2018–19 Buffalo Sabres season explained
The 2018–19 Buffalo Sabres season was the 49th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1]
After experiencing a ten-game winning streak in November that put them atop the NHL standings, the Sabres regressed sharply the rest of the season and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on March 23, 2019, after suffering a 7–4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens,[2] joining the 2016–17 Philadelphia Flyers as the only teams in NHL history to win 10 consecutive games and be eliminated from playoff contention.
With the Carolina Hurricanes clinching a playoff berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Sabres became the team with the longest active postseason appearance drought in the NHL at eight consecutive seasons,[3] about 1.5 years after their football counterparts, the Buffalo Bills, ended what was the longest active postseason appearance drought in the NFL at 17 consecutive seasons.[4] [5] On April 7, 2019, the Sabres fired Phil Housley,[6] who became the fifth head coach to be fired since the Pegulas bought the team from Tom Golisano in February 2011.[7] [8]
Schedule and results
Preseason
The preseason schedule was published on June 15, 2018.[9]
2018 preseason game log: 3–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 2–2–0) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Recap |
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1 | September 17 | Buffalo | 4–1 | Columbus | | | 9,845 | 1–0–0 | Recap |
2 | September 18 | Pittsburgh | 2–3 | Buffalo | | | 15,602 | 2–0–0 | Recap |
3 | September 21 | Buffalo | 3–5 | Toronto | | Ullmark | 18,833 | 2–1–0 | Recap |
4 | September 22 | Toronto | 3–2 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 17,624 | 2–2–0 | Recap |
5 | September 25 | Columbus | 4–2 | Buffalo | | | – | 2–3–0 | Recap |
6 | September 26 | Buffalo | 1–5 | Pittsburgh | | Ullmark | 16,516 | 2–4–0 | Recap |
7 | September 28 | Buffalo | 5–4 | NY Islanders | | Hutton | – | 3–4–0 | Recap |
Notes: Game was played at Clinton Arena in Clinton, New York. Game was played at Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ontario. | |
Regular season
The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.[10]
2018–19 game log |
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October: 6–4–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 3–2–1) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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1 | October 4 | | 4–0 | Buffalo | | | 19,070 | 0–1–0 | 0 | Recap | 2 | October 6 | | 1–3 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 16,824 | 1–1–0 | 2 | Recap | 3 | October 8 | | 2–4 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 16,004 | 2–1–0 | 4 | Recap | 4 | October 11 | | 6–1 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 15,396 | 2–2–0 | 4 | Recap | 5 | October 13 | Buffalo | 3–0 | | | | 15,304 | 3–2–0 | 6 | Recap | 6 | October 16 | Buffalo | 1–4 | | | Hutton | 18,321 | 3–3–0 | 6 | Recap | 7 | October 18 | Buffalo | 1–5 | | | Hutton | 17,389 | 3–4–0 | 6 | Recap | 8 | October 20 | Buffalo | 5–1 | | | Ullmark | 18,230 | 4–4–0 | 8 | Recap | 9 | October 21 | Buffalo | 4–2 | | | Hutton | 17,174 | 5–4–0 | 10 | Recap | 10 | October 25 | | 3–4 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 16,112 | 6–4–0 | 12 | Recap | 11 | October 27 | Buffalo | 4–5 | | OT | Ullmark | 15,642 | 6–4–1 | 13 | Recap | 12 | October 30 | | 2–1 | Buffalo | OT | Hutton | 15,196 | 6–4–2 | 14 | Recap | |
|
November: 11–3–1 (Home: 6–0–0 ; Road: 5–3–1) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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13 | November 1 | Buffalo | 2–4 | | | | 12,587 | 6–5–2 | 14 | Recap | 14 | November 3 | | 2–9 | Buffalo | | | 17,881 | 7–5–2 | 16 | Recap | 15 | November 4 | Buffalo | 1–3 | | | Hutton | 16,904 | 7–6–2 | 16 | Recap | 16 | November 8 | Buffalo | 6–5 | | OT | Hutton | 20,488 | 8–6–2 | 18 | Recap | 17 | November 10 | | 3–4 | Buffalo | SO | Hutton | 17,541 | 9–6–2 | 20 | Recap | 18 | November 13 | | 1–2 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 15,833 | 10–6–2 | 22 | Recap | 19 | November 16 | Buffalo | 2–1 | | SO | Hutton | 15,321 | 11–6–2 | 24 | Recap | 20 | November 17 | Buffalo | 3–2 | | | Ullmark | 18,947 | 12–6–2 | 26 | Recap | 21 | November 19 | Buffalo | 5–4 | | OT | Hutton | 18,618 | 13–6–2 | 28 | Recap | 22 | November 21 | | 2–5 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 19,070 | 14–6–2 | 30 | Recap | 23 | November 23 | | 2–3 | Buffalo | OT | Hutton | 19,070 | 15–6–2 | 32 | Recap | 24 | November 24 | Buffalo | 3–2 | | SO | Ullmark | 19,515 | 16–6–2 | 34 | Recap | 25 | November 27 | | 2–3 | Buffalo | OT | Hutton | 19,070 | 17–6–2 | 36 | Recap | 26 | November 29 | Buffalo | 4–5 | | | Hutton | 19,092 | 17–7–2 | 36 | Recap | 27 | November 30 | Buffalo | 2–3 | | OT | Ullmark | 12,179 | 17–7–3 | 37 | Recap | |
|
December: 4–6–3 (Home: 3–3–2 ; Road: 1–3–1) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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28 | December 3 | Buffalo | 1–2 | | | | 17,311 | 17–8–3 | 37 | Recap | 29 | December 4 | | 4–3 | Buffalo | OT | | 19,070 | 17–8–4 | 38 | Recap | 30 | December 8 | | 6–2 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 18,283 | 17–9–4 | 38 | Recap | 31 | December 11 | | 3–4 | Buffalo | OT | Ullmark | 17,897 | 18–9–4 | 40 | Recap | 32 | December 13 | | 1–3 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 16,872 | 19–9–4 | 42 | Recap | 33 | December 15 | Buffalo | 3–4 | | SO | Hutton | 18,506 | 19–9–5 | 43 | Recap | 34 | December 16 | Buffalo | 4–2 | | | Ullmark | 17,565 | 20–9–5 | 45 | Recap | 35 | December 18 | | 5–2 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 17,602 | 20–10–5 | 45 | Recap | 36 | December 21 | Buffalo | 1–2 | | | Hutton | 18,506 | 20–11–5 | 45 | Recap | 37 | December 22 | | 0–3 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 19,070 | 21–11–5 | 47 | Recap | 38 | December 27 | Buffalo | 1–4 | | | Hutton | 17,867 | 21–12–5 | 47 | Recap | 39 | December 29 | | 3–2 | Buffalo | OT | Hutton | 19,070 | 21–12–6 | 48 | Recap | 40 | December 31 | | 3–1 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 19,070 | 21–13–6 | 48 | Recap | |
|
January: 4–6–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–5–0) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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41 | January 3 | | 3–4 | Buffalo | | | 18,551 | 22–13–6 | 50 | Recap | 42 | January 5 | Buffalo | 1–2 | | | Ullmark | 17,565 | 22–14–6 | 50 | Recap | 43 | January 8 | | 1–5 | Buffalo | | | 18,212 | 23–14–6 | 52 | Recap | 44 | January 11 | Buffalo | 3–4 | | | Hutton | 17,199 | 23–15–6 | 52 | Recap | 45 | January 12 | | 5–3 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 19,070 | 23–16–6 | 52 | Recap | 46 | January 14 | Buffalo | 2–7 | | | Hutton | 18,347 | 23–17–6 | 52 | Recap | 47 | January 16 | Buffalo | 4–3 | | OT | Ullmark | 18,286 | 24–17–6 | 54 | Recap | 48 | January 18 | Buffalo | 3–4 | | | Ullmark | 18,176 | 24–18–6 | 54 | Recap | 49 | January 29 | Buffalo | 5–4 | | | Hutton | 15,615 | 25–18–6 | 56 | Recap | 50 | January 30 | Buffalo | 0–1 | | | Ullmark | 17,986 | 25–19–6 | 56 | Recap | |
|
February: 4–7–2 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 0–4–1) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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51 | February 1 | | 7–3 | Buffalo | | | 18,205 | 25–20–6 | 56 | Recap | 52 | February 5 | | 4–5 | Buffalo | SO | | 16,847 | 26–20–6 | 58 | Recap | 53 | February 7 | | 6–5 | Buffalo | OT | Ullmark | 17,588 | 26–20–7 | 59 | Recap | 54 | February 9 | | 1–3 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 19,070 | 27–20–7 | 61 | Recap | 55 | February 10 | | 3–1 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 17,966 | 27–21–7 | 61 | Recap | 56 | February 12 | | 1–3 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 16,894 | 28–21–7 | 63 | Recap | 57 | February 15 | | 6–2 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 19,070 | 28–22–7 | 63 | Recap | 58 | February 17 | Buffalo | 1–4 | | | Hutton | 16,514 | 28–23–7 | 63 | Recap | 59 | February 19 | Buffalo | 2–4 | | | Ullmark | 10,340 | 28–24–7 | 63 | Recap | 60 | February 21 | Buffalo | 1–2 | | SO | Hutton | 19,092 | 28–24–8 | 64 | Recap | 61 | February 23 | | 2–5 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 19,070 | 29–24–8 | 66 | Recap | 62 | February 25 | Buffalo | 3–5 | | | Ullmark | 19,026 | 29–25–8 | 66 | Recap | 63 | February 26 | Buffalo | 2–5 | | | Hutton | 18,466 | 29–26–8 | 66 | Recap | |
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March: 2–12–2 (Home: 2–5–1 ; Road: 0–7–1) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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64 | March 1 | | 3–4 | Buffalo | OT | | 19,070 | 30–26–8 | 68 | Recap | 65 | March 2 | Buffalo | 2–5 | | | Ullmark | 19,088 | 30–27–8 | 68 | Recap | 66 | March 4 | | 4–3 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 17,775 | 30–28–8 | 68 | Recap | 67 | March 7 | Buffalo | 4–5 | | SO | | 21,500 | 30–28–9 | 69 | Recap | 68 | March 9 | Buffalo | 0–3 | | | Hutton | 18,052 | 30–29–9 | 69 | Recap | 69 | March 12 | | 2–0 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 17,830 | 30–30–9 | 69 | Recap | 70 | March 14 | | 5–0 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 18,680 | 30–31–9 | 69 | Recap | 71 | March 16 | Buffalo | 2–4 | | | Ullmark | 15,171 | 30–32–9 | 69 | Recap | 72 | March 17 | | 3–4 | Buffalo | SO | Hutton | 18,486 | 31–32–9 | 71 | Recap | 73 | March 20 | | 4–2 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 19,070 | 31–33–9 | 71 | Recap | 74 | March 23 | Buffalo | 4–7 | | | Hutton | 21,302 | 31–34–9 | 71 | Recap | 75 | March 25 | Buffalo | 1–3 | | | Ullmark | 12,053 | 31–35–9 | 71 | Recap | 76 | March 26 | Buffalo | 0–4 | | | Hutton | 12,074 | 31–36–9 | 71 | Recap | 77 | March 28 | | 5–4 | Buffalo | OT | Ullmark | 16,236 | 31–36–10 | 72 | Recap | 78 | March 30 | Buffalo | 1–5 | | | Hutton | 13,917 | 31–37–10 | 72 | Recap | 79 | March 31 | | 4–0 | Buffalo | | Ullmark | 17,990 | 31–38–10 | 72 | Recap | |
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April: 2–1–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 1–0–0) |
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| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts | Recap |
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80 | April 2 | | 3–2 | Buffalo | | | 16,569 | 31–39–10 | 72 | Recap | 81 | April 4 | | 2–5 | Buffalo | | Hutton | 17,998 | 32–39–10 | 74 | Recap | 82 | April 6 | Buffalo | 7–1 | | | | 19,515 | 33–39–10 | 76 | Recap | |
|
Legend: | |
Player statistics
As of April 6, 2019[11]
Skaters
Regular season! Player! ! ! ! ! data-sort-type="number" | |
---|
| 77 | 28 | 54 | 82 | −11 | 26 |
| 82 | 22 | 43 | 65 | −10 | 16 |
| 82 | 40 | 23 | 63 | 0 | 36 |
| 82 | 9 | 35 | 44 | −13 | 34 |
| 78 | 5 | 38 | 43 | −41 | 38 |
| 78 | 14 | 20 | 34 | −18 | 12 |
| 73 | 16 | 15 | 31 | −4 | 4 |
| 78 | 14 | 15 | 29 | −9 | 41 |
| 74 | 9 | 20 | 29 | −7 | 25 |
| 77 | 12 | 13 | 25 | −19 | 10 |
| 65 | 3 | 16 | 19 | −5 | 52 |
| 72 | 5 | 13 | 18 | −11 | 17 |
| 73 | 6 | 8 | 14 | −8 | 37 |
| 59 | 4 | 10 | 14 | −4 | 35 |
| 63 | 6 | 7 | 13 | −13 | 26 |
| 69 | 5 | 8 | 13 | −20 | 26 |
| 65 | 7 | 5 | 12 | −22 | 20 |
† | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −4 | 16 |
‡ | 30 | 3 | 4 | 7 | +1 | 32 |
| 33 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −8 | 20 |
| 38 | 1 | 5 | 6 | +1 | 13 |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +1 | 2 |
| 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −4 | 4 |
| 23 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −5 | 6 |
| 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −8 | 4 |
| 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −7 | 4 |
| 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 2 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
‡ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 2 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | |
Goaltenders
Regular season! Player! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! | 50 | 48 | 2,839 | 18 | 25 | 5 | 142 | 3.00 | 1541 | .908 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 37 | 34 | 2,102 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 109 | 3.11 | 1146 | .905 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 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 2018–19 season.
Trades
Free agents
Contract terminations
Date | Player | Via | Ref |
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| | Mutual termination | [32] [33] |
| | Mutual termination | [34] | |
Signings
Draft picks
See also: List of Buffalo Sabres draft picks. Below are the Buffalo Sabres' selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Notes:- The Minnesota Wild's fourth-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on June 30, 2017 that sent Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and a third-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella and this pick.[47]
Notes and References
- Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. 2010 . Triumph Books . 27. 978-1-60078-422-4.
- Web site: Farrell . Sean . Canadiens defeat Sabres, pad lead for second wild card in East . NHL.com . March 27, 2019 . March 23, 2019 . Sam Reinhart, Alexander Nylander, Marco Scandella and Jack Eichel scored for Buffalo (31-34-9), which was eliminated from playoff contention..
- Web site: Kaplan . Emily . Canes clinch playoff berth, snap 10-year drought . ESPN.com . April 9, 2019 . April 5, 2019 . The Buffalo Sabres now hold the NHL's longest postseason drought. The Sabres have not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season..
- Web site: Wine . Steven . Buffalo Bills' 17-year playoff drought ends in dramatic fashion . The Denver Post . April 9, 2019 . December 31, 2017.
- Web site: With NFL's longest playoff drought over, rest is gravy for Bills . ESPN.com . April 9, 2019 . December 31, 2017.
- Web site: Blackburn . Pete . Buffalo Sabres fire coach Phil Housley one day after he said he expected to be back with team . CBSSports.com . April 9, 2019 . April 7, 2019.
- Web site: Filipowski . Nick . Four Coaches To Replace Phil Housley . WIVB . April 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190409071125/https://www.wivb.com/sports/buffalo-sabres/four-coaches-to-replace-phil-housley/1906327032 . April 9, 2019 . April 7, 2019.
- Web site: Fink . James . Pegula set to take ownership of Sabres . www.bizjournals.com . April 9, 2019 . February 21, 2011.
- Web site: Sabres announce 2018 preseason schedule . NHL.com . June 21, 2018 . June 15, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres announce 2018-19 regular-season schedule . NHL.com . October 1, 2018 . June 21, 2018.
- Web site: Buffalo Sabres Stats - 2018-2019. NHL.com. December 23, 2018.
- Web site: 2018 NHL Draft Notes. NHL.com. June 25, 2018. June 23, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres acquire Sheary, Hunwick from Penguins. NHL.com. June 29, 2018. June 27, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres acquire Thompson, Berglund, Sobotka, 2 picks from Blues . NHL.com . July 2, 2018 . July 1, 2018.
- Web site: Skinner traded to Sabres by Hurricanes. NHL.com. August 2, 2018. August 2, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres acquire Dougherty from Predators . NHL.com . October 2, 2018 . October 1, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres acquire draft pick from Stars . NHL.com . November 12, 2018 . November 10, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres acquire forward Leier . NHL.com . January 22, 2019 . January 17, 2019.
- Web site: Sabres acquire Montour from Ducks . NHL.com . February 24, 2019 . February 24, 2019.
- Web site: Sabres acquire pick from Jets . NHL.com . February 26, 2019 . February 25, 2019.
- Web site: AMERKS AGREE TO TERMS WITH WILCOX. amerks.com. June 26, 2018. June 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180627091136/http://www.amerks.com/article/AMERKS%20AGREE%20TO%20TERMS%20WITH%20WILCOX. dead.
- Web site: Jets sign three players. nhl.com. July 1, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres, Hutton agree to 3-year deal. nhl.com. July 1, 2018.
- Web site: Blues sign goalie Chad Johnson to one-year deal. nhl.com. July 1, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres agree to terms with Wedgewood. nhl.com. July 1, 2018.
- Web site: "Металлург" подписал контракт с Виктором Антипиным . NHL.com . July 4, 2018 . July 2, 2018. Russian.
- Web site: Sislo Agrees to Terms on a One-Year Contract . NHL.com . July 3, 2018 . July 2, 2018.
- Web site: Blues sign Nolan to one-year, two-way deal. nhl.com. July 5, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres sign Wilcox to 1-year contract . NHL.com . February 24, 2019 . February 24, 2019.
- Web site: Sabres agree to entry-level deal with Ruotsalainen . NHL.com . May 9, 2019 . May 8, 2019.
- Web site: Harrington . Mike . Sabres claim forward Remi Elie on waivers from Dallas . buffalonews.com . October 2, 2018 . October 2, 2018.
- Web site: Vaclav Karabacek: Waived by Sabres . CBSSports.com . October 25, 2018 . September 20, 2018.
- Web site: Wawrow . John . Reinhart eagerly rejoins Sabres with new contract signed . AP News . October 2, 2018 . September 20, 2018.
- Web site: Patrik Berglund placed on waivers . NHL.com . December 20, 2018 . December 19, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres ink Hickey to entry-level contract. nhl.com. July 2, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres, Wilson agree to 2-year contract. nhl.com. July 2, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres sign Dahlin to entry-level contract. nhl.com. July 10, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres sign Malone to 1-year contract. nhl.com. July 14, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres ink Bailey to 1-year deal. nhl.com. July 15, 2018.
- Web site: O'Regan, Baptiste sign 1-year deals. nhl.com. July 15, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres sign Smith to 1-year contract. nhl.com. July 16, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres sign Reinhart to 2-year deal . NHL.com . September 20, 2018 . September 19, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres ink Pekar to entry-level contract . NHL.com . October 23, 2018 . October 17, 2018.
- Web site: Sabres sign Fitzgerald to entry-level contract . NHL.com . March 27, 2019 . March 26, 2019.
- Web site: Sabres, Bryson agree to entry-level deal . NHL.com . April 17, 2019 . April 15, 2019.
- Web site: Sabres sign Skinner to 8-year contract . NHL.com . June 11, 2019 . June 7, 2019.
- Web site: Myers . Dan . Wild Continues Re-Shuffle in Trade with Sabres . NHL.com . June 7, 2018 . June 30, 2017.