsburgh Penguins	1 year, $575,000
July 1, 2016	Tim Schaller	Boston Bruins	1 year, $600,000	{{cite web\|url = http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2016/7/1/12085732/bruins-wrap-up-the-day-with-depth-signings-of-riley-nash-tim-schaller \| title = Bruins wrap up the day with depth signings of Riley Nash, Tim Schaller \| author = Wheeler, Paul \| publisher = SB Nation \| date = 2016-07-01 \| accessdate = 2016-07-03}}
July 19, 2016	Nathan Lieuwen	San Antonio Rampage	1 year, amount undisclosed	{{cite web\|last1=McGregor\|first1=Rob\|title=Ex-Sabres goalie Lieuwen signs with AHL San Antonio Rampage\|url=http://www.todaysslapshot.com/from-the-ice/ex-sabres-goalie-lieuwen-signs-with-ahl-san-antonio-rampage/\|website=Today's Slapshot\|accessdate=19 July 2016}}

=Claimed via waivers=

class="wikitable"
Player	Previous team	Date claimed off waivers	Ref
Derek Grant \| Nashville Predators \| February 6, 2017 \|{{cite news\|title=Grant claimed off waivers, assigned to Rochester\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/grant-claimed-off-waivers-assigned-to-rochester/c-286486102\|accessdate=February 7, 2017\|work=NHL\|date=February 6, 2017}}

class="wikitable"

Player

Previous team

Date claimed off waivers

Ref

Derek Grant

| Nashville Predators

| February 6, 2017

|{{cite news|title=Grant claimed off waivers, assigned to Rochester|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/grant-claimed-off-waivers-assigned-to-rochester/c-286486102|accessdate=February 7, 2017|work=NHL|date=February 6, 2017}}

=Lost via waivers=

class="wikitable"
Player	New team	Date claimed off waivers	Ref
Derek Grant \| Nashville Predators \| January 11, 2017 \|{{cite news\|title=Preds Claim Derek Grant on Waivers from Buffalo\|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nashville-predators-claim-derek-grant-on-waivers-from-buffalo/c-285561680\|accessdate=January 11, 2017\|work=NHL\|date=January 11, 2017}}

class="wikitable"

Player

New team

Date claimed off waivers

Ref

Derek Grant

| Nashville Predators

| January 11, 2017

|{{cite news|title=Preds Claim Derek Grant on Waivers from Buffalo|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nashville-predators-claim-derek-grant-on-waivers-from-buffalo/c-285561680|accessdate=January 11, 2017|work=NHL|date=January 11, 2017}}

=Lost via retirement=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ddd;"

| Player

Ref

Matt Ellis

|[http://sabreshockeycentral.com/2016/10/18/matt-ellis-announces-retirement/ Matt Ellis announces retirement]

=Players released=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ddd;"

