2015–16 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2015–16 Buffalo Sabres season was the 46th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1] The season began its regular games on October 8, 2015 against the Ottawa Senators with a 3–1 loss.[2]

2015–16 Buffalo Sabres
Division7th Atlantic
Conference14th Eastern
2015–16 record35–36–11
Home record16–19–6
Road record19–17–5
Goals for201
Goals against222
Team information
General managerTim Murray
CoachDan Bylsma
CaptainBrian Gionta
Alternate captainsTyler Ennis
Josh Gorges
Ryan O'Reilly
ArenaFirst Niagara Center
Minor league affiliate(s)Rochester Americans (AHL)
Elmira Jackals (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsJack Eichel (24)
AssistsRyan O'Reilly (39)
PointsRyan O'Reilly (60)
Penalty minutesEvander Kane (91)
Plus/minusJake McCabe (+6)
WinsChad Johnson (22)
Goals against averageChad Johnson (2.36)

This was originally to be the final season in which Rick Jeanneret serves as the team's play-by-play announcer; he has been in that position since the team's second season in 1971. As in recent years, he will rotate with Dan Dunleavy in the position.[3] However, Jeanneret agreed to continue indefinitely as part-time announcer as long as his health allows it.[4]

Off-season

The Sabres fired head coach Ted Nolan on April 12, 2015, amid poor on-ice record and disagreements with general manager Tim Murray. The team then made overtures to Mike Babcock, the most prominent head coach on the free agent market; despite a record-setting offer, Babcock instead sought (and received) the head coaching position for the Sabres' division and regional rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Sabres failing to land Babcock, the team's second choice, Dan Bylsma, was subsequently hired on May 28. Bylsma had spent the 2014-15 season out of professional hockey after spending the previous five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Sabres held the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft after finishing last in the league in 2014-15 and losing the draft lottery to the Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres selected Jack Eichel with their pick.

The Sabres fired President Ted Black on July 27, 2015, and replaced him with Russ Brandon. Brandon also serves as President of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League and will continue in that capacity in addition to his duties with the Sabres.

Training camp

As in previous years, the Sabres held a summer development camp from July 6–11, 2015. The highlight of the camp was the "blue and gold" scrimmage on July 10; the scrimmage, which pit a "gold" team led by 2015 second overall pick Jack Eichel against a "blue" team led by 2014 second overall pick Sam Reinhart, drew 17,115 paying fans, nearly double the crowd that attended the 2014 event.[5] An additional 1,500 fans attended the less-publicized 3-on-3 scrimmage, which closed out the camp on July 11.[6]

The Sabres did not participate in the Detroit Red Wings' annual prospect tournament in Traverse City, Michigan as they have in recent years and instead launched their own "Prospect Challenge" beginning this season. For the first year, the Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins prospects faced each other in a single round-robin mini-tournament.[7] Buffalo won both of their games and the tournament.[8]


Standings

Atlantic Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y Florida Panthers 82 47 26 9 40 239 203 +36 103
2 x Tampa Bay Lightning 82 46 31 5 43 227 201 +26 97
3 x Detroit Red Wings 82 41 30 11 39 211 224 13 93
4 Boston Bruins 82 42 31 9 38 240 230 +10 93
5 Ottawa Senators 82 38 35 9 32 236 247 11 85
6 Montreal Canadiens 82 38 38 6 33 221 236 15 82
7 Buffalo Sabres 82 35 36 11 33 201 222 21 81
8 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 29 42 11 23 198 246 48 69
Source: National Hockey League
x Clinched playoff spot; y Clinched division.
Eastern Conference Wild Card
Pos Div Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 ME x New York Islanders 82 45 27 10 40 232 216 +16 100
2 ME x Philadelphia Flyers 82 41 27 14 38 214 218 4 96
3 AT Boston Bruins 82 42 31 9 38 240 230 +10 93
4 ME Carolina Hurricanes 82 35 31 16 33 198 226 28 86
5 AT Ottawa Senators 82 38 35 9 32 236 247 11 85
6 ME New Jersey Devils 82 38 36 8 36 184 208 24 84
7 AT Montreal Canadiens 82 38 38 6 33 221 236 15 82
8 AT Buffalo Sabres 82 35 36 11 33 201 222 21 81
9 ME Columbus Blue Jackets 82 34 40 8 28 219 252 33 76
10 AT Toronto Maple Leafs 82 29 42 11 23 198 246 48 69
Source: National Hockey League
x Clinched playoff spot.

Schedule and results

Preseason

Regular season

2015–16 Game Log[10]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player stats

Final stats

Skaters

Goaltenders

Regular Season[12]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Chad Johnson45402591:05221641022.361270.9201020
Robin Lehner21211164:05595482.47634.9241018
Linus Ullmark20201130:408102492.60565.9130000
Jason Kasdorf1160:0001044.0030.8670000

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.

Awards and honours

Awards

Milestones


Transactions

The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 season:

Trades

Date
Details
Ref
June 26, 2015 (2015-06-26) To Ottawa Senators
NYI's 1st-round pick in 2015
To Buffalo Sabres
Robin Lehner
David Legwand
[15]
June 26, 2015 (2015-06-26) To Colorado Avalanche
Nikita Zadorov
Mikhail Grigorenko
J. T. Compher
2nd-round pick in 2015
To Buffalo Sabres
Ryan O'Reilly
Jamie McGinn
[16]
February 23, 2016 (2016-02-23) To Washington Capitals
Mike Weber[Note 1]
To Buffalo Sabres
3rd-round pick in 2017
[17]
February 27, 2016 (2016-02-27) To Ottawa Senators
Phil Varone
Jason Akeson
Jerome Leduc
To Buffalo Sabres
Cole Schneider
Eric O'Dell
Alex Guptill
Michael Sdao
[18]
February 29, 2016 (2016-02-29) To Anaheim Ducks
Jamie McGinn
To Buffalo Sabres
conditional 3rd-round pick in 2016[Note 2]
[19]
June 20, 2016 (2016-06-20) To Nashville Predators
MIN's 3rd-round pick in 2016
To Buffalo Sabres
Jimmy Vesey (rights)
[20]
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