2012–13 Buffalo Sabres season

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2012–13 Buffalo Sabres
Division5th Northeast
Conference12th Eastern
2012–13 record21–21–6
Home record11–10–3
Road record10–11–3
Goals for125
Goals against143
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff (Oct.–Feb.)
Ron Rolston Interim (Feb.–Apr.)
CaptainJason Pominville (Oct.–Apr.)
Vacant (Apr.)
Alternate captainsSteve Ott (Apr.)
Drew Stafford
Thomas Vanek
ArenaFirst Niagara Center
Average attendance18,970 (99.5%)[1]
Team leaders
GoalsThomas Vanek (20)
AssistsThomas Vanek (21) and Tyler Ennis (21)
PointsThomas Vanek (41)
Penalty minutesSteve Ott (93)
Plus/minusJochen Hecht, Christian Ehrhoff, and Brian Flynn (+6)
WinsRyan Miller (17)
Goals against averageJhonas Enroth (2.60)

The 2012–13 Buffalo Sabres season was the 43rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[2] The regular season was reduced from its usual 82 games to 48 due to a lockout. The season was the 15th and final season coached by Lindy Ruff, who was fired after a 6–10–1 start. The Sabres failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Off-season[]

Broadcast changes[]

On June 8, 2012, the Sabres announced that Rick Jeanneret, the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in NHL history,[3] would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame; Jeanneret will also receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. Rob Ray will replace Harry Neale as the full-time color commentator for all Sabres game broadcasts. Neale will join Mike Robitaille, whose role will remain unchanged, and Brian Duff, who will take over as full-time studio host, in the studio.[4] Kevin Sylvester and Danny Gare, who served as the alternate broadcast team in 2011–12, were not originally going to reprise their roles in 2012–13; Sylvester instead revived the Hockey Hotline, a long-discontinued Sabres call-in talk show, for WGR.[5] However, due to Jeanneret suffering an illness, Sylvester was pressed into service to call play-by-play for the first four games of the regular season.[6]

Alumni Plaza[]

On July 12, 2012, the Sabres announced that the plaza adjacent to First Niagara Center would be re-branded Alumni Plaza. On October 12, 2012, a bronze French Connection statue was added to the plaza.[7] Other plans included plaques with the name of every player to play a game for the team and fans having to opportunity to buy engraved bricks.

Lockout[]

On September 13, 2012, Buffalo Sabres owner Terrence Pegula, along with all 28 other league ownership groups (the League still collectively owns the Phoenix Coyotes), authorized NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to lock-out the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) upon the expiration of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on September 15.[8] The lockout ended at 4:45 am EST on January 6, 2013, lasting 113 days.[9] The lockout reduced the regular season from 82 to 48 games.

Overseas Sabres[]

After the announced lockout, players from the team began to sign contracts to play in Europe until resumption of NHL play.

Overseas Sabres
Player New team League
Thomas Vanek Graz 99ers Austria Austrian Hockey League[10]
Tyler Ennis SCL Tigers Switzerland Swiss National League[11]
Andrej Sekera Slovan Bratislava Slovakia Kontinental Hockey League[12]
Christian Ehrhoff Krefeld Pinguine Germany Deutsche Eishockey Liga[13]
Jhonas Enroth Huddinge IK Sweden Swedish Division 1[14]
Mike Weber Lorenskog Norway GET-ligaen.[15]
Jason Pominville Adler Mannheim Germany Deutsche Eishockey Liga[16]
Jochen Hecht Adler Mannheim Germany Deutsche Eishockey Liga[17]
Alexander Sulzer ERC Ingolstadt Germany Deutsche Eishockey Liga
Tyler Myers Klagenfurt AC Austria Austrian Hockey League[18]

Beyond Blue and Gold[]

During the abbreviated training camp the team released the first episodes in a new web-series called Beyond Blue and Gold. The series will run through the season with the goal to give fans an "all-access pass to the entire Sabres organization throughout the entire 2012–13 NHL season."[19][20]

Regular season[]

After the lockout, the Sabres had an abbreviated one-week training camp. During the camp, the Sabres' first pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Mikhail Grigorenko, played well on a line with off-season trade acquisitions Steve Ott and Ville Leino. At the end of the camp, Grigorenko was put on the opening day roster.[21] The Sabres were given five games to decide whether to keep him on the roster (and thus pay him a full season's salary) or send him back to his junior team, the Quebec Remparts; in the end, Grigorenko was kept on the roster after Leino suffered an injury. After several weeks of mediocre play and Leino's return to the active roster, Grigorenko returned to the Remparts. He remained with the Remparts until their elimination from the QMJHL playoffs, whereupon he returned to the Sabres.

