well the eichel pick is a no brainer. To be fair, any one of draisaitl, bennett, or reinhart would have been acceptable. he has drafted lemieux, cornel, karabacek, and guhle as second round picks, lemieux was moved in the bogosian/kane trade to help get rid of the soft/disinterested players from the previous regime. karabacek is pretty meh, but cornel and guhle are in the mix. borgen, martin, stephens, and estephan are later round picks that may have roles in the organization as well. most reasonable sabres fans seem happy with murray so far, i think the biggest complaint was that he traded the 21st pick in the draft last year for a goalie, followed by trading zadorov in the oreilly deal. there is obviously still work to do, but its certainly heading the right way.
- rover16

Martin isn't sign...

You do realize he was a big factor in bringing the supposed best coach in the NHL to the actual AHL then eventually the NHL? You do realize he was a big factor in the Perry/Getzlaf draft for Anaheim as well right? He was also pretty instrumental in drafting yearly Norris candidate Erik Karlsson.

Lol do your research next time. He's worked for more than just the Sens.

You sir are the only jabroni in these parts.
- Jammerz04

I know his resume. Wiki is a wonderful thing. I understand some Sabres fans will point to areas of past success. Drafting good players while ignoring busts.

Not sure how much of a factor he was as the director of player personnel of the Ducks bringing in coach Mike Babcock, but if you want to give him that one too, go ahead.

Murray is a golden boy to some in Buffalo. Not sure why. What has he done? Trade away a bunch of former first rounders? Time will tell his story. It's too early to tell.

Also got a ring in Anaheim . Has lots of respect amongst peers as Talent evaluator . Two Scouts I know well told me that. Just none from you so Be it . Still has a better resume than you I bet . Has done it all his life . Born into a hockey family.
- Maximum Signal

Great post

I know his resume. Wiki is a wonderful thing. I understand some Sabres fans will point to areas of past success. Drafting good players while ignoring busts.

Not sure how much of a factor he was as the director of player personnel of the Ducks bringing in coach Mike Babcock, but if you want to give him that one too, go ahead.

Murray is a golden boy to some in Buffalo. Not sure why. What has he done? Trade away a bunch of former first rounders? Time will tell his story. It's too early to tell.
- EugenesAxe

23 point improvement... that's what he did between last year and this year. and brought in some real nhl talent. rebuilding dosen't take one year.. its a process you do understand that I hope.

The Sabres missed a playoff spot by just six points last season.

Were the Sabres really that close? I thought they missed it by 15 points....

so is a late round pick ( 6th, 7th rd) considered premium yes or no?

Finding late round jewels is irrelevant to what I asked is it not?
- rinaldo

Why keep referring to 6th and 7th round picks? They have 4 3rds; those are the premium extras. 3 3rds added to any package adds value.

Also got a ring in Anaheim . Has lots of respect amongst peers as Talent evaluator . Two Scouts I know well told me that. Just none from you so Be it . Still has a better resume than you I bet . Has done it all his life . Born into a hockey family.
- Maximum Signal

as did the ice girls.

Why keep referring to 6th and 7th round picks? They have 4 3rds; those are the premium extras. 3 3rds added to any package adds value.
- Killinsurgents

that's what we were discussing.

do you believe a 6 or 7th rd pick is a premium pick? top 60 picks imo are premium. anything else after that is just that, a pick.

as did the ice girls.
- rinaldo

He was in charge of player personal . Head Scout in other words . Nothing against the ice girls . But very involved in the on ice product.

He was in charge of player personal . Head Scout in other words . Nothing against the ice girls . But very involved in the on ice product.
- Maximum Signal

good lord get off his jock. you act like he drafted all great players and never missed.

really hard to draft perry and getzlaf, drafting bobby ryan took a lot of skill. who else did he draft while with the ducks that had any impact on that cup team? who outside the 1st rd has had such a great career?

I guess he was the one who got pronger and that other guy on D who was pretty good

I know his resume. Wiki is a wonderful thing. I understand some Sabres fans will point to areas of past success. Drafting good players while ignoring busts.

Not sure how much of a factor he was as the director of player personnel of the Ducks bringing in coach Mike Babcock, but if you want to give him that one too, go ahead.

Murray is a golden boy to some in Buffalo. Not sure why. What has he done? Trade away a bunch of former first rounders? Time will tell his story. It's too early to tell.
- EugenesAxe

It's not so much this. It's that after the number of years under the same (mis)management (16 years of Darcy) and how he managed the team, it's refreshing for some to see a different approach. Darcy rarely made moves, and if he did, it almost felt like he had to try and fleece the other GM in the process. Murray takes risks, which is completely opposite to what Darcy did.

To counter this point, it's not really "trading away first rounders" when first round players are coming back in the deal (I know ROR was 33rd, and Lehner was a mid-second), but the concept is the same. You have to give to get. So first rounders going out were: Myers, Stafford(was going to be a UFA), Armia, Zadorov, and Grigorinko and two first selections. First rounders coming in: Kane, Bogo, ROR, Lehner.

There were some other pieces but you get the idea. Give to get. Some pieces will hurt more than others, while some will help more than others. Fans like it because it's the polar opposite of Darcy.

good lord get off his jock. you act like he drafted all great players and never missed.

really hard to draft perry and getzlaf, drafting bobby ryan took a lot of skill. who else did he draft while with the ducks that had any impact on that cup team? who outside the 1st rd has had such a great career?

