2004–05 Buffalo Sabres season

2004–05 Buffalo Sabres
DivisionNortheast
ConferenceEastern
2004–05 recordDid not play
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff
CaptainVacant
ArenaHSBC Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)Rochester Americans

The 2004–05 Buffalo Sabres season was to be the 35th for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1] The season was cancelled as the 2004–05 NHL lockout could not be resolved in time to save the season.

Offseason

Schedule

The Sabres preseason and regular season schedules were announced on July 12 and July 14, 2004, respectively.[2][3]

2004–05 schedule
Preseason
Game Date Opponent
1 September 24 Columbus Blue Jackets
2 September 25 Minnesota Wild
3 September 28 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
4 October 2 @ Montreal Canadiens
5 October 3 @ Minnesota Wild
6 October 6 Montreal Canadiens
7 October 8 Toronto Maple Leafs
8 October 10 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Regular season
Game Date Opponent
1 October 15 @ Columbus Blue Jackets
2 October 16 New Jersey Devils
3 October 18 Tampa Bay Lightning
4 October 21 @ Atlanta Thrashers
5 October 22 @ Dallas Stars
6 October 24 @ Phoenix Coyotes
7 October 26 @ St. Louis Blues
8 October 28 San Jose Sharks
9 October 30 Pittsburgh Penguins
10 November 4 @ Boston Bruins
11 November 5 Philadelphia Flyers
12 November 12 Edmonton Oilers
13 November 13 @ New York Rangers
14 November 15 Toronto Maple Leafs
15 November 17 Carolina Hurricanes
16 November 19 New York Rangers
17 November 20 @ Carolina Hurricanes
18 November 24 Boston Bruins
19 November 26 Montreal Canadiens
20 November 27 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
21 December 1 Minnesota Wild
22 December 3 New York Islanders
23 December 4 @ Philadelphia Flyers
24 December 7 @ New Jersey Devils
25 December 9 Boston Bruins
26 December 11 @ Boston Bruins
27 December 13 Toronto Maple Leafs
28 December 15 @ Florida Panthers
29 December 17 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
30 December 19 Florida Panthers
31 December 21 @ Montreal Canadiens
32 December 22 Montreal Canadiens
33 December 26 New York Rangers
34 December 28 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
35 December 29 @ Chicago Blackhawks
36 January 1 Vancouver Canucks
37 January 3 Chicago Blackhawks
38 January 5 Ottawa Senators
39 January 8 @ New York Islanders
40 January 9 @ Washington Capitals
41 January 11 Atlanta Thrashers
42 January 13 Carolina Hurricanes
43 January 15 @ Philadelphia Flyers
44 January 17 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
45 January 19 @ Florida Panthers
46 January 21 @ Atlanta Thrashers
47 January 22 @ Ottawa Senators
48 January 25 St. Louis Blues
49 January 27 New York Islanders
50 January 29 @ New York Islanders
51 January 30 @ Boston Bruins
52 February 1 Toronto Maple Leafs
53 February 3 New Jersey Devils
54 February 5 Pittsburgh Penguins
55 February 8 Ottawa Senators
56 February 10 Washington Capitals
57 February 15 @ Detroit Red Wings
58 February 18 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
59 February 20 Atlanta Thrashers
60 February 22 Washington Capitals
61 February 25 Tampa Bay Lightning
62 February 26 @ Montreal Canadiens
63 March 1 @ Los Angeles Kings
64 March 3 @ San Jose Sharks
65 March 4 @ Anaheim Mighty Ducks
66 March 9 Boston Bruins
67 March 11 Ottawa Senators
68 March 12 @ Montreal Canadiens
69 March 15 Colorado Avalanche
70 March 18 @ New York Rangers
71 March 19 Nashville Predators
72 March 21 @ New Jersey Devils
73 March 23 Philadelphia Flyers
74 March 26 @ Ottawa Senators
75 March 27 Calgary Flames
76 March 29 @ Carolina Hurricanes
77 March 31 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
78 April 1 @ Ottawa Senators
79 April 3 Florida Panthers
80 April 6 @ Washington Capitals
81 April 8 Montreal Canadiens
82 April 9 @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Transactions

The Sabres were involved in the following transactions from June 8, 2004, the day after the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, through February 16, 2005, the day the 2004–05 season was officially cancelled.[4]

Trades

The Sabres did not make any trades.

Players acquired

Date Player Former team Term Via Ref
September 10, 2004 (2004-09-10) Todd Rohloff Washington Capitals 1-year Free agency [5]
Brandon Smith New York Islanders 1-year Free agency [5]

Players lost

Date Player New team Via[a] Ref
July 1, 2004 (2004-07-01) Karel Mosovsky[b] Contract expiration (UFA) [6]
James Patrick[c] Contract expiration (III) [6]
August 24, 2004 (2004-08-24) Rick Mrozik Edmonton Road Runners (AHL) Free agency (VI) [9]
September 4, 2004 (2004-09-04) Scott Ricci Nottingham Panthers (EIHL) Free agency (UFA) [10]
September 10, 2004 (2004-09-10) David Cullen Rochester Americans (AHL) Free agency (VI) [5]
October 18, 2004 (2004-10-18) Brian Chapman Springfield Falcons (AHL) Free agency (VI) [11]
December 6, 2004 (2004-12-06) Alexei Zhitnik Ak Bars Kazan (RSL) Free agency (III) [12]

