Updated :
The Buffalo Sabres have tendered a qualifying offer to the following restricted free agents: Forwards Jerry D’Amigo, Johan Larsson, Tim Schaller, Philip Varone
D: Jerome Leduc and Mark Pysyk
G: Nathan Lieuwen.
**
Ryan O'Reilly met with media via conference call at 2:30pm Monday afternoon.
O'Reilly is going to fit right into the Buffalo community. He is a blue collar man who has an impeccable work ethic and a crazy skill set to boot. He never quits on pucks. He always plays at 100 mph.
Murray raised my eyebrows when he said that he's looking forward to the new challenge of being a team leader in Buffalo. he said that he wasn't really a team leader when he was with the Colorado Avalanche. O'Reilly said that he's going to be more vocal and he's going to take more of a leadership role both on and off the ice In Buffalo.
“I think it’s going to be a big challenge with me. I think in the past with Colorado I wasn’t really looked at as much of a leader. I think … with the Sabres I have to be a more vocal guy, be that more off-ice leader and on-ice as well.…
O'Reilly, like Dan Bylsma, must feel like he just won the lottery. The Pegulas and Tim Murray have committed to acquiring the best young, hard, fast talent. Murray pulled off his second blockbuster trade in the past four months when he extricated O'Reilly and Jamie McGinn from the Avalanche for Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov, T.J. Compher and the 31st overall pick in the Saturday's draft. O'Reilly is jazzed that he will be transformed from complimentary forward to number one center and team leader in Buffalo. He is excited for his new challenge to begin.
“It’s definitely exciting. Obviously, the team in the last few days has made steps in the right direction moving forward. It looks like it’s going to be a contending team. I’m excited to be a part of it.
O'Reilly will be agreeing to a long term, lucrative contract extension in the days to come. His agents at Newport Sports will work out an finalize the $60+ million contract extension. The window to start talking money with free agents is Wednesday.
“I think it’s something we’ll talk about July 1, something to look forward to. Obviously, I’ve been to Buffalo before, know a couple of guys on the team. A couple guys have reached out. I’m excited to get there moving forward.…
**
O'Reilly first met Sabres water bug Tyler Ennis in May while the two were line mates for Team Canada at the World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. Don't be surprised if Bylsma builds a top line consisting of Evander Kane-Ryan O'Reilly-Tyler Ennis.
“I got very close to him (Ennis). As a player, he was huge for our team. I really liked watching him play, great hockey sense. For the size of him, he makes some huge (plays) over there … It just shows the character and tenacity of him.… ***
O'Reilly also raved about the play of his soon to bee liney Evander Kane
“Played against him a lot. You give him a chance, he’s going to bury it.…
**
The Clinton, Ontario native admitted that he heard the trade whispers that contained his name and Buffalo as the likely destination where he would be traded to.
“There’s a lot of rumors floating around. Obviously, when you hear them, you don’t know to believe and what not to believe … I’m definitely glad I ended up here … What (GM) Tim Murray said about me, it’s flattering to be looked at that way. To come in with the confidence in myself and the confidence in me, it’s definitely a huge honor and I’m looking for it.…
**
O'Reilly doesn't look back in anger on his experience with the Colorado Avalanche.
“Yeah, I think negotiations were always difficult. I don’t think there’s anything I would’ve done differently. My agent has done phenomenal things for me in my career. I think this is the next step for me here. I have a ton of respect for them … They treated me with class and always respected me. I appreciate everything that they’ve done. It’s like a new chapter in the story here.…
**
O'Reilly knows a great player when he sees one in 18 year old sensation Jack Eichel.
“He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a guy you’ve seen in the past can maybe come in and make a difference right away. That’s just for any team. Obviously, I’m going to try to help and teach whatever I can to help make him a better player.…
**
O'Reilly and the Avs climbed out of last place to make the Western Conference playoffs in 2013-14. The same feat can be pulled off in Buffalo this season.
“That year we won the division, one of the things I remember, we just kind of took it game by game and had that even-keel mentality, and I think coming into this season it’s the same thing we have to have.…
**
Other O'Reilly Takes:
“Being just around the league you hear … people saying it’s going to be a different team. That’s an exciting thing to be a part of.…
***
“I always wanted to be a big piece like that on the leadership role. Hearing that by the management, and I think it’s another area to grow my game … It’s a step I can’t wait to get started with.…
**
“I obviously expect to play center. Center is how I broke into the league. It’s just I’m the most comfortable with and feel I have the most impact at. Obviously, if they think (I should go) back on the wing, I’d gladly accept that. I like starting down low in my own end, whether it’s faceoffs, everything. I love taking faceoffs. Being at center, is for me a way to make myself better.…
Transcript of the media call, courtesy Buffalo Hockey Beat.
