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Murray Is Prepared To Make O'Reilly Highest Paid Sabre

June 26, 2015, 5:05 PM ET [51 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
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Updated:



There is nothing about Ryan O'Reilly that Tim Murray does not like. Murray has spoken with players who have played with ROR, and, he has spoken with coaches and GMs who have mentored him. Ryan O'Reilly makes people around him better.


Thanks, Sabres TV






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Jack Eichel called it the best day of his life. Being drafted #2 overall is a great accomplishment. Now he is a Buffalo Sabres center of attention.

Eichel praised the fans of the Buffalo Sabres and the Western New York community for the way that they have embraced him and welcomed him to their close knit community.



Thanks, NHL




Here's the official press release from the Sabres:



The Buffalo Sabres acquired three forwards today during the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, beginning with the selection of center Jack Eichel (Boston University – Hockey East) with the second overall pick of the draft. Immediately after the selection, the Sabres acquired forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and JT Compher and the 31st pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Eichel (6’2”, 196 lbs., 10/28/1996) joined Paul Kariya as the second freshman ever to earn the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey’s top player after leading all NCAA players with 71 points (26+45) in 40 games during his first collegiate season at Boston University in 2014-15.

A native of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Eichel led Boston University to a conference championship as the Most Valuable Player of the Hockey East Tournament before adding five points (2+3) in four NCAA Tournament games for the Terriers. In addition to the Hobey Baker Award, Eichel racked up several other major accolades for his standout freshman season, including NCAA Rookie of the Year, first-team All-American and Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and was a unanimous selection as a first-team Hockey East All-Star.

Eichel also stood out on the international stage last season, beginning with a 2015 World Junior Championship in which he captained the United States squad while serving as the team’s top center. After finishing his season at Boston University, Eichel joined Team USA at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, where he became the first draft-eligible player to play for the United States in the tournament since Phil Housley did so in 1982. Eichel recorded seven points (2+5) in 10 World Championship games to help Team USA to a bronze medal.

O’Reilly (6’0”, 210 lbs., 2/7/1991) joins the Sabres after tallying 55 points (17+38) in 82 games last season as a member of the Avalanche. The Clinton, Ontario native led all Colorado skaters in faceoff percentage (53.3%) and takeaways (55), and led all Colorado forwards with 19:43 of ice time per game in 2014-15.

After being selected in the second round (33rd overall) by the Avalanche in 2009, O’Reilly has appeared in six NHL seasons with Colorado, registering at least 50 points in each of the last three full seasons. In 427 NHL regular-season games, he has recorded 246 points (90+156) and 64 penalty minutes, adding seven points (3+4) in 13 postseason games.

A seven-year NHL veteran, McGinn (6’1”, 210 lbs., 8/5/1988) has appeared in 366 games with the Avalanche and the San Jose Sharks, recording 128 points (69+59) and 172 penalty minutes. Though he spent most of the 2014-15 season on injured reserve, McGinn registered career-best totals in assists (19) and points (38) in 79 games in 2013-14.



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Great day in Buffalo Sabres history.

Trade for Robin Lehner, Ryan O'Reilly, Jamie McGinn

Draft Jack Eichel.

Hell yes!









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Tim Murray and Joe Sakic have made a blockbuster trade that will add immediate value and credibility to each team.

Ryan O'Reilly's days in Denver are over. He is now a Buffalo Sabre. The Sabres also will receicve winger Jamie McGinn.

The Sabres will have to part with D Nikita Zadorov, center Mikhail Grigorenko, prospect center JT Compher and the 31st overall pick in tonight's draft.

The NHL has approved the deal.






Don't sweat the small stuff with ROR being UFA next July. Murray and O'Reilly's agent will hammer out the long term extension shortly. Newport Sports represents O'Reilly, as well as Evander Kane and the newly acquired David Legwand.

