The 2024–25 Buffalo Sabres season was the 55th season of play for the Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). It was the team's first season with Lindy Ruff back as head coach since 2013.

The Sabres suffered a 13-game winless streak in late November and early December that dropped them to last place in the Eastern Conference for much of the season. Despite this, the Sabres gained a hot streak towards the end of March and early April that kept their faint playoff hopes alive in a tight conference, but it was ultimately in vain as they were finally eliminated on April 8, 2025, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Detroit Red Wings. As a result, Buffalo missed the postseason for the 14th consecutive season, continuing the longest playoff drought in NHL history.

Standings Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 24, 2024. 2024 preseason game log: 6–1–0 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Pittsburgh 3–7 Buffalo Luukkonen (1–0–0) 12,013 1–0–0 2 September 23 Columbus 1–6 Buffalo Levi(1–0–0) 9,924 2–0–0 3 September 24 Buffalo 3–2 Pittsburgh Houser (1–0–0) 11,588 3–0–0 4 September 26 Buffalo 3–2 Ottawa OT Sandstrom (1–0–0) 13,411 4–0–0 5 September 27 Buffalo 5–0 EHC Red Bull München Luukkonen (2–0–0) 10,796 5–0–0 6 September 28 Buffalo 3–6 Columbus Sandstrom (1–1–0) 12,305 5–1–0 7 September 30 Detroit 3–4 Buffalo OT Sandstrom (2–1–0) 11,245 6–1–0 Notes: Game played at SAP Garden in Munich, Germany