| Date

Player

Via

Ref

=Player signings=

class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50em; padding: 3;"
style="background:#ddd;" \| Date	Player	Contract terms (in U.S. dollars)	Ref
{{start date\|2016\|06\|29}}	Casey Nelson	2 years, $1.3 million	{{cite web\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=887866\|title=SABRES EXTEND NELSON\|work=nhl.com\|accessdate=June 29, 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|06\|30}}	Jake McCabe	3 years, $4.8 million	{{cite web\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888021\|title=SABRES RE-SIGN McCABE TO 3-YEAR DEAL\|work=nhl.com\|accessdate=July 5, 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|06\|30}}	Cole Schneider	1 year, $600,000	{{cite web\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888026\|title=SABRES RE-SIGN SCHNEIDER\|work=nhl.com\|accessdate=July 5, 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|07\|14}}	Marcus Foligno	1 year, $2.25 million	{{cite web\|url = https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/17077951/sabres-re-sign-restricted-freagent-marcus-foligno-1-year \| title = Sabres re-sign restricted free agent Marcus Foligno for 1 year \| work= ESPN.com \| publisher = Associated Press \| date= July 14, 2016 \| access-date = July 14, 2016}}{{cite web\|last1=Hoppe\|first1=Bill\|title=Sabres re-sign Marcus Foligno to 1-year deal\|url=http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-re-sign-marcus-foligno-1-year-deal/\|website=Buffalo Hockey Beat\|publisher=Olean Times Herald\|accessdate=15 July 2016\|date=14 July 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|07\|15}}	Alexander Nylander	3 years, entry-level contract	{{cite web\|title=SABRES INK NYLANDER TO ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL\|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=889486\|website=sabres.nhl.com\|accessdate=15 July 2016\|date=15 July 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|07\|16}}	Dan Catenacci	1 year, $575,000, two-way contract	{{cite web\|last=Hoppe\|first=Bill\|title = Sabres hire Tom Ward as assistant coach; Dan Catenacci re-signed\|url = http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-hire-tom-ward-assistant-coach-dan-catenacci-re-signed/ \| work = Buffalo Hockey Beat \|publisher=Olean Times Herald \| date = 16 July 2016 \| accessdate= 16 July 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|07\|17}}	Jason Kasdorf	2 years, $1.15 million, two-way contract	{{cite web\|last=Hoppe\|first=Bill\|url=http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-re-sign-jason-kasdorf-dan-catenacci/\|title=Sabres re-sign Jason Kasdorf, Dan Catenacci\|work=Buffalo Hockey Beat\|publisher=Olean Times Herald\|date=18 July 2016\|accessdate=17 July 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|09\|01}}	Zemgus Girgensons	1 year, $1.15 million	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-ink-girgensons-to-one-year-contract/c-892025\|title=SABRES INK GIRGENSONS TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT\|work=NHL.com\|date=11 October 2016\|accessdate=11 October 2016}}
{{start date\|2016\|10\|11}}	Rasmus Ristolainen	6 years, $32.4 million	{{cite news\|last=Hoppe\|first=Bill\|url=http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-sign-rasmus-ristolainen-6-year-contract/\|title=Sabres sign Rasmus Ristolainen to 6-year contract\|work=Bufalo Hockey Beat\|publisher=Olean Times Herald\|date=1 September 2016\|accessdate=28 May 2017}}
{{start date\|2017\|02\|06}}	Justin Falk	1 year, $650,000 contract extension	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-falk-to-1-year-extension/c-286482540\|title=Sabres sign Falk to 1-year extension\|work=Buffalo Sabres\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=6 February 2017\|accessdate=6 February 2017}}
{{start date\|2017\|04\|08}}	Sean Malone	2 years, $1.85 million entry-level contract	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-malone-to-entry-level-contract/c-288558752\|title=Sabres sign Malone to entry-level contract\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=April 8, 2017\|accessdate=April 9, 2017}}
{{start date\|2017\|04\|26}}	Devante Stephens	3 years, $2.3 million entry-level contract	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-devante-stephens/c-289108388\|title=Sabres sign Stephens to entry-level contract\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=April 26, 2017\|accessdate=June 6, 2017}}
{{start date\|2017\|05\|31}}	Jonas Johansson	3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-jonas-johansson/c-289689124\|title=Sabres sign Johansson to entry-level contract\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=May 31, 2017\|accessdate=June 6, 2017}}
{{start date\|2017\|06\|13}}	Linus Ullmark	2 years, $1.5 million	{{cite news\|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-ullmark-to-2-year-extension/c-289916892\|title=Sabres sign Ullmark to 2-year extension\|publisher=Buffalo Sabres\|date=June 13, 2017\|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}

Draft picks

Below are the Buffalo Sabres' selections at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 24–25, 2016 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.

class="wikitable"
Round ! # ! Player ! Pos ! Nationality ! College/Junior/Club team (League)
style="text-align:center"\| 1 \| style="text-align:center"\| 8 \| style="text-align:center"\| Alexander Nylander \| style="text-align:center"\| LW \| {{SWE}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 2 \| style="text-align:center"\| 33{{ref label\|Note1\|a\|a}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Rasmus Asplund \| style="text-align:center"\| C \| {{SWE}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Farjestad BK (SHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 3 \| style="text-align:center"\| 69 \| style="text-align:center"\| Cliff Pu \| style="text-align:center"\| C \| {{CAN}} \| style="text-align:center"\| London Knights (OHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 3 \| style="text-align:center"\| 86{{ref label\|Note1\|b\|b}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Casey Fitzgerald \| style="text-align:center"\| D \| {{USA}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Boston College Eagles (HE)
style="text-align:center"\| 4 \| style="text-align:center"\| 99 \| style="text-align:center"\| Brett Murray \| style="text-align:center"\| LW \| {{CAN}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 5 \| style="text-align:center"\| 129 \| style="text-align:center"\| Philip Nyberg \| style="text-align:center"\| D \| {{SWE}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Linköpings HC (SHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 5 \| style="text-align:center"\| 130{{ref label\|Note1\|c\|c}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Vojtech Budik \| style="text-align:center"\| D \| {{CZE}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 6 \| style="text-align:center"\| 159 \| style="text-align:center"\| Brandon Hagel \| style="text-align:center"\| LW \| {{CAN}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 7 \| style="text-align:center"\| 189 \| style="text-align:center"\| Austin Osmanski \| style="text-align:center"\| D \| {{USA}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
style="text-align:center"\| 7 \| style="text-align:center"\| 190{{ref label\|Note1\|d\|d}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Vasily Glotov \| style="text-align:center"\| C \| {{RUS}} \| style="text-align:center"\| Lvy St. Petersburg (MHL)

class="wikitable"