After an unsuccessful 6–10–1 start, general manager Darcy Regier announced the firing of head coach Lindy Ruff[22] Ruff coached the team since 1997 and was the team's most successful coach. It was further announced that Ron Rolston, who was the current coach of the Rochester Americans, would replace Ruff on an interim basis. The Sabres performed better under Rolston but were nonetheless eliminated from playoff contention following an 8–4 home loss to the New York Rangers.[23]

The Sabres allowed the most shorthanded goals in the NHL, with seven.[24]

Playoffs[]

The Sabres did not qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Standings[]

Northeast Division
Pos Team
 GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Montreal Canadiens 48 29 14 5 26 149 126 +23 63
2 x – Boston Bruins 48 28 14 6 24 131 109 +22 62
3 x – Toronto Maple Leafs 48 26 17 5 26 145 133 +12 57
4 x – Ottawa Senators 48 25 17 6 21 116 104 +12 56
5 Buffalo Sabres 48 21 21 6 14 125 143 −18 48
Source: National Hockey League
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division
Eastern Conference
Pos Div Team
 GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 AT z – Pittsburgh Penguins 48 36 12 0 33 165 119 +46 72
2 NE y – Montreal Canadiens 48 29 14 5 26 149 126 +23 63
3 SE y – Washington Capitals 48 27 18 3 24 149 130 +19 57
4 NE x – Boston Bruins 48 28 14 6 24 131 109 +22 62
5 NE x – Toronto Maple Leafs 48 26 17 5 26 145 133 +12 57
6 AT x – New York Rangers 48 26 18 4 22 130 112 +18 56
7 NE x – Ottawa Senators 48 25 17 6 21 116 104 +12 56
8 AT x – New York Islanders 48 24 17 7 20 139 139 0 55
9 SE Winnipeg Jets 48 24 21 3 22 128 144 −16 51
10 AT Philadelphia Flyers 48 23 22 3 22 133 141 −8 49
11 AT New Jersey Devils 48 19 19 10 17 112 129 −17 48
12 NE Buffalo Sabres 48 21 21 6 14 115 143 −28 48
13 SE Carolina Hurricanes 48 19 25 4 18 128 160 −32 42
14 SE Tampa Bay Lightning 48 18 26 4 17 148 150 −2 40
15 SE Florida Panthers 48 15 27 6 12 112 171 −59 36
Source: National Hockey League
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division; z – Clinched conference

Schedule and results[]

Original regular season schedule[]

2012–13 Original Schedule (For reference only)
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
2012–2013 Schedule

Revised regular season schedule[]

2012–13 Game Log
Overall: 21–21–6 (Home: 11–10–3; Away: 10–11–3)
January: 3–3–1 (Home: 1–1–1; Road: 2–2–0)
February: 5–9–0 (Home: 2–5–0; Road: 3–4–0)
March: 5–5–5 (Home: 3–1–2 ; Road: 2–4–3)
April: 8–4–0 (Home: 5–3–0; Road: 3–1–0)
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics[]

Final regular season stats[26]

Skaters

*Totals include goaltenders (G/A/Pts/PIM) and bench minors (PIM)

Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Ryan Miller 40 39 2302:14 17 17 5 108 2.81 1270 .915 0 0 0 2
Jhonas Enroth 12 9 623:26 4 4 1 27 2.60 332 .919 1 0 0 0
Totals 48 2925:40 21 21 6 135 2.77 1602 .916 1 0 0 2

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Sabres. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records[]

Awards[]

Regular Season
Player Award Awarded
Thomas Vanek NHL Third Star of the Month February 1, 2013[27]
Thomas Vanek NHL First Star of the Week February 4, 2013[28]


Milestones[]