Regular season The regular season schedule was published on July 2, 2024. 2024–25 game logOctober: 4–5–1 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 1–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 4 New Jersey 4–1 Buffalo Luukkonen (0–1–0) Main 16,913 0–1–0 0 2 October 5 Buffalo 1–3 New Jersey Levi (0–1–0) Main 16,722 0–2–0 0 3 October 10 Los Angeles 3–1 Buffalo Luukkonen (0–2–0) Main 19,070 0–3–0 0 4 October 12 Florida 2–5 Buffalo Levi (1–1–0) Main 16,644 1–3–0 2 5 October 16 Buffalo 5–6 Pittsburgh OT Luukkonen (0–2–1) Main 15,644 1–3–1 3 6 October 17 Buffalo 4–6 Columbus Levi (1–2–0) Main 16,126 1–4–1 3 7 October 19 Buffalo 4–2 Chicago Luukkonen (1–2–1) Main 18,773 2–4–1 5 8 October 22 Dallas 2–4 Buffalo Luukkonen (2–2–1) Main 13,014 3–4–1 7 9 October 26 Detroit 3–5 Buffalo Luukkonen (3–2–1) Alt 15,017 4–4–1 9 10 October 28 Florida 5–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (3–3–1) Main 12,906 4–5–1 9 November: 7–6–1 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 1 NY Islanders 4–3 Buffalo Levi (1–3–0) Alt 17,074 4–6–1 9 12 November 2 Buffalo 1–2 Detroit Luukkonen (3–4–1) Main 19,515 4–7–1 9 13 November 5 Ottawa 1–5 Buffalo Luukkonen (4–4–1) Main 12,260 5–7–1 11 14 November 7 Buffalo 6–1 NY Rangers Luukkonen (5–4–1) Main 18,006 6–7–1 13 15 November 9 Calgary 2–3 Buffalo SO Luukkonen (6–4–1) Main 16,442 7–7–1 15 16 November 11 Montreal 7–5 Buffalo Levi (1–4–0) Main 15,687 7–8–1 15 17 November 14 St. Louis 3–4 Buffalo OT Levi (2–4–0) Main 13,943 8–8–1 17 18 November 16 Buffalo 2–5 Philadelphia Levi (2–5–0) Main 18,793 8–9–1 17 19 November 20 Buffalo 1–0 Los Angeles Luukkonen (7–4–1) Main 16,778 9–9–1 19 20 November 22 Buffalo 3–2 Anaheim Luukkonen (8–4–1) Main 13,776 10–9–1 21 21 November 23 Buffalo 4–2 San Jose Reimer (1–0–0) Main 17,435 11–9–1 23 22 November 27 Minnesota 1–0 Buffalo Luukkonen (8–5–1) Main 17,326 11–10–1 23 23 November 29 Vancouver 4–3 Buffalo OT Luukkonen (8–4–2) Alt 18,059 11–10–2 24 24 November 30 Buffalo 0–3 NY Islanders Reimer (1–1–0) Main 16,299 11–11–2 24 December: 3–9–2 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 3 Colorado 5–4 Buffalo Luukkonen (8–5–2) Main 14,942 11–12–2 24 26 December 5 Winnipeg 3–2 Buffalo OT Luukkonen (8–5–3) Main 14,497 11–12–3 25 27 December 7 Utah 5–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (8–6–3) Main 15,071 11–13–3 25 28 December 9 Detroit 6–5 Buffalo SO Reimer (1–1–1) Main 14,559 11–13–4 26 29 December 11 NY Rangers 3–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (8–7–3) Main 15,815 11–14–4 26 30 December 14 Buffalo 2–4 Washington Luukkonen (8–8–3) Main 18,573 11–15–4 26 31 December 15 Buffalo 3–5 Toronto Levi (2–6–0) Main 18,588 11–16–4 26 32 December 17 Buffalo 1–6 Montreal Luukkonen (8–9–3) Main 21,105 11–17–4 26 33 December 20 Toronto 6–3 Buffalo Luukkonen (8–10–3) Alt 18,267 11–18–4 26 34 December 21 Buffalo 1–3 Boston Luukkonen (8–11–3) Main 17,850 11–19–4 26 35 December 23 Buffalo 7–1 NY Islanders Luukkonen (9–11–3) Main 17,255 12–19–4 28 36 December 27 Chicago 2–6 Buffalo Luukkonen (10–11–3) Alt 19,070 13–19–4 30 37 December 29 Buffalo 4–2 St. Louis Luukkonen (11–11–3) Main 18,096 14–19–4 32 38 December 31 Buffalo 2–4 Dallas Luukkonen (11–12–3) Main 18,532 14–20–4 32 January: 6–6–1 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Buffalo 5–6 Colorado OT Luukkonen (11–12–4) Main 18,081 14–20–5 33 40 January 4 Buffalo 1–3 Vegas Reimer (1–2–1) Main 18,111 14–21–5 33 41 January 6 Washington 3–4 Buffalo SO Luukkonen (12–12–4) Main 15,548 15–21–5 35 42 January 9 Buffalo 4–0 Ottawa Luukkonen (13–12–4) Main 16,276 16–21–5 37 43 January 11 Seattle 6–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (13–13–4) Main 16,759 16–22–5 37 44 January 15 Carolina 2–4 Buffalo Luukkonen (14–13–4) Main 13,449 17–22–5 39 45 January 17 Pittsburgh 5–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (14–14–4) Main 19,070 17–23–5 39 46 January 20 Buffalo 4–6 Seattle Levi (2–7–0) Main 17,151 17–24–5 39 47 January 21 Buffalo 3–2 Vancouver Luukkonen (15–14–4) Main 19,064 18–24–5 41 48 January 23 Buffalo 2–5 Calgary Luukkonen (15–15–4) Main 17,585 18–25–5 41 49 January 25 Buffalo 2–3 Edmonton Reimer (1–3–1) Main 18,347 18–26–5 41 50 January 28 Boston 2–7 Buffalo Luukkonen (16–15–4) Main 15,607 19–26–5 43 51 January 31 Nashville 3–4 Buffalo Luukkonen (17–15–4) Alt 18,347 20–26–5 45 February: 4–2–0 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 2 New Jersey 3–4 Buffalo Luukkonen (18–15–4) Main 15,710 21–26–5 47 53 February 4 Columbus 2–3 Buffalo Reimer (2–3–1) Main 14,198 22–26–5 49 54 February 8 Buffalo 4–6 Nashville Luukkonen (18–16–4) Main 17,159 22–27–5 49 55 February 22 NY Rangers 2–8 Buffalo Luukkonen (19–16–4) Main 19,070 23–27–5 51 56 February 25 Anaheim 2–3 Buffalo Luukkonen (20–16–4) Main 13,921 24–27–5 53 57 February 27 Buffalo 2–5 Carolina Reimer (2–4–1) Main 18,844 24–28–5 53 March: 7–8–1 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 3–6–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 58 March 1 Montreal 4–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (20–17–4) Alt 18,361 24–29–5 53 59 March 3 Buffalo 3–4 Montreal OT Reimer (2–4–2) Main 21,105 24–29–6 54 60 March 4 San Jose 6–2 Buffalo Luukkonen (20–18–4) Main 14,741 24–30–6 54 61 March 6 Buffalo 5–6 Tampa Bay Luukkonen (20–19–4) Main 19,092 24–31–6 54 62 March 8 Buffalo 0–4 Florida Luukkonen (20–20–4) Main 19,559 24–32–6 54 63 March 10 Edmonton 2–3 Buffalo Luukkonen (21–20–4) Alt 18,263 25–32–6 56 64 March 12 Buffalo 3–7 Detroit Luukkonen (21–21–4) Alt 18,885 25–33–6 56 65 March 15 Vegas 3–4 Buffalo SO Luukkonen (22–21–4) Alt 16,770 26–33–6 58 66 March 17 Buffalo 3–2 Boston OT Luukkonen (23–21–4) Main 17,850 27–33–6 60 67 March 20 Buffalo 2–5 Utah Reimer (2–5–2) Main 11,131 27–34–6 60 68 March 22 Buffalo 1–4 Minnesota Luukkonen (24–22–4) Main 18,379 27–35–6 60 69 March 23 Buffalo 5–3 Winnipeg Reimer (3–5–2) Alt 15,225 28–35–6 62 70 March 25 Ottawa 2–3 Buffalo Reimer (4–5–2) Main 13,955 29–35–6 64 71 March 27 Pittsburgh 3–7 Buffalo Reimer (5–5–2) Main 16,418 30–35–6 66 72 March 29 Buffalo 4–7 Philadelphia Luukkonen (24–23–4) Main 19,092 30–36–6 66 73 March 30 Buffalo 8–5 Washington Reimer (6–5–2) Main 18,573 31–36–6 68 April: 5–3–1 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 1–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Team Logo Attendance Record Pts Recap 74 April 1 Buffalo 5–2 Ottawa Reimer (7–5–2) Main 16,446 32–36–6 70 75 April 5 Tampa Bay 2–3 Buffalo SO Reimer (8–5–2) Alt 15,982 33–36–6 72 76 April 6 Boston 3–6 Buffalo Luukkonen (25–23–4) Main 15,653 34–36–6 74 77 April 8 Carolina 0–3 Buffalo Reimer (9–5–2) Alt 13,709 35–36–6 76 78 April 10 Buffalo 2–3 Columbus Reimer (9–6–2) Main 16,406 35–37–6 76 79 April 12 Buffalo 2–3 Florida SO Luukkonen (25–23–5) Main 19,318 35–37–7 77 80 April 13 Buffalo 4–7 Tampa Bay Reimer (9–7–2) Main 19,092 35–38–7 77 81 April 15 Toronto 4–0 Buffalo Luukkonen (25–24–5) Main 17,160 35–39–7 77 82 April 17 Philadelphia 4–5 Buffalo Reimer (10–7–2) Alt 16,633 36–39–7 79 Legend:

