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Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray has had it up to here with Evander Kane.
Up. To. Here.
Murray discussed Kane's latest off-ice legal problem issue during his presser on Friday afternoon.
Unfiltered, Murray said Kane needs to behave better whether or not he's cleared of harassment complaints filed against him by two women following an alleged altercation at a Buffalo nightclub last week.
On the day before the NHL Draft in Buffalo, Kane performed at a youth hockey clinic with NHL prospects. Later that night, the veteran power forward found himself embroiled in yet another brush with Buffalo law enforcement.
Murray said Friday that no matter what the verdict, He intends to sit down with Kane to discuss his poor decision making processes while off the ice.
According to police, Kane allegedly grabbed one woman by the throat. The second woman accuses Kane of trying to force her from the bar.
Kane's attorney contends the player did nothing wrong.
This is Kane's second run-in with legal trouble in six months.
In March, a judge ruled that there was no evidence to support a sexual assault charge against Kane.
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Kyle Okposo saw a dramatic difference playing against his new Buffalo Sabres teammates in 2015-16.
On Friday, Okposo said the Sabres are improving at an “accelerated rate… .
“It was a completely different team, I feel like, playing them this year as opposed to the year before,… Okposo told reporters in a conference call.
“I just remember coming out of that game thinking, ‘Gosh, these guys are a really skilled bunch, really skilled group.’ They have a lot of upside. And obviously I didn’t know what was going to transpire over the next two months but just thinking how good some of their young players were.…
Kane better get with Murray's program or else he will find himself traded to a new team.
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At 5:13 pm EDT Friday, Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray finally got around to making official the Kyle Okposo free agent signing.
Murray met with the Buffalo media to discuss the Okposo signing.
"It means a lot," a satisfied Murray said. "It means what I have felt since I got here, that we can be a destination for good players, I think this shows that we are.
"It's exciting to get a player of his caliber who had a choice of -- I won't say 30 teams -- but certainly a lot of teams, and he decided to come here."
The transparent Murray was also asked to comment on the following topics:
Okposo signing in Buffalo for 7 years and $42 million:
Murray on WGR: "Kyle was at the top of our list."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Murray: "This shows that we are a destination for players. He's a hell of a player. He's a goal scorer and has a power forward's body."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Jimmy Vesey courtship:
Murray on his pursuit of Jimmy Vesey: "We will go next week to meet with him. Tell him how much we need him."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Murray: "We're excited about going down and having a chance to have a face to face chat with him." #VeseyWatch
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Status of Rasmus Ristolainen RFA negotiations:
Murray on Ristolainen negs: "We have a number we know we are traveling to. He told us he wants to be here, and we want him to be here."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
"We are going down the road of a long term deal. If there are bumps in talks we may do bridge, but we want to get long term done," #Risto
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Re-Signing of D Jake McCabe:
"We worked a long time on Jake's (McCabe ) deal. Went back and forth for a while. I think both sides are very happy with the deal."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
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Comparables for Ristolainen are:
Seth Jones, years, $32.4M; $5.4M AAV Alex Goligoski, 5 years, $27.374M; $5.475 AAV Torey Krug, 4 years, $21.5M; $5.25M AVV Olli Maatta, 6 years, $24.5M; $4.083M AAV Sami Vatanen, 4 years, $19.5M; $4.875M AAV
I like Risto to sign a six year $33 million contract extension.
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Evander Kane's perpetual legal troubles:
Murray on Kane: "Its a very serious charge. We take it very seriously, but I want to wait and see if he's been charged and if he's guilty."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Murray says it's "not good for the organization and him" regarding EKane situation
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
Murray on Kane:"He needs to pick and choose his spots when he goes out much better. He needs to behave himself much better when he does."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2016
**
Day 1 of unrestricted free agency is in full effect and Murray still needs a backup goalie after losing Chad Johnson to the Calgary Flames earlier in the day.
An agitated and upset Murray which he said had never happened to him before. Murray said that the goalie in question signed elsewhere for $900,000.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins backup goalie Jeff Zatkoff coincidentally signed with the LA Kings on Friday for.... $900,000.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, Mr. Zatkoff!
Hell hath no fury like a Tim Murray scorned!
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Moments before he NHL UFA market opened on at Noon on Friday, Jimmy Vesey's agent told me by email that his client is interested in signing with the Buffalo Sabres and the he won't be making any decisions today.
"It's possible, but not today".
Vesey's agent and the Sabres met last week at the NHL Draft.
Tim Murray reiterated his interest in signing teh UFA power winger to an entry level contract . Days before the NHL Draft in Buffalo, Murray traded a third round selection to Nashville in exchange for Vesey's UFA rights. Murray now has exclusive one on one time with Vesey until August 15.
Murray said last Saturday that there will be another meeting between he and Camp Vesey this week. That follow up meeting hasn't occurred yet, however, the two sides are planning another face to face in the coming days. I assume that Murray was busy Sunday through wednesday with the Steven Stamkos saga as well as being concurrentlt preoccupied by the Kyle Okposo UFA signing.
Now that his desk is less cluttered, Murray can focus his undivided attention on Vesey, the 6'3" 210 lb. scoring machine.
"We hope to meet with Buffalo in the near future and are open to anything", Vesey's agent told the Buffalo News Friday morning.
The window for signing Vesey is now wide open. The 2016 Hobey Baker winner was in Buffalo last weekend and was reportedly blown away by the buzz and energy being created by the Sabres fans for their team at the NHL Draft.