I guess he was the one who got pronger and that other guy on D who was pretty good
- rinaldo

Has had a very good career . And is well respected for his scouting skills But nothing will prove that to you . You just enjoy trolling Garth Blogs . I will still take his resume over yours . What NHL teams have you worked for again ? We are happy with the improvement of the team . Really don't care if you are .

Has had a very good career . And is well respected for his scouting skills But nothing will prove that to you . You just enjoy trolling Garth Blogs . I will still take his resume over yours . What NHL teams have you worked for again ? We are happy with the improvement of the team . Really don't care if you are .
- Maximum Signal

you would take his resume over mine? really? wow your a genius.

he is well respected, ok great. what's that have to do with what we are discussing? what does him being well respected have to do with him drafting matt aufrey in the 6th rd of the 2004 draft or juha alen in the 2003 draft?

I am pretty sure that all gms and a high % of scouts, personal guys are well respected as well. would you agree?

good lord get off his jock. you act like he drafted all great players and never missed.

really hard to draft perry and getzlaf, drafting bobby ryan took a lot of skill. who else did he draft while with the ducks that had any impact on that cup team? who outside the 1st rd has had such a great career?

I guess he was the one who got pronger and that other guy on D who was pretty good
- rinaldo

I get where your coming from, but 18 other teams passed on Getzlaf, while 28 teams passed up on Perry. They were drafted in the later parts of the first round in their drafts, which takes scouting more than the top 5 selections would. I have no clue how much GMTM had his hand in these, but they were good hits by ANA.

I get where your coming from, but 18 other teams passed on Getzlaf, while 28 teams passed up on Perry. They were drafted in the later parts of the first round in their drafts, which takes scouting more than the top 5 selections would. I have no clue how much GMTM had his hand in these, but they were good hits by ANA.
- SDSabre

correct it does take scouting, would never deny any such thing. though 1st rd picks are a lot easier than other rounds. as you said we don't know how much he had his hands in though he was in charge of drafting so I would think a lot.

yes they were good hits in the 1st rd. what did he and his staff do after the 1st rd? that to me is what makes a good gm and staff. now all teams will have way more misses than hits, I get that.

it just seems this guy is giving up way to much credit for things is all.

he walked into a great situation in buffalo. he really hasn't had to do much. lets see how his drafts pan out in a few years excluding the 1st rd picks is all. lets se e how he manages the cap with all these up and coming players.

correct it does take scouting, would never deny any such thing. though 1st rd picks are a lot easier than other rounds. as you said we don't know how much he had his hands in though he was in charge of drafting so I would think a lot.

yes they were good hits in the 1st rd. what did he and his staff do after the 1st rd? that to me is what makes a good gm and staff. now all teams will have way more misses than hits, I get that.

it just seems this guy is giving up way to much credit for things is all.

he walked into a great situation in buffalo. he really hasn't had to do much. lets see how his drafts pan out in a few years excluding the 1st rd picks is all. lets se e how he manages the cap with all these up and coming players.
- rinaldo

I have faith in the man . Not going to bash him till he has given me a reason . His late round picks have been interesting. Scene as projects with lots of upside if they pan out. But you are never going to accept that as your are just here to troll . By the way you are doing a great job for Garth keeping his profile up by keeping his hits up . Is he giving you financial considerations or do you just do it because you are his groupie?

correct it does take scouting, would never deny any such thing. though 1st rd picks are a lot easier than other rounds. as you said we don't know how much he had his hands in though he was in charge of drafting so I would think a lot.

yes they were good hits in the 1st rd. what did he and his staff do after the 1st rd? that to me is what makes a good gm and staff. now all teams will have way more misses than hits, I get that.

it just seems this guy is giving up way to much credit for things is all.

he walked into a great situation in buffalo. he really hasn't had to do much. lets see how his drafts pan out in a few years excluding the 1st rd picks is all. lets se e how he manages the cap with all these up and coming players.
- rinaldo

Agreed on both the bolded. I'm more interested in how he works the Risto/cap situation this summer than the draft anyways.

Some names to keep an eye on for the Sabres as far as guys drafted in later rounds (meaning not the first) would be Brendan Guhle and Brycen Martin. Both have looked well in their training camps and in the preseason (I know, preseason). But both show promise. These would be good hits for Murray (and supporters) if either do eventually do become regulars.

I have faith in the man . Not going to bash him till he has given me a reason . His late round picks have been interesting. Scene as projects with lots of upside if they pan out. But you are never going to accept that as your are just here to troll . By the way you are doing a great job for Garth keeping his profile up by keeping his hits up . Is he giving you financial considerations or do you just do it because you are his groupie?
- Maximum Signal

It seems rinaldo and I are the only people looking at the big picture. Sabre marks point to all the good. None of the bad. No talk of the bad 1st rounders. Lee, Noesen, Cowen, Puempel, O'Brien. Nothing. The fact is everyone hits and misses. Sure he was "born into the business". Jaden and Willow Smith were born into the movie business. Do they belong?

Like I said. There are many chapters to be written still. Samson might end up like Griffen. Who knows.

I have faith in the man . Not going to bash him till he has given me a reason . His late round picks have been interesting. Scene as projects with lots of upside if they pan out. But you are never going to accept that as your are just here to troll . By the way you are doing a great job for Garth keeping his profile up by keeping his hits up . Is he giving you financial considerations or do you just do it because you are his groupie?
- Maximum Signal

I don't think the Sabres get enough press on the massive improvement from last year to this one. Lost their #1 goalie early in the season too. Big things ahead. Cheers