Notes: Game played at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic

Player statistics

Skaters Regular season Player 76 44 28 72 35 77 27 41 68 34 73 17 51 68 +11 54 82 36 31 67 +16 47 73 21 32 53 +4 57 79 20 33 53 +13 16 79 7 33 40 16 74 15 24 39 18 82 7 31 38 +11 46 ‡ 61 11 20 31 62 75 10 18 28 +1 60 81 10 18 28 60 62 15 9 24 18 73 1 15 16 45 62 4 10 14 +3 22 76 4 6 10 29 34 3 5 8 45 60 4 3 7 28 48 0 7 7 10 ‡ 42 3 3 6 +6 12 21 3 2 5 2 ‡ 25 0 5 5 50 † 15 1 3 4 +3 13 † 3 1 1 2 10 ‡ 19 1 1 2 17 8 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 55 55 3,172:13 24 24 5 169 3.20 1,490 .887 2 0 1 2 † 22 19 1,242:50 10 8 2 60 2.90 596 .901 1 0 0 0 9 8 480:38 2 7 0 33 4.12 258 .872 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 2024–25 season.

Key: Contract is entry-level. Contract initially takes effect in the 2025–26 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Washington Capitals2nd-round pick in 2024 To Buffalo SabresBeck Malenstyn To Edmonton OilersMatthew Savoie To Buffalo SabresRyan McLeodTyler Tullio To Pittsburgh PenguinsColton Poolman To Buffalo SabresBennett MacArthur To Boston BruinsHenri Jokiharju To Buffalo SabresEDM 4th-round pick in 2026 To New York RangersNicolas Aube-Kubel To Buffalo SabresErik Brannstrom To Ottawa SenatorsDylan CozensDennis Gilbert2nd-round pick in 2026 To Buffalo SabresJacob Bernard-DockerJosh Norris To Utah Hockey ClubJJ Peterka To Buffalo SabresJosh DoanMichael Kesselring

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Nicolas Aube-Kubel Washington Capitals 1-year Free agency Josh Dunne Columbus Blue Jackets 2-year Free agency Dennis Gilbert Calgary Flames 1-year Free agency Sam Lafferty Vancouver Canucks 2-year Free agency Jack Rathbone Pittsburgh Penguins 1-year Free agency Felix Sandstrom Philadelphia Flyers 1-year Free agency Jason Zucker Nashville Predators 1-year Free agency Colton Poolman Calgary Flames 1-year Free agency James Reimer Detroit Red Wings 1-year Free agency James Reimer Anaheim Ducks Waivers

Players lost Date Player New team Term Via Ref Jeff Skinner Edmonton Oilers 1-year Buyout Brandon Biro Seattle Kraken 1-year Free agency Joseph Cecconi Minnesota Wild 1-year Free agency Eric Comrie Winnipeg Jets 2-year Free agency Jeremy Davies Ottawa Senators 1-year Free agency Zemgus Girgensons Tampa Bay Lightning 3-year Free agency Tyson Jost Carolina Hurricanes 1-year Free agency Eric Robinson Carolina Hurricanes 1-year Free agency Victor Olofsson Vegas Golden Knights 1-year Free agency Riley Stillman Carolina Hurricanes 1-year Free agency James Reimer Anaheim Ducks Waivers

Signings Date Player Term Ref Kale Clague 1-year Jacob Bryson 1-year Mason Jobst 1-year Brett Murray 1-year Henri Jokiharju 1-year Konsta Helenius 3-year Beck Malenstyn 2-year Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 5-year Peyton Krebs 2-year Scott Ratzlaff 3-year Jordan Greenway 2-year

Draft picks

Below are the Buffalo Sabres selections at the 2024 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 28 and 29, 2024, at Sphere in Paradise, Nevada.