Here 's the Buffalo center depth chart moving forward:

O'Reilly
Eichel
Reinhart
Girgensons
Ennis
Legwand
Hodgson (buyout possibility)
Ellis
McCormick



Here is my initial reaction:

I LOVE O'Reilly's size, strength, skill, and hockey smarts. He is every bit the leader as Jonathon Toews, Anze Kopitar, and John Tavares. He is all business and he possesses the unique leadership and skill characteristics of a champion.

McGinn is a a very interesting/useful winger in that he plays a puck possession game and he can score. He will slot in on Buffalo's third line and will add depth and leadership.

As for Grigorenko, I 'm happy for him. He will be reunited with his Quebec Remparts head coach Patrick Roy. Their relationship is very strong. Nobody understands Grigo quite the way that Roy does. I can't wait to watch Grigo skate and make plays for his former QMJHL rival Nathan MacKinnon. The world hasn't seen the best from Mikhail Grigorenko yet. He will thrive in the Rocky Mountains. He has all world puck skills and vision. His shot is outstanding. He is now 6'3 and 225 pounds, and can squat 400 lbs. multiple times. Look out, here comes Grigo!





Zadorov learned the hard way in 2014-15 that the NHL is a man's game. He got himself in trouble with his coaches and teammates last summer when he arrived at prospects camp out of shape and sloppy. His self discipline was lacking. He was benched at the Traverse City tournament in a 5-1 loss to Dallas. He was bag skated repeatedly to get himself into playing shape. His tardiness was an issue as well. Hopefully he will report to Colorado camp in the best shape of his life. He was married in Moscow last week. The honeymoon is over.

JT Compher is the captain of the University of Michigan Wolverines this season. He has a lot of Steve Ott's agitator style in his game. The Sabres will miss his snarl and skill.



The loss of Zadorov will move Jake McCabe and Mark Pysyk up the organizational depth chart.
















More to come.....







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Now that Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton have been traded to LA and Calgary, respectively, the next major domino to fall will be Ryan O'Reilly.

The Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres have been linked to one another ever since February The rumors won't die..

No deal was made at the NHL Trade Deadline, however, the Sabres are said to have put a ghost man on first base with the Avs regarding ROR, who is seeking a max out $60 million deal over 8 years. Money will not be an object in Buffalo.

The Avs-Sabres are having substantive conversations on the draft floor in advance of the NHL Draft.




Mike Halford tweeted @HalfordPHT tweeted that the entire Colorado drafting group (Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy, scouts) visited the Buffalo draft table after their long group huddle around Sakic. Six guys including Roy. Joe Sakic then went back to Buffalo table to speak with Tim Murray with Greg Sherman. Then, Sakic and Murray approached the draft stage. For what reason? Don't know yet? Are they reporting a trade to the NHL?







Oh, by the way, the Sabres selected Jack Eichel second overall.





More to come.....


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Being a rookie NHL GM isn't an intimidating thing for Don Sweeney to have to deal with.

In two shocking moves, has traded two pillars of the Boston Bruins in Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton.


The Bruins Kings' first-round pick, the 13th overall selection, Colin Miller, backup goaltender Martin Jones.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, Sweeney traded defenseman Doug Hamilton to Calgary in exchange for the 15th overall pick in the draft. The Bruins also receive Flames picks number 45 and 52 Hamilton.


The Bruins are now owners of picks number 13, 14, and 15.

It's being speculated that Sweeney will use these three numbers one picks to entice Arizona Desert Dogs GM Don Maloney to trade the #3 overall pick to Boston. The Bruins would then use pick #3 to select Boston College D Noah Hanifin third overall. Hanifin is arguably the number one defenseman in the 2015 NHL Draft. Don Sweeney has scouted the kid extensively at Boston College. Acquiring Hanifin would go a long way to replacing the departed Hamilton.


Lucic will cost Los Angles $6 million against the cap next season, and will reach unrestricted free
agency in July 2016.


Pierre LeBrun reports that the Bruins will eat $2.7 million of Lucic's salary to assist the cash and cap strapped Kings to afford Looch.




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Jones won't be teh starter in Beantown. He will backup Tuuka Rask. The B's also have quality goalie prospects Malcolm Subban and Zane McIntyre.
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