***
Tim Murray went to the NHL Draft in Sunrise, Florida in search of his new first and second line centers. He batted two for two when he traded for Ryan O'Reilly and he drafted for Jack Eichel.
For weeks leading up to last Friday, Cody Hodgson's status with the Buffalo Sabres was uncertain. Today, the AP reports that Hodgson has been placed on unconditional waivers with the intention of buying out his contract.
It should not come as a shock nor surprise that Murray has made this move.
Earlier this month, Hodgson had traveled to Sweden to work with a skating coach in hopes of getting his game back on track. According to Murray, the Swedish skating coach was goiving updates on Hodgson's progress while he was overseas.
Hodgson has four years and $19 million remaining on his contract,. Murray didn't sign Hodgson to the deal. Darcy Regier did. Much like he did last summer with Regier players with aggressive contracts, Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff, Murray bis buying out Hodgson.
Because of his age, Hodgson's buy out contract will only count for $783,000 against Murray's cap for the next eight seasons.
Murray said last week that a final decision on Hodgson hadn't been arrived at yet.
Today, Hodson is a former Sabre. Murray and Bylsma didn't like him as a center. They aren't willing to play him as a winger. It was a numbers game for Murray. Ryan O'Reilly will be teh #1 center next season. Jack Eichel will be #2, Zemgus Girgensons #3 and recently acquired David Legwand will man the fourth line pivot.
Hodgson, 25, was the 10th overall pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008 NHL draft. Darcy Regier traded Zack Kassian for Hodgson after he had fallen out of favor with former Canucks head coach and GM Alain Vigneault and Mike Gillis, respsctively. Hodgson scored 20 goals and 24 assists in 2013-14, but struggled mightily from his fourth line center slot to score just six goals and 13 points over 78 games last season. Former Sabres head coach Ted Nolan said several times last season that he would lose sleep at night trying to find the solution to the issues that Hodgson was having in his game. Namely, his lack of mobility in all three zones and his repeated mistakes in his defensive zone.
In 218 career games with the Sabres, he scored 44 goals and added 55 assists.
**
Why would Tim Murray knowingly and willingly trade Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov, J.T. Compher and the 31st overall pick in the draft for Ryan O'Reilly and Jamie McGinn on the i-come that he can get a contract extension signed?
That would be bad business. Tim Murray doesn't make dumb trades.
I've been telling you for months thatnot only would Murray not be trading for O'Reilly but that he would also be negotiating a lucrative, long term contract extension with O'Reilly's agents at Newport Sports.
For all of the Chicken Littles who have been saying the sky is falling regarding the Ryan O'Reilly contract extension, stop hyper ventilating into your brown paper bags.
O'Reilly said this monrning on Sabres Hockey Hotline that his agent and Tim Murray have had conversations about the extension and will be having more discussions in the days to come. July 1 is teh date that teams can start negotiating with UFAs as well as executing teh contract extensions process.
My gut has been telling me all along that Murray and O'Reilly's agent have already hammered out the details of the $62 million contract extension. They will finalize it and announce it on July 1 or July 2. I also see Murray and the Sabres calling a presser for July 1 or July 2 to announce two signings: O'Reilly and Jack Eichel.
Thanks, WGR
O'Reilly will come to Buffalo to get the lay of the land, meet the front office team, coaching and training staffs and will work out with his teammates. While he is here, he will autograph his spanking new contract extension.
The Hodgson news comes on the same day that the LA Kings have announced that they have terminated the contract of Mike Richards.
Breaking News:
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings have terminated the contract of forward Mike Richards, the club announced today.
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) June 29, 2015
***
To know Arturs Irbe is to know that he has a strong personal and professional relationship with two time former Sabres head coach Ted Nolan. Both men have enjoyed great success with Team Latvia's hockey program over the years.
When Nolan was fired by Tim Murray in April, my mind immediately raced to Irbe and his status with new head coach Dan Bylsma.
Last week, Bylsma appointed Terry Murray and Dave Barr to his coaching staff. Irbe's future in Buffalo has been the great unknown.
That is until today.
Bylsma told WGR that he and Irbe could not come to an understanding. Therefore, Irbe will not be on the Bylsma bench in Buffalo.
Newly acquired goalie Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson will be coached by someone new next season.
"We've moved on from Arturs Irbe and are interviewing other candidates", Bylsma said.
It's too bad that things didn't work out for Irbe. The guy is a positive force and his goalies feed off of his positivity and his insight.
Jhonas Enroth, Michal Neuvirth, Anders Lindback and Chad Johnson all had success playing under Irbe's direction last season. Irbe's goalie coaching was so good that it nearly cost the Sabres 30th place overall in the season of "the tank".
Irbe has one year left on his contract.