GARTH'S CORNER: Murray: Sabres Will Be Better

$35 mil cap space, another $15 mil and GMTM is in Blackhawks $50mil/10 player cap space territory, always having to juggle and trade to balance the cap. $10 mil/6/7years for Stamkos and $5mil/6 years for Fowler. Where does soft playing Ryan's 6yr/$7 mil fit into this picture. How does GMTM pay Risto, Eichel, Reinhart, Lehner in 3 years. What a blowhard.

None of this stuff makes any sense.

Tim Murray is an uber GM. Why? He has done nothing to date. Other than being the son of Brian Murray.

The draft gong show in TO on April 30th? Murray has better things to do than attend. Why did he go last year? Why is it now a gong show?

The Sabres have 30M+ to spend in free agency. Yes and no. The have been terrible for years. Apparently have awesome young players. All will need to be paid in 2-3 years time. Bub-bye $30M. Reminds me of the folly signing of David Bolland in FLA. $5.6M for 5 years? OKnow, but how are they going to pay the kids in 2-3 years?

More Cam Fowler nonsense. You do know the Ducks aren't just going to give him away. There is nothing in Rochester. So you need to give up a roster player or a first rounder to get him. Something completely lost on the blogger. And a awesome package of Ennis plus will not get that done.

Of course the team has improved. They were trying to lose last year. How can't they improve from that garbage?? This team is miles away from being anything respectable. Keep kidding yourselfs.

^ if I remember correctly, Buffalo and Montreal are neck and neck in the standings.

$35 mil cap space, another $15 mil and GMTM is in Blackhawks $50mil/10 player cap space territory, always having to juggle and trade to balance the cap. $10 mil/6/7years for Stamkos and $5mil/6 years for Fowler. Where does soft playing Ryan's 6yr/$7 mil fit into this picture. How does GMTM pay Risto, Eichel, Reinhart, Lehner in 3 years. What a blowhard.
- freeman49

Moulson comes off the books in 3 years, there's 5 mil. Salary cap goes up each year also. I doubt Kane resigns either, there's 11+.

And I think anyone suggests trying to stack both a Stamkos and Ryans salary together - Garth suggested one or the other. However, I think we'll get neither of them.

I don't think the Blackhawks have a problem - they keep using players in their prime, keeping their core, and bringing in hot talent like panarin and anisimov on dollar bargains. When you are winning, you are attractive to young free agents who would love a cup on the resume and playing with high level talent.

GMTM did bring in ROR and gave up two prospects that were part of the Regier problem. Two of his other trades haven't had a solid shake as they have been injured most of the season, but he also cleared out Myers and Stafford, and they had worn out their welcome as well. I don't get the hate for TM. It's one year.

I do find the Vesey rumors very intriguing...close to family, close to home (Boston), playing with a close friend. That would actually help make this rebuild nearly complete.

And there's no reason that a top 4 defenseman like Cam Fowler or Vatanan cannot be had, but it would center around someone like Girgensons, who is expendable and still has a ceiling.

Moulson comes off the books in 3 years, there's 5 mil. Salary cap goes up each year also. I doubt Kane resigns either, there's 11+.

And I think anyone suggests trying to stack both a Stamkos and Ryans salary together - Garth suggested one or the other. However, I think we'll get neither of them.

I don't think the Blackhawks have a problem - they keep using players in their prime, keeping their core, and bringing in hot talent like panarin and anisimov on dollar bargains. When you are winning, you are attractive to young free agents who would love a cup on the resume and playing with high level talent.

GMTM did bring in ROR and gave up two prospects that were part of the Regier problem. Two of his other trades haven't had a solid shake as they have been injured most of the season, but he also cleared out Myers and Stafford, and they had worn out their welcome as well. I don't get the hate for TM. It's one year.

I do find the Vesey rumors very intriguing...close to family, close to home (Boston), playing with a close friend. That would actually help make this rebuild nearly complete.

And there's no reason that a top 4 defenseman like Cam Fowler or Vatanan cannot be had, but it would center around someone like Girgensons, who is expendable and still has a ceiling.
- jackzack87

salary caps not guaranteed to go up every year. they actually might have to dip into player eacow to move it up next season

i see the sabres are still working on winning their first stanley cup. let me know when that streak ends

i see the sabres are still working on winning their first stanley cup. let me know when that streak ends
- Jurco_28

Coming from the guy who's city has lost two teams already.

None of this stuff makes any sense.

Tim Murray is an uber GM. Why? He has done nothing to date. Other than being the son of Brian Murray.

The draft gong show in TO on April 30th? Murray has better things to do than attend. Why did he go last year? Why is it now a gong show?

The Sabres have 30M+ to spend in free agency. Yes and no. The have been terrible for years. Apparently have awesome young players. All will need to be paid in 2-3 years time. Bub-bye $30M. Reminds me of the folly signing of David Bolland in FLA. $5.6M for 5 years? OKnow, but how are they going to pay the kids in 2-3 years?

More Cam Fowler nonsense. You do know the Ducks aren't just going to give him away. There is nothing in Rochester. So you need to give up a roster player or a first rounder to get him. Something completely lost on the blogger. And a awesome package of Ennis plus will not get that done.
- EugenesAxe

Nope

I actually agree with much of a Garth column!

If the Sabres get some lottery luck, land a quality defenseman (via UFA or trade) and one more ingredient (see below), they could and maybe should be a playoff team next year.

The Wings and Bruins are fading, Stamkos is probably done with the Lightning. Other than Florida and the rockbottom Leafs, no other team in the Atlantic is trending upward like the Sabres are.

The one part I have to disagree with is goaltending. Chad Johnson may have gotten it done this year, but he couldn't stop a beach ball last year (but was good the year before that), while Lehner clearly can't be banked on to stay in the lineup. The Sabres absolutely need to add another viable goalie to the mix.

It doesn't hurt to dream, dreams are free. Stamkos may be a long shot, But if Murray( who by the way is Bryan Murray's nephew not son) thinks Stamkos can be a core piece going forward of the likes of Toews or P. Kane then why not? I believe that the Fowler situation is more possible than anybody on this site believes. To say the Sabres don't have the prospect pool to add someone of Fowler's caliber is shortsighted at best, but there might be a young veteran defenseman that Murray thinks more highly of. I would have no problem if Murray were to include this years #1 if it brings us the right player. I would rather have an established young defenseman then someone we have to develop for 2 years, we have the young Dmen to develop, we need someone who can step right in next year.
I also think that if you give Lehner the off season to get in shape, which he will, he will be fine as the #1 goalie, but I would still like them to resign Johnson for 2 years to give the young goalies in the system time to develop.
I hope Eichel CAN work his magic in Vesey and convinces him Buffalo is the place to be. like I said dreams are free

Hey Garf remember about a few weeks ago you were saying we were for surely pickin in the top 5?

Remember when I told you no chance unless we win the lottery?