Final roster[]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
10 Germany Christian Ehrhoff D L 30 2011 Moers, West Germany
63 Canada Tyler Ennis C/LW L 23 2008 Edmonton, Alberta
1 Sweden Jhonas Enroth G L 24 2006 Stockholm, Sweden
65 United States Brian Flynn RW R 24 2012 Lynnfield, Massachusetts
82 Canada Marcus Foligno LW L 21 2009 Buffalo, New York
42 United States Nathan Gerbe LW L 25 2005 Oxford, Michigan
25 Russia Mikhail Grigorenko C L 18 2012 Khabarovsk, Russia
55 Germany Jochen Hecht C R 35 2002 Mannheim, West Germany
19 Canada Cody Hodgson C R 23 2012 Toronto, Ontario
36 United States Patrick Kaleta RW R 26 2004 Buffalo, New York
23 Finland Ville Leino LW L 29 2011 Savonlinna, Finland
30 United States Ryan Miller G L 32 1999 East Lansing, Michigan
57 Canada Tyler Myers D R 23 2008 Katy, Texas
9 Canada Steve Ott (A) C L 30 2012 Summerside, Prince Edward Island
27 Canada Adam Pardy D L 29 2012 Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador
12 United States Kevin Porter LW/C L 27 2012 Detroit, Michigan
53 Canada Mark Pysyk D R 21 2010 Sherwood Park, Alberta
5 United States Chad Ruhwedel D R 22 2013 San Diego, California
32 Canada John Scott LW/D L 30 2012 St. Catharines, Ontario
44 Slovakia Andrej Sekera D L 26 2004 Bojnice, Czechoslovakia
21 United States Drew Stafford (A) RW R 27 2004 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
52 Germany Alexander Sulzer D R 28 2012 Kaufbeuren, West Germany
26 Austria Thomas Vanek (A) LW R 29 2003 Baden bei Wien, Austria
6 United States Mike Weber D L 25 2006 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Transactions[]

The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2012–13 season:

Trades[]

Date Details
June 22, 2012[29] To Calgary Flames
1st-round pick (21st overall) in 2012
2nd-round pick (42nd overall) in 2012 		To Buffalo Sabres
1st-round pick (14th overall) in 2012
July 2, 2012[30] To Dallas Stars
Derek Roy 		To Buffalo Sabres
Steve Ott
Adam Pardy
March 15, 2013[31] To Florida Panthers
T. J. Brennan 		To Buffalo Sabres
5th-round pick in 2013
March 30, 2013[32] To St. Louis Blues
Jordan Leopold 		To Buffalo Sabres
2nd-round pick in 2013
Conditional 5th-round pick in 2013[a]
April 1, 2013[33] To Los Angeles Kings
Robyn Regehr 		To Buffalo Sabres
2nd-round pick in 2014
2nd-round pick in 2015
April 3, 2013[34] To Minnesota Wild
Jason Pominville
4th-round pick in 2014 		To Buffalo Sabres
Matt Hackett
Johan Larsson
1st-round pick in 2013
2nd-round pick in 2014

Draft picks[]

See also: List of Buffalo Sabres draft picks

Buffalo Sabres' picks at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 22 & 23, 2012.[60]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 12 Mikhail Grigorenko C  Russia Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
1 14[a] Zemgus Girgensons C  Latvia Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
2 44[b] Jake McCabe D  United States University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
3 73 C  Canada Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
5 133 Logan Nelson C  United States Victoria Royals (WHL)
6 163 Linus Ullmark G  Sweden Modo Hockey Jr. (J20 SuperElit)
7 193 Brady Austin D  Canada Belleville Bulls (OHL)
7 204[c] C/RW  United States The Marshall School (USHS-MN)
Draft notes[61]
  • a The Calgary Flames's first-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a June 22, 2012, trade that sent a 2012 first-round pick and a 2012 second-round pick to the Flames in exchange for this pick.
  • The Buffalo Sabres' second-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as a result of a June 22, 2012, trade that sent a 2012 first-round pick to the Sabres in exchange for a 2012 first-round pick this pick.
  • b The Calgary Flames' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a June 25, 2011, trade that sent Chris Butler and Paul Byron to the Flames in exchange for Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik and this pick.
  • The Buffalo Sabres' fourth-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a June 29, 2011, trade that sent Christian Ehrhoff to the Sabres in exchange for this pick.
  • c The Chicago Blackhawks' seventh-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as a result of a June 29, 2011, trade that sent Steve Montador to the Blackhawks in exchange for this pick.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "2012–2013 NHL Attendance – National Hockey League – ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  2. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  3. ^ "Jeanneret receives Foster Hewitt Memorieal Award". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  4. ^ "Changes coming to Sabres Broadcast in 2012-13 2012–13". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  5. ^ Pergament, Alan (June 13, 2012). Sabres make right moves with broadcast team. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  6. ^ Reiman, Liz. Jeanneret out for Sabres game #2. WIVB-TV. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  7. ^ Mansfield, Aaron (July 12, 2012). "Sabres to erect French Connection statue". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  8. ^ Vogl, John (September 15, 2012). "With no last-minute talks planned, NHL set to shut down". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  9. ^ Hackel, Stu (January 6, 2013). "Tentative deal reached to end lockout". Time Inc. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  10. ^ Vogl, John (October 2, 2012). "Some Sabres taking their skills abroad". Buffalo News. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  11. ^ Allen, Kevin (September 21, 2012). "Two more NHL players heading to Switzerland". USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  12. ^ "Sekera becomes third Sabres player to sign with European team". Buffalo News. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  13. ^ "Sabres' Ehrhoff to Germany for NHL lockout". Sport Illustrated. September 18, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  14. ^ Vesey, Steve. Enroth signs two-game deal in Sweden. WIVB-TV. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  15. ^ Hoppe, Bill (November 16, 2012). Weber signs with Norwegian club. Olean Times Herald via BuffaloHockeyBeat.com. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  16. ^ Vogl, John (November 30, 2012). Sabres' Pominville 'just wants to play,' says timing is right to head to Germany Archived December 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  17. ^ Hoppe, Bill (December 11, 2012). Hecht heading to Germany with goal of NHL return. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  18. ^ Harrington, Mike (January 11, 2013). Myers' ankle passes early Sabres workout test. The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  19. ^ "BEYOND BLUE & GOLD". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  20. ^ Przybyla, Kathryn. "Sabres debut new web-series: 'Beyond Blue and Gold' – VIDEO". Buffalo.com. Buffalo.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  21. ^ Vogl, John (January 18, 2013). "It's official: Grigorenko makes roster for opener". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  22. ^ "RUFF RELIEVED OF DUTIES". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  23. ^ "Rangers' blowout victory eliminates Sabres". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  24. ^ "2012-13 NHL Summary".
  25. ^ "Penguins-Bruins game postponed to Saturday". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  26. ^ "2012–2013 Regular Season Stats – Points – Buffalo Sabres – Statistics". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  27. ^ Vogl, John (February 1, 2013). "Sabres' Vanek earns NHL's Third Star of the Month". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  28. ^ Vogl, John (February 4, 2013). "Vanek named NHL's First Star of the Week". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  29. ^ Sabres stock up on centers in NHL draft
  30. ^ SABRES ACQUIRE OTT, PARDY FROM DALLAS IN EXCHANGE FOR ROY
  31. ^ BRENNAN DEALT TO PANTHERS
  32. ^ "SABRES ACQUIRE TWO DRAFT PICKS FROM ST. LOUIS BLUES FOR DEFENSEMAN LEOPOLD". Sabres.NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  33. ^ SABRES ACQUIRE TWO DRAFT PICKS FROM LOS ANGELES KINGS FOR DEFENSEMAN REGEHR
  34. ^ SABRES ACQUIRE LARSSON, HACKETT & DRAFT PICKS FROM WILD
  35. ^ SABRES AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD JOHN SCOTT
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c "SABRES SIGN PORTER, MANCARI; RE-SIGN LEGGIO". NHL.com. Sabres.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b SABRES SIGN TARNASKY, RE-SIGN BRENNAN
  38. ^ SABRES SIGN FORWARD TIM SCHALLER
  39. ^ SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN CHAD RUHWEDEL
  40. ^ Szczechura Thanks Fans for Support
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b "Two Amerks D-men reportedly sign in Europe". WGR550.com. WGR550.com. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  42. ^ Boyes Agrees To Terms
  43. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  44. ^ Islanders Claim Finley off Waivers
  45. ^ "SABRES SIGN GOALTENDER LIEUWEN TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  46. ^ "SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN ALEXANDER SULZER". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  47. ^ "ARMIA AGREES TO TERMS ON ENTRY LEVEL CONTRACT". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  48. ^ Vogl, John (June 16, 2012). "Reports: Sabres sign Armia, first-round pick in 2011". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  49. ^ GIRGENSONS, SABRES AGREE TO TERMS ON ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
  50. ^ SABRES SIGN GRIGORENKO TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
  51. ^ SCHIESTEL SIGNS ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY DEAL
  52. ^ SABRES, KALETA AGREE ON MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT
  53. ^ SABRES SIGN BIEGA TO ONE-YEAR DEAL
  54. ^ SABRES SIGN ENNIS TO TWO-YEAR DEAL
  55. ^ HECHT AGREES TO TERMS ON ONE-YEAR DEAL
  56. ^ "SABRES SIGN SCOTT TO ONE-YEAR EXTENSION – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. May 20, 2013.
  57. ^ "SABRES SIGN FORWARD COLIN JACOBS – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. May 20, 2013.
  58. ^ "ENROTH SIGNS TWO-YEAR EXTENSION – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. June 20, 2013.
  59. ^ "WEBER SIGNS MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. June 27, 2013.
  60. ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  61. ^ "2012 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
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