Hey, Sabres fans.
If you happen to bump into Tim Murray at the arena or at Timmy Ho's this holiday weekend, do yourself a favor. Don't piss and moan to him about how you were jobbed by the Ottawa Senators video review of Evander Kane's goal that would have tied the game in the third period on Thursday night. Moments after Jack Eichel scored his first career NHL goal in his first career NHL game, Kane lit the lamp, or so we all thought. But, wait a minute. Video replay showed that Zemgus Girgensons was offsides 25 seconds before the actual goal was scored. After a clumsy, drawn out eight minute video review, the goal was taken off the board. Your Sabres would go on to lose 3-1.
Murray doesn't want to hear the whining.
Murray was guest on Hoickey Central @ Noon on Friday and was asked about the Kane Goal Review. Murray said that from an organizational standpoint, he is not involved in the reviewing of goals with Dan Bylsma, however, he is very much involved in the goal review process.
" I certainly involved in setting up our building to get the best information as quickly as possible because you don't have a lot of time after the goal is scored. I was just talking to a couple of our building guys when I was watching our practice and where we are setting up monitors and how we are going to have the best ability to make that challenge and how many people will be involved. I'm involved in that. Am I going to get involved with calling down? At this point, no. But, I happen to have the best eyes in the organization. I guess I will have to get involved".
Murray was of course being tongue in cheek. Bet your bottom dolllar that he is involved in the process of reviewing goals when the opportunities present themselves.
So, was Murray okay with the zebras wiping the Kane goal off the scoreboard as if the beautifully executed score never happened?
"Yeah", he said.
"I was on the committee two years ago. It might have been my first GMs meeting. It was the "breakaway committee" that was one of ours. We came back with that recommendation. Then we discussed it the following year-- came back with that recommendation and went to the Board Of Governors and here we are today. So, I was a fan. I've always been a fan of getting it right. I know. I hear people that worry about the timeline, long it (the actual review process) takes. I was never worried about that. I think fans, you know, if it takes too long you'll get a little bit of grief. But, I think the majority of the fans want to see the proper call. If that takes more time-- I believe the league's terminology is "better call"--- I'm a fan of the better call, and a fan of getting it right".
Murray answered a question that I had in my head on Thursday night as I sat in the press box waiting for the eight minute snore fest to resolve itself. That is, does Bylsma have his own IPad on his bench to review call?
Murray:
"If we have it on our bench, we have to supply it to their (the opponent's) bench. So, we're going in a different direction. There has to be a home ice advantage somewhere, right?
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Murray also spoke candidly about his injured starting goaltender Robin Lehner. The new doesn't sound very positive for the big Swede.
" He will go for an MRI tomorrow (Saturday) morning, but it's not day-to-day. It's a longer term thing. It's not a break but it's a sprain. We just have to get more information. But right now, it's not short term.
Murray said that Lehner's skate caught a rut in the ice.
"He came from behind the net quickly to get back into position and that's where he caught the rut".
Chad Johnson will be the starter when the Sabres host Tampa on Saturday as part of the Eichtoberfest celebration.
Who will play back up to Johnson?
We will learn after the Rochester Amerks game at 9:30 tonight whether Andrey Makarov or Nathan Lieuwen will get the call to Buffalo to backup Johnson on Saturday and Monday when Nick Foligno and the Columbus Blue Jackets march into Buffalo.'
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Tim Murray is putting out feelers for a veteran goalie that he can acquire via trade.
I told you Thursday night that Calgary Flames AGM Craig Conroy was in the press box in Buffalo at the time of Lehner's injury. The Flames have three goalies on their roster right now with Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo and Joni Ortio.
Hiller and Ramo are pending UFAs. It appears as though Flames GM Brad Treliving is leaning towards a Ramo-Ortio tandem this season. The 33 year old Hiller is a solid NHL veteran who won 26 games for the upstart Flames in 2014-15. He carries a $4.5 million cap hit this season. Coincidentally, Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy was in Buffalo for last night's Sabres-Senators game.
Ortio will have to clear waivers-- which will never happen-- if he is waived by the Flames to their AHL affiliate in Abbottsford.
Murray may want to ask Flames GM Brad Treliving for Hiller AND a left shot D. The Sabres looked vulvernable down the middle of their D in their zone vs. Ottawa. A health Zach Bogosian will pummel oponents who dare to creep down the gut of the ice with the puck on their twig. However, the current Buffalo D looked shaky and out of position on more than one occasion versus Ottawa. Cody Franson was a yard sale in his own end in the first forty minutes. Murray needs to add another lefty, preferably with experience. Why not Calgary Flames left D Kris Russell? He's 28, plays in all situations, plays with bite and pace and can be relied upon to smash opponents off the puck. Russell may be expendable with the emergence of rookie Oliver Kylington and young lefties Tyler Wotherspoon and Patrick Sieloff.
Murray has $9.5 million in available cap space should he choose to make a trade.