Signings

Date Player Term Contract type Ref
June 30, 2004 (2004-06-30) Ales Kotalik 1-year Option exercised [13]
July 23, 2004 (2004-07-23) Mike Grier 1-year Re-signing [14]
July 28, 2004 (2004-07-28) Brian Campbell 1-year Re-signing [15]
Jeff Jillson 1-year Re-signing [15]
Taylor Pyatt 1-year Re-signing [15]
Henrik Tallinder 1-year Re-signing [15]
August 2, 2004 (2004-08-02) Maxim Afinogenov 1-year Re-signing [16]
Tim Connolly 1-year Re-signing [16]
Rory Fitzpatrick 1-year Re-signing [16]
Mika Noronen 1-year Re-signing [16]
August 6, 2004 (2004-08-06) Jochen Hecht 1-year Re-signing [17]
August 9, 2004 (2004-08-09) Martin Biron 1-year Arbitration settlement [18]
Brad Brown 1-year Re-signing [19]
Jean-Pierre Dumont 1-year Re-signing [20]
August 13, 2004 (2004-08-13) Daniel Briere 1-year Arbitration settlement [21]
September 1, 2004 (2004-09-01) Dmitri Kalinin 1-year Re-signing [22]
September 3, 2004 (2004-09-03) Thomas Vanek 3-year Entry-level [23]
September 10, 2004 (2004-09-10) Jason Botterill 1-year Re-signing [5]
September 14, 2004 (2004-09-14) Andrew Peters Re-signing [24]
September 15, 2004 (2004-09-15) Milan Bartovic 1-year Re-signing [25]
Doug Janik 1-year Re-signing [25]
Ryan Miller 1-year Re-signing [25]
Norm Milley 1-year Re-signing [25]

Draft picks

Buffalo's picks at the 2004 NHL entry draft, which was held at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 26–27, 2004.[26]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Junior Team
1 13 Drew Stafford RW  United States University of North Dakota (WCHA)
2 43 Michael Funk D  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
3 71 Andrej Sekera D  Slovakia HC Dukla Trenčín (Slovak)
5 145 Michal Valent G  Slovakia MHC Martin (Slovak)
6 176 Patrick Kaleta RW  United States Peterborough Petes (OHL)
7 207 Mark Mancari RW  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHL)
8 241 Mike Card D  Canada Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
9 273 Dylan Hunter LW  Canada London Knights (OHL)

Farm teams

The Sabres AHL affiliate Rochester Americans played with a roster that included many future Sabres. Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Ryan Miller and Jason Pominville among others, played the season in Rochester. HSBC Arena (now the KeyBank Center) hosted a pair of Rochester games experimenting with blue ice to see if blue would make the television appearance better than white.[27] The blue ice experiment was ultimately not accepted in post-lockout rule changes.[28]

Notes

  1. ^ In parentheses is the player’s free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[6]
  2. ^ Mosovsky was inactive during the 2004–05 season.[7]
  3. ^ Patrick was inactive during the 2004–05 season.[8]

References

  1. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  2. ^ "Preseason Schedule Released". Buffalo Sabres. July 12, 2004. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "2004-2005 Season". Buffalo Sabres. Archived from the original on July 22, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "Amerks Sign Six Players". Buffalo Sabres. September 10, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "2004 free agents". ESPN.com. July 1, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Karel Mosovsky career statistics at EliteProspects.com, retrieved April 12, 2022
  8. ^ James Patrick career statistics at EliteProspects.com, retrieved April 12, 2022
  9. ^ "2004-08-24 - MIKE MORRISON AND SEAN MCASLAN SIGN ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS WITH OILERS". Edmonton Oilers. August 24, 2004. Archived from the original on September 5, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022. the Oilers signed defenceman Rick Mrozik to a one-year AHL contract.
  10. ^ "GMB PANTHERS COMPLETE THEIR DEFENCE". Nottingham Panthers. September 4, 2004. Archived from the original on September 5, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  11. ^ "FALCONS SIGN BRIAN CHAPMAN". Springfield Falcons. October 18, 2004. Archived from the original on November 7, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "ЖИТНИК ПРИЕДЕТ В "АК БАРС" 17 ДЕКАБРЯ" (in Russian). Ak Bars Kazan. December 6, 2004. Archived from the original on December 25, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "Free agency's tough to figure". Sun Journal. June 30, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "Grier Accepts Qualifying Offer". Buffalo Sabres. July 23, 2004. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d "Sabres Sign Three to One-Year Deals". Buffalo Sabres. July 28, 2004. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d "Sabres Bring Four More Players Under Contract". Buffalo Sabres. August 2, 2004. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "Hecht Signs on the Dotted Line". Buffalo Sabres. August 6, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "Biron Signs One-Year Deal". Buffalo Sabres. August 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  19. ^ "Sabres Sign Defenseman Brad Brown". Buffalo Sabres. August 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  20. ^ "Sabres Sign JP Dumont". Buffalo Sabres. August 9, 2004. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  21. ^ "Briere Signs One-Year Deal". Buffalo Sabres. August 13, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  22. ^ "Sabres Ink Kalinin to One-Year Deal". Buffalo Sabres. September 1, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  23. ^ "Sabres Sign Vanek". Buffalo Sabres. September 3, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  24. ^ "Sabres Sign Peters". Buffalo Sabres. September 14, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  25. ^ a b c d "Sabres Sign Four Remaining Restricted Free Agents". Buffalo Sabres. September 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  26. ^ "2004 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  27. ^ Brehm, Mike (March 15, 2005). "Buffalo arena trying light blue ice in experiment for TV". USA Today. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  28. ^ "RELAUNCHING THE GAME". CBC. CBC.ca. Retrieved July 16, 2012.