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Tim Murray has a list of goalie candidates and he checks it daily. He is closing in on reeling in his next starting netminder. Murray admitted Thursday that he has spoken with five NHL GMs about goaltending. He will continue the talks until they come to fruition in the form of a starting goalie. Murray has a profile and preference. He has an aggressive strategy.
“To find a goalie. That’s the basic plan. But there’s different ways, right. I mean, I’ve talked to five teams about goalies they have. We’ve got a list of free agent goalies. So the basic plan is we have to get a goalie. That’s for sure.
“But it’s always a moving plan. The plan always moves. I said that all along. We would love to trade for a goalie. We would love to trade for a youngish goalie. If that doesn’t work, we would trade for a real good short-term goalie. Who’s older. If we could sign the best or second best free agent goalie we’d be happy with that too.
“You’re working it every day, and you’re trying to figure out first of all the goalies that are available via trade – what the price is. Then can you afford that price. If, at the end of the day you can’t, then you have to move on to Plan B.… Here's my guess at the five teams that he has spoken with about goaltending help:
1. Ottawa 2. Calgary 3. Vancouver 4. Anaheim 5. NY Rangers
The Sens will be trading youngish goalie Robin Lehner whom Murray is very familiar with from his days in Ottawa and Binghampton. Craig Anderson is also available for a steep price (top 6 F and draft choice).
Brian Burke will be moving on from his tandem of Jonas Hiller and youngster Karri Ramo. I see Burke trading for Ottawa's Craig Anderson.
Jim Benning will be keeping Ryan Miller and will be moving on from either Jakub Markstrom or Eddie Lack.
Freddy Andersen took the Ducks deep into the Western Conference Finals only to lose to Chicago. Andersen's emergence makes youngster John Gibson a tradeable commodity.
It remains to be seen if Glen Sather will decide to move Cam Talbot at the draft.
Murray admitted that his goalie quest has been a process. He needs three goalies. Chad Johnson has one year left on his current deal and will remain in Buffalo. Murray needs his Buffalo starter, a Rochester starter, and another puck stopper. With Linus Ullmark on the mend from double hip surgery and Matt Hackett a UFA, he needs a starter in Rochester.
Watch Murray and Bylsma here:
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Dan Bylsma has hired two veteran NHL coaches on Thursday.
Terry Murray and Dave Barr will serve as Bylsma's assistant coaches.
Bylsma said that he is very pleased to be able to add Murray and Barr to his coaching staff.
Terry Murray is Tim Murray’s uncle. After the presser, Tim said the decision to hire Terry was totally Bylsma's call. Tim Murray joked after the presser that Uncle Terry is a U.S. citizen now and hasn't been home to Shawville in the past 25 years.
Murray has an impressive hockey coaching resume having spent 15 seasons as an NHL head coach. He coached Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley in 2014-15.
Murray is adept at developing young defenseman.
“ (There is ) a ton of experience in both guys,… Bylsma said. “Terry is a guy who’s been a head coach in this league. He’s been an assistant coach in this league. He’s been a head coach at the American Hockey League level. He’s coached with and under some other great coaches in other great systems, organizations. Terry’s bringing that to our team. I think it’s going to be a huge part of our development".
Barr most recently was an assistant coach in New Jersey. He played 614 NHL games. He previously served as a head coach in the AHL and OHL.
Barr is a special team maven. The Sabres need help rebuilding their power play and penalty kill.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, start your Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart engines!
The Buffalo Sabres will be holding its annual summer development camp from July 6-12 at First Niagara Center. This will mark the fourth year in a row the ice will be installed during the summer and the development camp will be held at the home of the Sabres.
On-ice camp sessions throughout the week will be open to the public and an intra-squad “Blue & Gold Scrimmage… will take place on Friday, July 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the scrimmage will cost $10 and will go on sale on June 26, with an exclusive presale for season ticket holders starting on June 22. Tickets can be purchased at the Sabres box office and at Sabres.com.
An intra-squad 3-on-3 tournament will highlight the final day of camp on Sunday, July 12. A complete schedule with practice times will be announced at the end of June and posted at Sabres.com.
The camp will feature approximately 40 Sabres prospects, including the team’s 2015 NHL Draft picks, all of whom are scheduled to participate in camp. A preliminary development camp roster will be available in early July.
Attendees will take part in both on-ice and off-ice workouts. The goals of the camp are to show prospective players the fundamental ideas of the Sabres’ playing system and expose them to the conditioning programs of an NHL player. Camp participants will also study and examine NHL rules and the successful techniques a player must possess to become a professional athlete.