2000–01 Buffalo Sabres season

2000–01 Buffalo Sabres
Division2nd Northeast
Conference5th Eastern
2000–01 record46–30–5–1
Home record26–12–3–0
Road record20–18–2–1
Goals for218
Goals against184
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff
CaptainVacant[a]
Alternate captainsDoug Gilmour
Rob Ray
Rotating
ArenaHSBC Arena
Average attendance17,839
Minor league affiliatesRochester Americans
South Carolina Stingrays
B.C. Icemen
Team leaders
GoalsMiroslav Satan (29)
AssistsMiroslav Satan (33)
PointsMiroslav Satan (62)
Penalty minutesRob Ray (210)
Plus/minusCurtis Brown (+15)
WinsDominik Hasek (37)
Goals against averageDominik Hasek (2.11)

The 2000–01 Buffalo Sabres season was the 31st season for the team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sabres finished with a 46–30–5–1 record in the regular season, and won the Conference Quarterfinals (4–2) over the Philadelphia Flyers, but lost the Conference Semifinals (4–3) to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was also the final time they made the playoffs before the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

Regular season

The Sabres allowed the fewest goals (184), had the most shutouts (13), allowed the fewest power-play goals (40) and had the best penalty-kill percentage (88.02%).[1]

Final standings

Northeast Division[2]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
12Ottawa Senators82482194274205109
25Buffalo Sabres8246305121818498
37Toronto Maple Leafs82372911523220790
49Boston Bruins8236308822724988
511Montreal Canadiens8228408620623270

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL=Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 Z- New Jersey DevilsAT824819123295195111
2 Y- Ottawa SenatorsNE82482194274205109
3 Y- Washington CapitalsSE82412710423321196
4 X- Philadelphia FlyersAT824325113240207100
5 X- Buffalo SabresNE8246305121818498
6 X- Pittsburgh PenguinsAT8242289328125696
7 X- Toronto Maple LeafsNE82372911523220790
8 X- Carolina HurricanesSE8238329321222588
8.5
9 Boston BruinsNE8236308822724988
10 New York RangersAT8233435125029072
11 Montreal CanadiensNE8228408620623270
12 Florida PanthersSE82223813920024666
13 Atlanta ThrashersSE82234512221128960
14 Tampa Bay LightningSE8224476520128059
15 New York IslandersAT8221517318526852

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z – Clinched conference; Y – Clinched division; X – Clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

(4) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (5) Buffalo Sabres

The Flyers were entering this year's playoffs still trying to forget the Eastern Conference finals the previous year. In 2000, they had a 3–1 series lead against the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils, but lost the next three. Head coach Craig Ramsay was fired in the middle of the season, with general manager Bobby Clarke explaining his decision was based on the fact his Flyers were not "tough enough". As Ramsay's replacement, Clarke hired former teammate Bill Barber. The Sabres season was not as complicated, as head coach Lindy Ruff led his Sabres to one of their best regular seasons in recent history. In the playoffs, the two teams had met three times in four years, with the most recent series ending in with a Flyers win. The Sabres would look for revenge in the city of brotherly love.

The Flyers were was stopped by Dominik Hasek and the Sabres in the first two games, one of which was ended by a Jay McKee overtime goal. The Flyers came out in Game 3 determined to win a game, and they did by one goal. The Flyers then lost again to the Sabres in Game 4 in overtime after Curtis Brown beat goaltender Roman Cechmanek, which put the Sabres in a 3-1 series lead.

The Flyers won in Game 5 by a two-goal margin to stave off elimination, which was marred by Hasek accusing Flyers centre Keith Primeau of attempting to injure him; Primeau was jostling with Sabres defenceman James Patrick before crashing into Hasek. Primeau went unpenalized while Hasek earned a 10-minute misconduct for his outburst with officials. [4] The Sabres routed the Flyers in Game 6 scoring eight goals, five of which were surrendered by Cechmanek, who was replaced early by Brian Boucher, who himself conceded three goals, which was also due to the Flyers defensemen pairing led by Éric Desjardins being overworked that series to exhaustion. Hasek recorded another shutout, as the Sabres progressed to the conference semifinals.

(5) Buffalo Sabres vs. (6) Pittsburgh Penguins

Entering the series, Buffalo held the best penalty killing (PK) squad which killed 88%, and Pittsburgh entered the series with the fifth best powerplay (PP) squad, which scored on 20% of its opportunities. However, the Buffalo PK and the Pittsburgh PP would underachieve during the series: Pittsburgh only scored 4 times on 27 opportunities (14%), so, consequently, Buffalo's PK percent dropped to 86. Buffalo also scored four power play goals, but on 33 chances (12%).

The Sabres and Penguins had evenly matched goaltending: Pittsburgh goaltenders saved 155 shots out of 172 (90.2%), and Buffalo's saved 166 shots out of 183 (90.8%). Both teams scored 17 goals during the series, and they also scored the same number of power play goals, four.

The Sabres just could not put the puck past Johan Hedberg in Game 1, with the Penguins needing only star center Mario Lemieux's first-period goal to finish off Buffalo and take an early series lead. Dominik Hasek gave up three goals, the other two of which came courtesy of centers Wayne Primeau and Jan Hrdina in the second half of the third period. Penguins winger Jaromir Jagr, who assisted on the Lemieux goal in the first period, injured his leg in the third period and would miss Game 2. Both teams were rather inept on the powerplay, wasting five conversion opportunities each.

In Game 2, the first period had no scoring, despite five different powerplays for the two teams. Then, about halfway through the second period, Penguins center Robert Lang scored a goal to give the Penguins a 1–0. Three minutes later, Sabres center Stu Barnes tied the game with the game's only powerplay goal. In the third period, Pittsburgh would score two more goals through defenceman Andrew Ference and an empty-netter by Alexei Kovalev.

For the second consecutive game, there were no goals scored in the first period of Game 3, despite a combined 17 shots on goal. The Penguins scored on the power play in the second period to take the lead, but Sabres center Curtis Brown would tie the game through an even-strength goal as the period would end at 1–1. Johan Hedberg had been solid in the net for the Penguins, but conceded 3 goals from just 11 shots in the third period. At about the halfway point in the third period, Sabres defenseman Jason Woolley scored the go-ahead goal, and three minutes later, Miroslav Satan would score another goal to give Buffalo a two-goal lead. Defenseman James Patrick finished off the game with an empty-net goal to send the Sabres to a 4–1 victory in Game 3.

Building off the road win in Game 3, Buffalo scored the first goal in Game 4 very early in the first period by center Jean-Pierre Dumont, but the Penguins would respond with a powerplay goal by center Martin Straka. Sabres center Curtis Brown scored a short-handed goal late in the first period to give Buffalo the edge heading into the locker rooms. The second period featured only one goal by Janne Laukkanen, set up by Jagr and Lemieux, and the game was tied up going into the third. Stu Barnes scored twice in the third period, and the Sabres went on to win the game by three, five goals to two. Both teams were effective on the powerplay, each scoring one goal on two chances. Coming off two straight home losses, Buffalo works hard on the road to swipe the two home games back, swinging the series back to Buffalo's advantage.

Penguins wingman Jaromir Jagr initiated the scoring in game five with a powerplay goal, the only goal in the first period. Pittsburgh would tack on another goal early on in the second period by winger Aleksey Morozov, but Sabres center Chris Gratton would respond with a powerplay goal, and the Penguins still had the lead until they gave up another short-handed goal to Curtis Brown. Curtis Brown's goal forced overtime, and Stu Barnes would score the game-winning goal to give Buffalo the series lead. The Sabres were down by two goals early but fought back and won the game by scoring three unanswered goals. Game five was the first overtime game in the string of three that would end the series.

Buffalo's right winger Maxim Afinogenov scored in the first half of the first period of game six to give the Sabres and early lead, a lead the team would need because Pittsburgh's Alexei Kovalev tied the game up early in the second period. Donald Audette would break up the tied game with an even-strength goal late in the second period. Pittsburgh would persevere and score the tying goal with less than a minute to go in the third period courtesy of Mario Lemieux, so this match headed to overtime. Martin Straka was the hero of the Penguins on that night, as he scored the game-winning goal about halfway through the overtime period. Both teams didn't score on any of the combined seven chances they saw, and the fabled game seven was due.

In game seven, the first period was an uneventful one, featuring no goals and few penalties, but the second period was a different story. Buffalo struck first as Jean-Pierre Dumont scored very early in the period, but that one-goal lead wouldn't last because Andrew Ference scored a powerplay goal to even things up at one goal apiece. Just about 30 seconds into the third period, Buffalo struck again as winger Steve Heinze scored a powerplay goal. Robert Lang would then score to tie the game up at two goals apiece. With a minute remaining in the third period and the Sabres applying pressure in the Penguins zone, Penguins defenceman Darius Kasparaitis grabbed the puck and threw it over the boards into the crowd. No penalty was called on the play and the game went to overtime.[5] Later, Kasparaitis would win the game and the series for the Penguins as he scored off of passes from Jagr and Lang. Pittsburgh went on to face the New Jersey Devils in the conference finals.

Schedule and results

Regular season

2000–01 regular season[6]
October: 5–3–1–1 (home: 4–0–1–0; road: 1–3–0–1)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1October 5, 20004–2Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01)1–0–0–0W
2October 7, 20005–3Los Angeles Kings (2000–01)2–0–0–0W
3October 13, 20002–3@ Edmonton Oilers (2000–01)2–1–0–0L
4October 14, 20000–4@ Vancouver Canucks (2000–01)2–2–0–0L
5October 17, 20003–4@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)2–3–0–0L
6October 20, 20002–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01)2–3–1–0T
7October 21, 20004–5 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (2000–01)2–3–1–1OTL
8October 25, 20004–1Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)3–3–1–1W
9October 27, 20002–1Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)4–3–1–1W
10October 28, 20003–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01)5–3–1–1W
November: 7–4–1–0 (home: 5–1–1–0; road: 2–3–0–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11November 3, 20005–4Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)6–3–1–1W
12November 4, 20000–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)6–4–1–1L
13November 9, 20003–0New York Islanders (2000–01)7–4–1–1W
14November 11, 20004–0@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01)8–4–1–1W
15November 13, 20003–2 OTCalgary Flames (2000–01)9–4–1–1W
16November 15, 20002–2 OTDallas Stars (2000–01)9–4–2–1T
17November 17, 20003–1Minnesota Wild (2000–01)10–4–2–1W
18November 18, 20001–4@ St. Louis Blues (2000–01)10–5–2–1L
19November 22, 20001–3Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)10–6–2–1L
20November 24, 20003–2New York Rangers (2000–01)11–6–2–1W
21November 25, 20005–3@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)12–6–2–1W
22November 28, 20001–3@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01)12–7–2–1L
December: 8–5–1–0 (home: 4–3–0–0; road: 4–2–1–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
23December 1, 20004–6Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)12–8–2–1L
24December 2, 20003–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)13–8–2–1W
25December 5, 20003–2@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)14–8–2–1W
26December 7, 20005–2New Jersey Devils (2000–01)15–8–2–1W
27December 8, 20002–5@ New York Rangers (2000–01)15–9–2–1L
28December 12, 20003–0@ Boston Bruins (2000–01)16–9–2–1W
29December 15, 20003–5@ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)16–10–2–1L
30December 16, 20003–2Florida Panthers (2000–01)17–10–2–1W
31December 20, 20002–2 OT@ Washington Capitals (2000–01)17–10–3–1T
32December 21, 20001–3Washington Capitals (2000–01)17–11–3–1L
33December 23, 20005–2San Jose Sharks (2000–01)18–11–3–1W
34December 26, 20003–5Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)18–12–3–1L
35December 29, 20002–0Ottawa Senators (2000–01)19–12–3–1W
36December 30, 20002–0@ New York Islanders (2000–01)20–12–3–1W
January: 5–7–2–0 (home: 2–3–1–0; road: 3–4–1–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
37January 1, 20013–4Boston Bruins (2000–01)20–13–3–1L
38January 3, 20011–1 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)20–13–4–1T
39January 5, 20013–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)20–13–5–1T
40January 6, 20012–0@ Nashville Predators (2000–01)21–13–5–1W
41January 9, 20011–2@ San Jose Sharks (2000–01)21–14–5–1L
42January 11, 20012–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2000–01)21–15–5–1L
43January 12, 20014–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01)22–15–5–1W
44January 16, 20013–1Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)23–15–5–1W
45January 19, 20011–0Florida Panthers (2000–01)24–15–5–1W
46January 20, 20010–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)24–16–5–1L
47January 23, 20011–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01)24–17–5–1L
48January 26, 20011–2Boston Bruins (2000–01)24–18–5–1L
49January 27, 20012–1@ New York Islanders (2000–01)25–18–5–1W
50January 31, 20012–5@ Florida Panthers (2000–01)25–19–5–1L
February: 9–4–0–0 (home: 5–2–0–0; road: 4–2–0–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
51February 1, 20012–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)25–20–5–1L
52February 6, 20016–3@ New York Rangers (2000–01)26–20–5–1W
53February 7, 20012–1 OTNew York Islanders (2000–01)27–20–5–1W
54February 10, 20012–1 OT@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01)28–20–5–1W
55February 11, 20013–4Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)28–21–5–1L
56February 13, 20014–5@ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)28–22–5–1L
57February 15, 20013–1Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)29–22–5–1W
58February 17, 20015–1New Jersey Devils (2000–01)30–22–5–1W
59February 19, 20012–0Ottawa Senators (2000–01)31–22–5–1W
60February 22, 20011–0@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01)32–22–5–1W
61February 23, 20013–7Phoenix Coyotes (2000–01)32–23–5–1L
62February 25, 20015–4Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)33–23–5–1W
63February 27, 20014–1@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01)34–23–5–1W
March: 9–5–0–0 (home: 5–1–0–0; road: 4–4–0–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64March 1, 20010–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)34–24–5–1L
65March 3, 20013–2 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (2000–01)35–24–5–1W
66March 4, 20011–4@ Dallas Stars (2000–01)35–25–5–1L
67March 6, 20013–1@ Boston Bruins (2000–01)36–25–5–1W
68March 9, 20010–4Edmonton Oilers (2000–01)36–26–5–1L
69March 14, 20016–3New York Rangers (2000–01)37–26–5–1W
70March 16, 20014–2Vancouver Canucks (2000–01)38–26–5–1W
71March 17, 20013–2@ Washington Capitals (2000–01)39–26–5–1W
72March 20, 20013–0Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)40–26–5–1W
73March 21, 20010–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)40–27–5–1L
74March 24, 20013–1Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)41–27–5–1W
75March 26, 20014–0@ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)42–27–5–1W
76March 27, 20011–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)42–28–5–1L
77March 30, 20014–0Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)43–28–5–1W
April: 3–2–0–0 (home: 1–2–0–0; road: 2–0–0–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78April 1, 20014–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)44–28–5–1W
79April 2, 20015–3@ Florida Panthers (2000–01)45–28–5–1W
80April 4, 20012–3Boston Bruins (2000–01)45–29–5–1L
81April 6, 20012–1Washington Capitals (2000–01)46–29–5–1W
82April 8, 20011–2Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)46–30–5–1L

Legend: W Win (2 points) L Loss (0 points) T Tie (1 point) OTL Overtime loss (1 point)

Playoffs

2001 Stanley Cup playoffs[6]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Philadelphia Flyers – Sabres win 4–2
GameDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1April 11, 20012–1@ Philadelphia FlyersSabres lead 1–0W
2April 14, 20014–3 OT@ Philadelphia FlyersSabres lead 2–0W
3April 16, 20012–3Philadelphia FlyersSabres lead 2–1L
4April 17, 20014–3 OTPhiladelphia FlyersSabres lead 3–1W
5April 19, 20011–3@ Philadelphia FlyersSabres lead 3–2L
6April 21, 20018–0Philadelphia FlyersSabres win 4–2W
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (6) Pittsburgh Penguins – Penguins win 4–3
GameDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1April 26, 20010–3Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins lead 1–0L
2April 28, 20011–3Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins lead 2–0L
3April 30, 20014–1@ Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins lead 2–1W
4May 2, 20015–2@ Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 2–2W
5May 5, 20013–2 OTPittsburgh PenguinsSabres lead 3–2W
6May 8, 20012–3 OT@ Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 3–3L
7May 10, 20012–3 OTPittsburgh PenguinsPenguins win 4–3L

Legend: W Win L Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
No. Player Pos Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
81[b]Miroslav SatanLW82293362536133101348
17Jean-Pierre DumontRW792328511541343748
41Stu BarnesC75192443−2261344802
77Chris GrattonC821921400102136410014
93Doug GilmourC717313837013246−112
44Alexei ZhitnikD7882937−37513167−312
61Maxim AfinogenovRW781422361401123514
52Dave AndreychukLW742013330321312304
37Curtis BrownC7010223215341350548
9Erik RasmussenLW82121931051301120
25Vaclav VaradaRW75102131−2811304428
5Jason WoolleyD6751823046815612
45Dmitri KalininD7941822−2381302254
4Rhett WarrenerD773161910781302254
42Richard SmehlikD5631215641001134
29Vladimir TsyplakovLW367714210910114
3James PatrickD5449139121312302
57Steve Heinze†RW1457126813347010
55Denis HamelLW418311−222——————
74Jay McKeeD7411011976810136
32Rob RayRW6346102210300002
28Donald Audette†RW1226811213369−14
26Eric BoultonLW35123−194——————
39Dominik HasekG67033221300014
16Chris TaylorC1402216——————
43Martin BironG180000——————
51Brian CampbellD8000−22——————
35Mika NoronenG20000——————
34Peter Skudra†‡G10000——————

Goaltending

  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
No. Player Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
39Dominik Hasek673724417261372.11.921113904:111376347292.09.9161833
43Martin Biron18771427392.55.9092918:01—————————
35Mika Noronen22003952.78.8720108:22—————————
34Peter Skudra†‡1000000.0000:27—————————

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)
NHL First All-Star Team Dominik Hasek (Goaltender) [7]
Vezina Trophy Dominik Hasek [8]
William M. Jennings Trophy Dominik Hasek [9]
League
(in-season)
NHL All-Star Game selection Dominik Hasek [10]

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Eric Boulton October 5, 2000 [11]
Mika Noronen
500th game played Dominik Hasek February 25, 2001 [12]

Transactions

The Sabres were involved in the following transactions from June 11, 2000, the day after the deciding game of the 2000 Stanley Cup Final, through June 9, 2001, the day of the deciding game of the 2001 Stanley Cup Final.[13]

Trades

Date Details Ref
June 23, 2000 To Buffalo Sabres
  • Past considerations[c]
To Columbus Blue Jackets
[14]
June 25, 2000 To Buffalo Sabres
  • 5th-round pick in 2001
To Montreal Canadiens
  • 6th-round pick in 2000
[13]
To Buffalo Sabres
  • 7th-round pick in 2000
To Tampa Bay Lightning
  • 7th-round pick in 2001
  • 9th-round pick in 2001
[13]
To Buffalo Sabres
  • 8th-round pick in 2000
To Calgary Flames
  • 8th-round pick in 2001
[13]
March 13, 2001 To Buffalo Sabres
To Atlanta Thrashers
[15]
To Buffalo Sabres
To Columbus Blue Jackets
  • 3rd-round pick in 2001
[15]

Players acquired

DatePlayerFormer teamTermViaRef
July 13, 2000 Dave AndreychukColorado Avalanche1-yearFree agency[16]
October 6, 2000 Peter SkudraBoston BruinsWaivers[17]

Players lost

DatePlayerNew teamVia[d]Ref
June 23, 2000 Dwayne RolosonColumbus Blue JacketsExpansion draft[19]
Geoff SandersonColumbus Blue JacketsExpansion draft[19]
July 1, 2000 Craig Fisher[e]Contract expiration (VI)[18]
Mike Zanutto[f]Contract expiration (UFA)[18]
July 26, 2000 Domenic PittisEdmonton OilersFree agency (VI)[22]
August 9, 2000 Jason CipollaRochester Americans (AHL)Free agency (UFA)[23]
August 29, 2000 Mark DutiaumeB.C. Icemen (UHL)Free agency (UFA)[24]
September 8, 2000 Randy CunneyworthRetirement (III)[25]
September 10, 2000 Paul KruseSan Jose SharksFree agency (UFA)[26]
September 18, 2000 Scott NicholDetroit Vipers (IHL)Free agency (VI)[27]
September 23, 2000 Daniel BienvenueEl Paso Buzzards (WPHL)Free agency (UFA)[28]
November 3, 2000 Dixon WardBoston BruinsFree agency (III)[29]
November 14, 2000 Peter SkudraBoston BruinsWaivers[30]
May 12, 2001 Doug GilmourRetirement[g][32]

Signings

DatePlayerTermContract typeRef
July 12, 2000 Rob Ray1-yearRe-signing[33]
July 20, 2000 Alexei Zhitnik1-yearRe-signing[34]
July 28, 2000 Chris Taylor1-yearRe-signing[35]
August 1, 2000 Jason Woolley1-yearRe-signing[36]
August 23, 2000 James Patrick1-yearRe-signing[37]
September 7, 2000 Vladimir Tsyplakov1-yearRe-signing[38]
Jason Woolleymulti-yearExtension[38]
September 8, 2000 Denis HamelRe-signing[13]
Jason HollandRe-signing[39]
Erik RasmussenRe-signing[39]
November 7, 2000 Martin BironRe-signing[40]

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 2000 NHL entry draft held at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.[41]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
115Artyom Kryukov RussiaLokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)
248Gerard Dicaire CanadaSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
4111Ghyslain Rousseau CanadaBaie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
5149Denis Denisov RussiaCSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia)
7213Vasili Bizyayev RussiaCSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia)
7220Paul Gaustad United StatesPortland Winterhawks (WHL)
8258Sean McMorrow CanadaKitchener Rangers (OHL)
9277Ryan Courtney CanadaWindsor Spitfires (OHL)

Farm teams

Rochester Americans finished with a record of 46–22–9–3. They were swept out of the playoffs in the first round.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Michael Peca, the previous captain, sat out the entire season due to a contract dispute.
  2. ↑ Satan wore number 18 through November 18.
  3. ↑ Columbus agreed to select Dwayne Roloson and Geoff Sanderson in the Expansion Draft.[13]
  4. ↑ In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[18]
  5. ↑ Fisher suffered a career-ending concussion during the 1999–2000 season.[20]
  6. ↑ Zanutto, who did not play during the 1999–2000 season, did not play professionally in 2000–01.[21]
  7. ↑ Gilmour would un-retire five months later to sign with the Montreal Canadiens on October 6, 2001.[31]

References

  • "Buffalo Sabres 2000-01 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  • "2000-01 Buffalo Sabres Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  1. ↑ "2000-01 NHL Summary".
  2. ↑ "2000-2001 Division Standings". NHL.com. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  3. ↑ "2000–2001 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Hasek accuses Primeau of low blow". CBC Sports. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Darius Kasparaitis throws puck in the stands late in 3rd period of a tied Game 7 Playoff Game". YouTube.
  6. 1 2 "2000-01 Buffalo Sabres Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Vezina Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "William M. Jennings Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ "2001 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ "2000-01 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Sabres 5, Lightning 4". AP NEWS. February 25, 2001. Retrieved April 19, 2023. Dominik Hasek, playing in his 500th NHL game
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hockey Transactions Search Results". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Columbus Blue Jackets - All-Time Transactions". Columbus Blue Jackets. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023. June 23, 2000 - Acquired D Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, RW Matt Davidson, a fifth round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft and a fifth round pick in the 2001 Draft from Buffalo for past considerations.
  15. 1 2 "Sabres acquire Donald Audette and Steve Heinze". Buffalo Sabres. March 13, 2001. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ "ANDREYCHUCK RETURNS TO BUFFALO WITH ONE-YEAR DEAL". Buffalo Sabres. July 13, 2000. Archived from the original on September 4, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sabres sign backup goalie - UPI Archives". UPI. October 6, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 "2000 NHL Free Agents". tsn.ca. July 1, 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  19. 1 2 "NHL Expansion Draft List - UPI Archives". UPI. June 23, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  20. ↑ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (December 4, 2015). "The coach and the concussion that won't go away". thestar.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ Mike Zanutto career statistics at EliteProspects.com, retrieved May 5, 2023
  22. ↑ "SPORTS TRANSACTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 26+ - UPI Archives". UPI. August 2, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023. Edmonton Oilers -- Signed center Domenic Pittis to a two-year contract
  23. ↑ "AMERKS SIGN CIPOLLA". Rochester Americans. August 9, 2000. Archived from the original on December 18, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Headlines for August 30, 2000". OurSports Central. Retrieved May 5, 2023. Icemen re-sign Dutiaume, add NHL draftee to blue line corps - Press & Sun-Bulletin
  25. ↑ "CUNNEYWORTH NAMED HEAD COACH OF AMERKS". Buffalo Sabres. September 8, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ "SPORTS TRANSACTIONS FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10+ - UPI Archives". UPI. September 10, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023. San Jose Sharks -- Signed unrestricted free agent left wing Paul Kruse
  27. ↑ "SCOTT NICHOL". TSN.ca. Archived from the original on January 5, 2003. Retrieved May 5, 2023. 18-Sep-00: Assigned to Detroit (IHL).
  28. ↑ "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. September 24, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023. EL PASO BUZZARDS--Signed F Daniel Bienvenue
  29. ↑ "SPORTS TRANSACTIONS FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3+ - UPI Archives". UPI. November 4, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023. Boston Bruins -- Agreed to terms with center-right wing Dixon Ward on a one-year contract.
  30. ↑ "Skudra claimed by Bruins - UPI Archives". UPI. November 14, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  31. ↑ "HOCKEY; Montreal Gets Gilmour". The New York Times. October 7, 2001. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Sabres Gilmour announces retirement - UPI Archives". UPI. May 12, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Rob Ray Signed A One-Year Contract with the Sabres". Buffalo Sabres. July 12, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  34. ↑ "SABRES SIGN ZHITNIK TO CONTRACT". Buffalo Sabres. July 20, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  35. ↑ "SABRES SIGN CENTER CHRIS TAYLOR". Buffalo Sabres. July 28, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  36. ↑ "SABRES SIGN WOOLLEY TO CONTRACT". Buffalo Sabres. August 1, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  37. ↑ "SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN JAMES PATRICK". Buffalo Sabres. August 23, 2000. Archived from the original on September 4, 2001. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  38. 1 2 "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. September 8, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023. BUFFALO SABRES--Signed F Vladimir Tsyplakov to a one-year contract and D Jason Woolley to a multiyear contract extension.
  39. 1 2 "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. September 9, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023. BUFFALO SABRES--Re-signed F Erik Rasmussen and D Jason Holland.
  40. ↑ "Sabres re-sign Biron - UPI Archives". UPI. November 8, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  41. ↑ "2000 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 19, 2023.