2017–18 Buffalo Sabres season

2017–18 Buffalo Sabres
Division	8th Atlantic
Conference	16th Eastern
2017–18 record	25–45–12
Home record	11–25–5
Road record	14–20–7
Goals for	199
Goals against	280
Team information
General manager	Jason Botterill
Coach	Phil Housley
Captain	Vacant
Alternate captains	Zach Bogosian Jack Eichel Kyle Okposo Ryan O'Reilly
Arena	KeyBank Center
Minor league affiliate(s)	Rochester Americans (AHL) Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Jack Eichel Sam Reinhart (25)
Assists	Jack Eichel (39)
Points	Jack Eichel (64)
Penalty minutes	Jordan Nolan (69)
Plus/minus	Casey Mittelstadt (+1)
Wins	Robin Lehner (14)
Goals against average	Adam Wilcox (0.00)

The 2017–18 Buffalo Sabres season was the 48th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Sabres missed the playoffs again, finishing last in the division for the second straight year and last overall in the league.

Standings

Divisional standings

Atlantic Division

Pos	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	ROW	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	z – Tampa Bay Lightning	82	54	23	5	48	296	236	+60	113
2	x – Boston Bruins	82	50	20	12	47	270	214	+56	112
3	x – Toronto Maple Leafs	82	49	26	7	42	277	232	+45	105
4	Florida Panthers	82	44	30	8	41	248	246	+2	96
5	Detroit Red Wings	82	30	39	13	25	217	255	−38	73
6	Montreal Canadiens	82	29	40	13	27	209	264	−55	71
7	Ottawa Senators	82	28	43	11	26	221	291	−70	67
8	Buffalo Sabres	82	25	45	12	24	199	280	−81	62

Conference standings

Top 3 (Metropolitan Division)

Pos	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	ROW	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	y – Washington Capitals	82	49	26	7	46	259	239	+20	105
2	x – Pittsburgh Penguins	82	47	29	6	45	272	250	+22	100
3	x – Philadelphia Flyers	82	42	26	14	40	251	243	+8	98

Top 3 (Atlantic Division)

Pos	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	ROW	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	z – Tampa Bay Lightning	82	54	23	5	48	296	236	+60	113
2	x – Boston Bruins	82	50	20	12	47	270	214	+56	112
3	x – Toronto Maple Leafs	82	49	26	7	42	277	232	+45	105

Eastern Conference Wild Card

Pos	Div	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	ROW	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	ME	x – Columbus Blue Jackets	82	45	30	7	39	242	230	+12	97
2	ME	x – New Jersey Devils	82	44	29	9	39	248	244	+4	97
3	AT	Florida Panthers	82	44	30	8	41	248	246	+2	96
4	ME	Carolina Hurricanes	82	36	35	11	33	228	256	−28	83
5	ME	New York Islanders	82	35	37	10	32	264	296	−32	80
6	ME	New York Rangers	82	34	39	9	31	231	268	−37	77
7	AT	Detroit Red Wings	82	30	39	13	25	217	255	−38	73
8	AT	Montreal Canadiens	82	29	40	13	27	209	264	−55	71
9	AT	Ottawa Senators	82	28	43	11	26	221	291	−70	67
10	AT	Buffalo Sabres	82	25	45	12	24	199	280	−81	62

Off-season

General manager Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma were both fired at the end of the previous season. Two former Sabres players were hired in their places: Jason Botterill, at the time a front office executive with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was hired as general manager, while Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley, at the time defensive coordinator for the Nashville Predators, was named head coach.

The Sabres once again held a summer development camp during the second week of July. In contrast to the previous two seasons, no full Blue/White game was played; the four-team three-on-three tournament was reprised. Team White, led by 2017 first-round draft pick Casey Mittelstadt, won the tournament. The team will host its third annual Prospects Challenge in September; the tournament will expand to four teams, with the Pittsburgh Penguins joining the returning Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins in the tournament.

Schedule and results

Preseason

The Sabres released their preseason schedule on June 19, 2017.

2017 preseason game log: 1–4–1 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 0–2–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Recap
1	September 18	Carolina	3–2	Buffalo	OT	Ullmark	16,310	0–0–1	Recap
2	September 19[a]	Pittsburgh	3–4	Buffalo	OT	—	—	1–0–1	Recap
3	September 22[b]	Buffalo	0–3	Toronto		—	—	1–1–1	Recap
4	September 23	Toronto	3–1	Buffalo		Lehner	17,345	1–2–1	Recap
5	September 27	Buffalo	4–5	Pittsburgh		Johnson	17,693	1–3–1	Recap
6	September 29	NY Islanders	3–1	Buffalo		Lehner	16,967	1–4–1	Recap
Notes: a Game was played at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. b Game was played at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario.

Regular season

The team's regular season schedule was published on June 22, 2017.

2017–18 game log
October: 3–7–2 (Home: 1–3–1 ; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 5 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo SO Lehner 19,070 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 7 Buffalo 3–6 NY Islanders Lehner 15,234 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 9 New Jersey 6–2 Buffalo Johnson 17,697 0–2–1 1 Recap 4 October 12 Buffalo 2–3 San Jose Lehner 17,402 0–3–1 1 Recap 5 October 14 Buffalo 2–4 Los Angeles Lehner 18,230 0–4–1 1 Recap 6 October 15 Buffalo 3–1 Anaheim Johnson 15,821 1–4–1 3 Recap 7 October 17 Buffalo 4–5 Vegas OT Johnson 17,617 1–4–2 4 Recap 8 October 20 Vancouver 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,050 1–5–2 4 Recap 9 October 21 Buffalo 5–4 Boston OT Lehner 17,565 2–5–2 6 Recap 10 October 24 Detroit 0–1 Buffalo Lehner 16,882 3–5–2 8 Recap 11 October 25 Buffalo 1–5 Columbus Johnson 14,383 3–6–2 8 Recap 12 October 28 San Jose 3–2 Buffalo Lehner 18,892 3–7–2 8 Recap
November: 3–8–2 (Home: 2–5–0 ; Road: 1–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 2 Buffalo 5–4 Arizona Lehner 11,477 4–7–2 10 Recap 14 November 4 Buffalo 1–5 Dallas Lehner 18,236 4–8–2 10 Recap 15 November 7 Washington 1–3 Buffalo Lehner 17,146 5–8–2 12 Recap 16 November 10 Florida 4–1 Buffalo Lehner 17,812 5–9–2 12 Recap 17 November 11 Buffalo 1–2 Montreal OT Johnson 21,302 5–9–3 13 Recap 18 November 14 Buffalo 4–5 Pittsburgh OT Lehner 18,438 5–9–4 14 Recap 19 November 17 Buffalo 1–3 Detroit Lehner 19,515 5–10–4 14 Recap 20 November 18 Carolina 3–1 Buffalo Johnson 18,028 5–11–4 14 Recap 21 November 20 Columbus 3–2 Buffalo Lehner 16,551 5–12–4 14 Recap 22 November 22 Minnesota 5–4 Buffalo Lehner 17,418 5–13–4 14 Recap 23 November 24 Edmonton 1–3 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 6–13–4 16 Recap 24 November 25 Buffalo 0–3 Montreal Lehner 21,302 6–14–4 16 Recap 25 November 28 Tampa Bay 2–0 Buffalo Lehner 17,569 6–15–4 16 Recap
December: 4–5–4 (Home: 2–2–1 ; Road: 2–3–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Pittsburgh 4–0 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 6–16–4 16 Recap 27 December 2 Buffalo 1–5 Pittsburgh Johnson 18,582 6–17–4 16 Recap 28 December 5 Buffalo 4–2 Colorado Lehner 13,258 7–17–4 18 Recap 29 December 8 Buffalo 2–3 Chicago OT Lehner 21,542 7–17–5 19 Recap 30 December 10 Buffalo 2–3 St. Louis OT Lehner 17,310 7–17–6 20 Recap 31 December 12 Ottawa 2–3 Buffalo Lehner 17,454 8–17–6 22 Recap 32 December 14 Buffalo 1–2 Philadelphia Lehner 19,508 8–18–6 22 Recap 33 December 15 Carolina 5–4 Buffalo OT Johnson 17,610 8–18–7 23 Recap 34 December 19 Boston 3–0 Buffalo Lehner 17,811 8–19–7 23 Recap 35 December 22 Philadelphia 2–4 Buffalo Lehner 18,222 9–19–7 25 Recap 36 December 23 Buffalo 2–4 Carolina Johnson 14,470 9–20–7 25 Recap 37 December 27 Buffalo 2–3 NY Islanders OT Lehner 15,027 9–20–8 26 Recap 38 December 29 Buffalo 4–3 New Jersey OT Lehner 16,514 10–20–8 28 Recap
January: 4–7–1 (Home: 1–3–1 ; Road: 3–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 1 NY Rangers 3–2 Buffalo OT Lehner 41,821 (outdoors) 10–20–9 29 Recap 40 January 4 Buffalo 2–6 Minnesota Lehner 19,017 10–21–9 29 Recap 41 January 5 Buffalo 3–4 Winnipeg Johnson 15,321 10–22–9 29 Recap 42 January 7 Buffalo 1–4 Philadelphia Lehner 19,662 10–23–9 29 Recap 43 January 9 Winnipeg 7–4 Buffalo Johnson 17,398 10–24–9 29 Recap 44 January 11 Columbus 1–3 Buffalo Ullmark 18,071 11–24–9 31 Recap 45 January 18 Buffalo 3–4 NY Rangers Lehner 18,006 11–25–9 31 Recap 46 January 20 Dallas 7–1 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 11–26–9 31 Recap 47 January 22 Buffalo 2–1 Calgary OT Johnson 18,349 12–26–9 33 Recap 48 January 23 Buffalo 5–0 Edmonton Lehner 18,347 13–26–9 35 Recap 49 January 25 Buffalo 4–0 Vancouver Lehner 18,340 14–26–9 37 Recap 50 January 30 New Jersey 3–1 Buffalo Lehner 17,460 14–27–9 37 Recap
February: 6–6–2 (Home: 3–5–1 ; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Florida 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 16,707 14–28–9 37 Recap 52 February 3 St. Louis 1–0 Buffalo Lehner 18,777 14–29–9 37 Recap 53 February 6 Anaheim 4–3 Buffalo OT Lehner 16,788 14–29–10 38 Recap 54 February 8 NY Islanders 3–4 Buffalo Lehner 16,872 15–29–10 40 Recap 55 February 10 Buffalo 4–2 Boston Johnson 17,565 16–29–10 42 Recap 56 February 11 Colorado 5–4 Buffalo Lehner 17,646 16–30–10 42 Recap 57 February 13 Tampa Bay 3–5 Buffalo Johnson 16,530 17–30–10 44 Recap 58 February 15 Buffalo 2–3 Ottawa OT Lehner 13,371 17–30–11 45 Recap 59 February 17 Los Angeles 4–2 Buffalo Lehner 18,632 17–31–11 45 Recap 60 February 19 Washington 3–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,228 17–32–11 45 Recap 61 February 22 Buffalo 3–2 Detroit OT Lehner 19,515 18–32–11 47 Recap 62 February 24 Buffalo 1–5 Washington Lehner 18,506 18–33–11 47 Recap 63 February 25 Boston 1–4 Buffalo Johnson 18,522 19–33–11 49 Recap 64 February 28 Buffalo 2–1 Tampa Bay OT Johnson 19,092 20–33–11 51 Recap
March: 5–8–1 (Home: 2–6–1 ; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 2 Buffalo 1–4 Florida Lehner 12,759 20–34–11 51 Recap 66 March 5 Toronto 3–5 Buffalo Johnson 18,705 21–34–11 53 Recap 67 March 7 Calgary 5–1 Buffalo Johnson 17,773 21–35–11 53 Recap 68 March 8 Buffalo 4–3 Ottawa SO Lehner 13,377 22–35–11 55 Recap 69 March 10 Vegas 2–1 Buffalo SO Lehner 19,070 22–35–12 56 Recap 70 March 15 Toronto 5–2 Buffalo Lehner 19,070 22–36–12 56 Recap 71 March 17 Chicago 3–5 Buffalo Johnson 19,070 23–36–12 58 Recap 72 March 19 Nashville 4–0 Buffalo Ullmark 17,507 23–37–12 58 Recap 73 March 21 Arizona 4–1 Buffalo Johnson 17,029 23–38–12 58 Recap 74 March 23 Montreal 3–0 Buffalo Ullmark 18,594 23–39–12 58 Recap 75 March 24 Buffalo 1–5 NY Rangers Lehner 18,006 23–40–12 58 Recap 76 March 26 Buffalo 3–2 Toronto Johnson 19,108 24–40–12 60 Recap 77 March 29 Detroit 6–3 Buffalo Johnson 18,493 24–41–12 60 Recap 78 March 31 Buffalo 7–4 Nashville Johnson 17,551 25–41–12 62 Recap
April: 0–4–0 (Home: 0–1–0 ; Road: 0–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 Buffalo 2–5 Toronto Johnson 18,846 25–42–12 62 Recap 80 April 4 Ottawa 4–2 Buffalo Johnson 18,919 25–43–12 62 Recap 81 April 6 Buffalo 5–7 Tampa Bay Johnson 19,092 25–44–12 62 Recap 82 April 7 Buffalo 3–4 Florida Wilcox 16,254 25–45–12 62 Recap
Legend:       Win (2 points)       Loss (0 points)       Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics

As of the conclusion of the regular season.

Skaters

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Eichel, JackJack Eichel 67 25 39 64 −25 32 O'Reilly, RyanRyan O'Reilly 81 24 37 61 −23 2 Reinhart, SamSam Reinhart 82 25 25 50 −24 26 Okposo, KyleKyle Okposo 76 15 29 44 −34 40 Kane, EvanderEvander Kane ‡ || 61 || 20 || 20 || 40 || −14 || 57 Ristolainen, RasmusRasmus Ristolainen 73 6 35 41 −25 48 Pominville, JasonJason Pominville 82 16 18 34 −17 8 Rodrigues, EvanEvan Rodrigues 48 7 18 25 −10 14 Scandella, MarcoMarco Scandella 79 5 17 22 −15 37 Pouliot, BenoitBenoit Pouliot 74 13 6 19 −8 22 Larsson, JohanJohan Larsson 80 4 13 17 −30 49 Girgensons, ZemgusZemgus Girgensons 71 7 8 15 −12 26 Wilson, ScottScott Wilson † || 49 || 6 || 8 || 14 || −13 || 6 McCabe, JakeJake McCabe 53 3 9 12 −11 26 Antipin, ViktorViktor Antipin 47 0 10 10 −9 18 Beaulieu, NathanNathan Beaulieu 59 1 8 9 −19 36 Nelson, CaseyCasey Nelson 37 3 5 8 −8 8 Nolan, JordanJordan Nolan 66 4 4 8 −11 69 Baptiste, NicholasNicholas Baptiste 33 4 2 6 −3 14 Mittelstadt, CaseyCasey Mittelstadt 6 1 4 5 1 2 Guhle, BrendanBrendan Guhle 18 0 5 5 −2 8 Bailey, JustinJustin Bailey 12 3 1 4 −2 2 Josefson, JacobJacob Josefson 39 2 2 4 −4 6 Griffith, SethSeth Griffith 21 2 1 3 −6 6 Falk, JustinJustin Falk 44 1 1 2 −16 28 Gorges, JoshJosh Gorges 34 0 2 2 −5 15 Nylander, AlexanderAlexander Nylander 3 1 0 1 −3 0 Fedun, TaylorTaylor Fedun 7 0 1 1 −1 2 Bogosian, ZachZach Bogosian 18 0 1 1 −9 20 Tennyson, MattMatt Tennyson 15 0 0 0 −9 20 Redmond, ZachZach Redmond 3 0 0 0 1 2 Moulson, MattMatt Moulson 14 0 0 0 −9 2 Criscuolo, KyleKyle Criscuolo 9 0 0 0 −4 4 Fasching, HudsonHudson Fasching 5 0 0 0 −1 2 O'Regan, DannyDanny O'Regan † || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0

Goaltenders

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Lehner, RobinRobin Lehner	53	50	2,852:01	14	26	9	143	3.01	1,560	.908	3	0	0	2
Johnson, ChadChad Johnson	36	29	1,773:32	10	16	3	105	3.55	962	.891	0	0	0	0
Ullmark, LinusLinus Ullmark	5	3	240:18	1	2	0	8	2.00	123	.935	0	0	0	0
Wilcox, AdamAdam Wilcox	1	0	38:39	0	1	0	0	0.00	14	1.000	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 2017–18 season.

Trades Date Details Ref June 17, 2017 (2017-06-17) To Montreal Canadiens 3rd-round pick in 2017 To Buffalo Sabres Nathan Beaulieu June 21, 2017 (2017-06-21) To Vegas Golden Knights 6th-round pick in 2017 To Buffalo Sabres Expansion draft considerations[a] June 30, 2017 (2017-06-30) To Minnesota Wild Tyler Ennis Marcus Foligno 3rd-round pick in 2018 To Buffalo Sabres season Jason Pominville Marco Scandella 4th-round pick in 2018 October 4, 2017 (2017-10-04) To Montreal Canadiens Nicolas Deslauriers To Buffalo Sabres Zach Redmond December 4, 2017 (2017-12-04) To Detroit Red Wings 5th-round pick in 2019 To Buffalo Sabres Scott Wilson February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26) To San Jose Sharks Evander Kane To Buffalo Sabres Danny O'Regan Conditional 1st-round in 2019 Conditional 4th-round pick in 2020 June 14, 2018 (2018-06-14) To Arizona Coyotes Hudson Fasching To Buffalo Sabres Rights to Brandon Hickey Rights to Mike Sislo Notes: The Vegas Golden Knights selected William Carrier in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. The draft pick was exchanged so that the Golden Knights would not select Linus Ullmark. Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms (in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Kyle Criscuolo Grand Rapids Griffins 2-year, $1.3 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Seth Griffith Toronto Maple Leafs 1-year, $650,000 July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Chad Johnson Arizona Coyotes 1-year, $2.5 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Jacob Josefson New Jersey Devils 1-year, $700,000 July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Kevin Porter Pittsburgh Penguins 2-year, $1.3 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Benoit Pouliot Edmonton Oilers 1-year, $1.15 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Matt Tennyson Carolina Hurricanes 2-year, $1.3 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Adam Wilcox Florida Panthers 1-year, $650,000 April 11, 2018 (2018-04-11) Andrew Oglevie University of Notre Dame 2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract May 15, 2018 (2018-05-15) Lawrence Pilut HV71 2-year, $2.7 million entry-level contract Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms (in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Mat Bodie Tampa Bay Lightning 1-year July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Erik Burgdoerfer Ottawa Senators 2-year, $1.3 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Derek Grant Anaheim Ducks 1-year, $650,000 July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Dmitry Kulikov Winnipeg Jets 3-year July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Anders Nilsson Vancouver Canucks 2-year, $5 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Cal O'Reilly Minnesota Wild 2-year, $1.4 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Cole Schneider New York Rangers 2-year, $1.3 million July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01) Jean Dupuy Toronto Marlies Unknown July 20, 2017 (2017-07-20) Justin Kea Florida Everblades 1-year October 18, 2017 (2017-10-18) Brian Gionta Team USA Through Olympics, $0 April 27, 2018 (2018-04-27) Jacob Josefson Djurgårdens IF 4-year June 13, 2018 (2018-06-13) Zach Redmond Rochester Americans 2-year Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date Ref Jordan Nolan Los Angeles Kings September 27, 2017 (2017-09-27) Lost via waivers Player New team Date Ref Players released Date Player Via Ref Lost via retirement Date Player Ref Player signings Date Player Contract terms (in U.S. dollars) Ref June 26, 2017 (2017-06-26) Taylor Fedun 2-year, $1.3 million, two-way contract July 8, 2017 (2017-07-08) Johan Larsson 2-year, $2.95 million July 25, 2017 (2017-07-25) Robin Lehner 1-year, $4 million July 27, 2017 (2017-07-27) Evan Rodrigues 2-year, $1.3 million July 31, 2017 (2017-07-31) Nathan Beaulieu 2-year, $4.8 million August 17, 2017 (2017-08-17) Zemgus Girgensons 2-year, $3.2 million October 4, 2017 (2017-10-04) Jack Eichel 8-year, $80 million contract extension October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23) Cliff Pu 3-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract March 25, 2018 (2018-03-25) Will Borgen 3-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract March 26, 2018 (2018-03-26) Casey Mittelstadt 3-year, $4.475 million entry-level contract April 24, 2018 (2018-04-24) Victor Olofsson 2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract May 2, 2018 (2018-05-02) Casey Nelson 2-year, $1.625 million contract extension May 23, 2018 (2018-05-23) Rasmus Asplund 3-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract June 14, 2018 (2018-06-14) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 3-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract Draft picks See also: List of Buffalo Sabres draft picks Below are the Buffalo Sabres' selections at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 23 and 24, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago. Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League) 1 8 Casey Mittelstadt C United States Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) 2 37 Marcus Davidsson C Sweden Djurgårdens IF (SHL) 2 541 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen G Finland HPK U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) 3 892 Oskari Laaksonen D Finland Ilves U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) 4 99 Jacob Bryson D Canada Providence College (Hockey East) 7 192 Linus Weissbach LW Sweden Tri-City Storm (USHL) Draft notes: The Minnesota Wild's second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015 that sent Chris Stewart to Minnesota in exchange for this pick. The Washington Capitals' third-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on February 23, 2016 that sent Mike Weber to Washington in exchange for this pick. References