The NHL trade deadline came and went with nary a transaction by Sabres management.
No pending UFAs left town nor were any difference makers imported to Buffalo.
The Sabres host the Arizona Coyotes in a rematch grudge match tonight. The Sabres blew a 2-0 third period lead en route to an embarrassing 3-2 loss in 'Zona on Sunday night.
Earlier this afternoon, Sabres GM Tim Murray told WGR Buffalo he met with his players this afternoon. The loquacious Murray said:
"I expressed my confidence in them going forward over the last 19 games".
Murray added:
"I still believe that these players can get it (earning a wild card berth) done. Maybe it's false belief, but I believe they can get it done."
Awkward in that Murray said in his Wednesday newser that he was actively trying to trade UFA to be defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Cody Franson. Murray said that no NHL teams took the bait and traded for Kulikov and Franson. It must have been bittersweet for Kulikov and Franson to walk into work on Thursday morning knowing full well that the boys was trying aggressively to get rid of you but there were zero takers.
Murray takes full responsibility for the poor performances this season of his cumulative blue line. Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe are the two horses pulling the bandwagon for Bylsma's blue line. Murray hasn't given Bylsma the qualified soldiers to man his blue line.
"Listen, I have to improve the blue line. That's on me."
"To get a real good young D-man that can play in our top-four that can play on special teams, I don't know how many points that'd be worth."
Murray also took trade calls on his captain Brian Gionta and his leading goal scorer Evander Kane.
Murray said he is open to offering the 38 year old captain a one year contract extension to stay in Buffalo.
By his own admission, Murray was all talk and no action on NHL trade deadline day.
His Sabres are 6 points out of a wild card berth with just 19 games to play.
I don't like their chances to go 16-3 or 17-2 to qualify for a wild card berth.
Murray also said on Thursday that if the Sabres fall completely out of the playoff race, he is considering promotion his 2016 first round pick Alex Nylander and winger prospect Hudson Fasching for a look see. Why not, right?
Murray on Nylander:
"He's had a lot of good lessons [in Rochester].What it's taught him is the game's not easy."
Don't be surprised when defenseman Brandan Guhle arrives in Buffalo in to play more games with the big boys after his junior team gets eliminated from the WHL playoffs.
Murray has nothing to lose and valuable experience for his youngsters to gain.
Dan Bylsma should start sitting slacking, ineffective vets like Dmitry Kulikov and Matt Moulson play the kids.
The future is now for Murray's prospects.
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Murray also said on Thursday he is prepared to begin talks on new contracts for with Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart on July 1 when the negotiating period opens,
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Jack Eichel has logged 22 points (6+16) in his last 21 games, including seven multi-point outings. The Sabres are 10-1-0 this season (and 19-4-0 in his career) when he has at least two points.
Evander Kane has 16 points (10+6) in his last 17 games.
Rasmus Ristolainen has a point in nine of his last 13 games (1+8).
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Ryan O’Reilly has 19 points (6+13) in his last 18 home games.
Sam Reinhart has 12 points (4+8) in his last 13 home games and hasn’t gone two home games without a point since December 6 and 9.
Jack Eichel has 20 points (7+13) in 21 home games this season, including six multi-point outings.
Evander Kane has seven points (6+1) in his last seven home games.
Kyle Okposo has nine points (5+4) in his last 11 home games and hasn’t gone two home games without a point since Jan. 7 and 10.
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Evander Kane has scored each of his 22 goals this season in his last 39 games.
Kane is tied for sixth in the NHL with 21 even-strength goals despite not scoring his first until December 3.
Since December 1, Kane is ranked third among all NHL skaters in goals (22), leads the league in even-strength goals (21) and is tied for fifth in shots on goal (147).
Kane’s current pace of .412 even-strength goals per game is the highest by any Sabre with at least 15 games played since Alexander Mogilny’s franchise-best mark in 1992-93 (.636)