Round

! #

! Player

! Pos

! Nationality

! College/Junior/Club team (League)

style="text-align:center"| 1

| style="text-align:center"| 8

| style="text-align:center"| Alexander Nylander

| style="text-align:center"| LW

| {{SWE}}

| style="text-align:center"| Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

style="text-align:center"| 2

| style="text-align:center"| 33{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}

| style="text-align:center"| Rasmus Asplund

| style="text-align:center"| C

| {{SWE}}

| style="text-align:center"| Farjestad BK (SHL)

style="text-align:center"| 3

| style="text-align:center"| 69

| style="text-align:center"| Cliff Pu

| style="text-align:center"| C

| {{CAN}}

| style="text-align:center"| London Knights (OHL)

style="text-align:center"| 3

| style="text-align:center"| 86{{ref label|Note1|b|b}}

| style="text-align:center"| Casey Fitzgerald

| style="text-align:center"| D

| {{USA}}

| style="text-align:center"| Boston College Eagles (HE)

style="text-align:center"| 4

| style="text-align:center"| 99

| style="text-align:center"| Brett Murray

| style="text-align:center"| LW

| {{CAN}}

| style="text-align:center"| Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)

style="text-align:center"| 5

| style="text-align:center"| 129

| style="text-align:center"| Philip Nyberg

| style="text-align:center"| D

| {{SWE}}

| style="text-align:center"| Linköpings HC (SHL)

style="text-align:center"| 5

| style="text-align:center"| 130{{ref label|Note1|c|c}}

| style="text-align:center"| Vojtech Budik

| style="text-align:center"| D

| {{CZE}}

| style="text-align:center"| Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

style="text-align:center"| 6

| style="text-align:center"| 159

| style="text-align:center"| Brandon Hagel

| style="text-align:center"| LW

| {{CAN}}

| style="text-align:center"| Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

style="text-align:center"| 7

| style="text-align:center"| 189

| style="text-align:center"| Austin Osmanski

| style="text-align:center"| D

| {{USA}}

| style="text-align:center"| Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

style="text-align:center"| 7

| style="text-align:center"| 190{{ref label|Note1|d|d}}

| style="text-align:center"| Vasily Glotov

| style="text-align:center"| C

| {{RUS}}

| style="text-align:center"| Lvy St. Petersburg (MHL)

;Notes

{{ref label|Note1|a|a}} The Vancouver Canucks' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016 that sent Mark Pysyk, a second-round pick and St. Louis' third-round pick both in 2016 (38th and 89th overall) to Florida in exchange for Dmitry Kulikov and this pick.{{cite web|title=Sabres acquire Kulikov from Panthers|url=https://www.tsn.ca/sabres-acquire-kulikov-from-panthers-1.515338|date=June 25, 2016|accessdate=June 25, 2016}}

:Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 25, 2016 that sent Erik Gudbranson and the Islanders fifth-round pick in 2016 to Vancouver in exchange for Jared McCann, a fourth-round pick in 2016 and this pick.{{cite web|title=Panthers trade Gudbranson to Canucks for McCann|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-trade-erik-gudbranson-to-canucks/c-280805120|date=May 25, 2016|accessdate=May 25, 2016}}

The Buffalo Sabres' second-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a trade on June 25, 2016 that sent Dmitri Kulikov and Vancouver's second-round pick in 2016 (33rd overall) to Buffalo in exchange for Mark Pysyk, St. Louis' third-round pick in 2016 (89th overall) and this pick.
{{ref label|Note1|b|b}} The Dallas Stars' third-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on February 11, 2015 that sent Jhonas Enroth to Dallas in exchange for Anders Lindback and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=752945|title=Stars acquire goaltender Enroth from Sabres|publisher=National Hockey League|date=February 11, 2015|accessdate=February 11, 2015}} The condition – Buffalo will receive a third-round pick in 2016 if Enroth wins fewer than four playoff games for the Stars in 2015 – was converted on April 6, 2015 when the Stars were eliminated from playoff contention.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/dal-vs-sjs/2015/04/06/2014021189|title=With fate decided, Sharks fall short against Stars|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 6, 2015|access-date=April 9, 2015}}
{{ref label|Note1|c|c}} The Montreal Canadiens' fifth-round pick will go to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015 that sent Brian Flynn to Montreal in exchange for this pick.{{cite web|title=Canadiens acquire Flynn from Sabres|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/canadiens-acquire-flynn-sabres|date=March 2, 2015|accessdate=March 2, 2015}}
{{ref label|Note1|d|d}} The Montreal Canadiens' seventh-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015 that sent Torrey Mitchell to Montreal in exchange for Jack Nevins and this pick.{{cite web|title=Mitchell traded to Canadiens by Sabres|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=756164|date=March 2, 2015|accessdate=March 2, 2015}}

References

Category:Buffalo Sabres seasons

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo