2012–13 Buffalo Sabres season
2012–13 Buffalo Sabres | |
---|---|
Division | 5th Northeast |
Conference | 12th Eastern |
2012–13 record | 21–21–6 |
Home record | 11–10–3 |
Road record | 10–11–3 |
Goals for | 125 |
Goals against | 143 |
Team information | |
General manager | Darcy Regier |
Coach | Lindy Ruff (Oct.–Feb.) Ron Rolston (interim, Feb.–Apr.) |
Captain | Jason Pominville (Oct.–Apr.) Vacant (Apr.) |
Alternate captains | Steve Ott (Apr.) Drew Stafford Thomas Vanek |
Arena | First Niagara Center |
Average attendance | 18,970 (99.5%)[1] |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Thomas Vanek (20) |
Assists | Thomas Vanek (21) and Tyler Ennis (21) |
Points | Thomas Vanek (41) |
Penalty minutes | Steve Ott (93) |
Plus/minus | Jochen Hecht, Christian Ehrhoff, and Brian Flynn (+6) |
Wins | Ryan Miller (17) |
Goals against average | Jhonas 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.
Player | New team | League |
---|---|---|
Thomas Vanek | Graz 99ers | ![]() |
Tyler Ennis | SCL Tigers | ![]() |
Andrej Sekera | Slovan Bratislava | ![]() |
Christian Ehrhoff | Krefeld Pinguine | ![]() |
Jhonas Enroth | Huddinge IK | ![]() |
Mike Weber | Lorenskog | ![]() |
Jason Pominville | Adler Mannheim | ![]() |
Jochen Hecht | Adler Mannheim | ![]() |
Alexander Sulzer | ERC Ingolstadt | ![]() |
Tyler Myers | Klagenfurt AC | ![]() |
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
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 |
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division
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 |
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division; z – Clinched conference
Schedule and results
Original regular season schedule
2012–13 Original Schedule (For reference only) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October
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November
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December
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January
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February
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March
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April
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2012–2013 Schedule |
Revised regular season schedule
2012–13 Game Log Overall: 21–21–6 (Home: 11–10–3; Away: 10–11–3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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January: 3–3–1 (Home: 1–1–1; Road: 2–2–0)
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February: 5–9–0 (Home: 2–5–0; Road: 3–4–0)
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March: 5–5–5 (Home: 3–1–2 ; Road: 2–4–3)
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April: 8–4–0 (Home: 5–3–0; Road: 3–1–0)
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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
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
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
|
|
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 |
Free agents signed
| Free agents lost
|
Claimed via waivers
| Lost via waivers
|
Lost via retirement
Player signings
|
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 | ![]() | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
1 | 14[a] | Zemgus Girgensons | C | ![]() | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) |
2 | 44[b] | Jake McCabe | D | ![]() | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
3 | 73 | Justin Kea | C | ![]() | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) |
5 | 133 | Logan Nelson | C | ![]() | Victoria Royals (WHL) |
6 | 163 | Linus Ullmark | G | ![]() | Modo Hockey Jr. (J20 SuperElit) |
7 | 193 | Brady Austin | D | ![]() | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
7 | 204[c] | Judd Peterson | C/RW | ![]() | 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
- ^ "2012–2013 NHL Attendance – National Hockey League – ESPN". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
- ^ "Jeanneret receives Foster Hewitt Memorieal Award". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ "Changes coming to Sabres Broadcast in 2012-13 2012–13". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- ^ Pergament, Alan (June 13, 2012). Sabres make right moves with broadcast team. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ Reiman, Liz. Jeanneret out for Sabres game #2. WIVB-TV. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
- ^ Mansfield, Aaron (July 12, 2012). "Sabres to erect French Connection statue". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Vogl, John (October 2, 2012). "Some Sabres taking their skills abroad". Buffalo News. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ Allen, Kevin (September 21, 2012). "Two more NHL players heading to Switzerland". USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Sabres' Ehrhoff to Germany for NHL lockout". Sport Illustrated. September 18, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ Vesey, Steve. Enroth signs two-game deal in Sweden. WIVB-TV. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ Hoppe, Bill (November 16, 2012). Weber signs with Norwegian club. Olean Times Herald via BuffaloHockeyBeat.com. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hoppe, Bill (December 11, 2012). Hecht heading to Germany with goal of NHL return. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ Harrington, Mike (January 11, 2013). Myers' ankle passes early Sabres workout test. The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ^ "BEYOND BLUE & GOLD". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "RUFF RELIEVED OF DUTIES". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ "Rangers' blowout victory eliminates Sabres". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
- ^ "2012-13 NHL Summary".
- ^ "Penguins-Bruins game postponed to Saturday". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ "2012–2013 Regular Season Stats – Points – Buffalo Sabres – Statistics". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sabres stock up on centers in NHL draft
- ^ SABRES ACQUIRE OTT, PARDY FROM DALLAS IN EXCHANGE FOR ROY
- ^ BRENNAN DEALT TO PANTHERS
- ^ "SABRES ACQUIRE TWO DRAFT PICKS FROM ST. LOUIS BLUES FOR DEFENSEMAN LEOPOLD". Sabres.NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ SABRES ACQUIRE TWO DRAFT PICKS FROM LOS ANGELES KINGS FOR DEFENSEMAN REGEHR
- ^ SABRES ACQUIRE LARSSON, HACKETT & DRAFT PICKS FROM WILD
- ^ SABRES AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD JOHN SCOTT
- ^ a b c "SABRES SIGN PORTER, MANCARI; RE-SIGN LEGGIO". NHL.com. Sabres.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b SABRES SIGN TARNASKY, RE-SIGN BRENNAN
- ^ SABRES SIGN FORWARD TIM SCHALLER
- ^ SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN CHAD RUHWEDEL
- ^ Szczechura Thanks Fans for Support
- ^ a b "Two Amerks D-men reportedly sign in Europe". WGR550.com. WGR550.com. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ^ Boyes Agrees To Terms
- ^ "Porin Ässät - Uutiset - Kaksi kovaa täsmähankintaa hyökkäykseen". Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
- ^ Islanders Claim Finley off Waivers
- ^ "SABRES SIGN GOALTENDER LIEUWEN TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ^ "SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN ALEXANDER SULZER". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ^ "ARMIA AGREES TO TERMS ON ENTRY LEVEL CONTRACT". Sabres.com. NHL.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ GIRGENSONS, SABRES AGREE TO TERMS ON ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
- ^ SABRES SIGN GRIGORENKO TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
- ^ SCHIESTEL SIGNS ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY DEAL
- ^ SABRES, KALETA AGREE ON MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT
- ^ SABRES SIGN BIEGA TO ONE-YEAR DEAL
- ^ SABRES SIGN ENNIS TO TWO-YEAR DEAL
- ^ HECHT AGREES TO TERMS ON ONE-YEAR DEAL
- ^ "SABRES SIGN SCOTT TO ONE-YEAR EXTENSION – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. May 20, 2013.
- ^ "SABRES SIGN FORWARD COLIN JACOBS – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. May 20, 2013.
- ^ "ENROTH SIGNS TWO-YEAR EXTENSION – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. June 20, 2013.
- ^ "WEBER SIGNS MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION – Buffalo Sabres – News". Buffalo Sabres. June 27, 2013.
- ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ "2012 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
,