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.
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.
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.