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Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma cleaned up at the NHL Draft. Murray made two shrewd trades that added immediate credibility to the Buffalo lineup. Murray added starting goalie Robin Lehner and depth center David Legwand from Ottawa. He also added number one center Ryan O’Reilly and grinder Jamie McGinn. The cherry on top of the sundae was drafting Jack Eichel second overall in the NHL Draft. Murray and Bylsma left Sunrise, Florida with more certainty and security in the goaltending and forward ranks. The Sabres are still looking for help on their blue line in the form aof a left handed D-man.
"I probably need a veteran UFA defenseman or I have to trade for one," Murray said Saturday. "I've been talking to teams about a left-shot D."
Here are your Sabres blue liners for 2015-16:
Zach Bogosian, Josh Gorges, Rasmus Ristolainen, Mike Weber, Mark Pysyk and Jake McCabe and Chad Ruhwedel.
Murray is looking for a plug and play D-man to fortify his top six group. He has a veteran few free agents who can help him.
Here are my top two choices to fill the bill for Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma: Johnny Oduya and Paul Martin.
Oduya, 33, has won two Stanley Cup championships in the past three seasons in Chicago. He is a slick passer and a mobile puck distributor. His first pass out of the D-zone is electric and on target every time. He hits the forwards on the tape while they are flying north through the neutral zone. Oduya played two and a half season (nearly 180 games) with Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian in Atlanta and Winnipeg which means that he knows where Kane likes the puck. Oduya is my first choice for the Sabres. He will command $4 to $4.5 million on his next contract.
Martin, 34, isn’t interested in playing extensively in the offensive zone, Martin is a true stay at home guy who will jump up and join the rush. He payed for Dan Byslama in Pittsburgh an d he knows what it takes to win games. Martin will cost in excess of $5 million per season.
Martin and Oduya are a lot alike in that they mind their knitting in their own end. They don’t freelance, nor do they run around in their own zone like chickens with their heads cutoff. Murray would be wise to ink Oduya to a contract extension.
Former Sabres D Reggie Sekera is also UFA and he will not be re-signing with the LA Kings die to their salary cap issues.
My take:
Tim Murray should reach out to Oduya's agent now in anticipation of the UFA market opening on Wednesday.
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Earlier this month, Sabres GM Tim Murray said that he hadn't had conversations with thr agent of pending UFA Pat Kaleta yet. Murray said that he would wait until July 1 to have that conversation.
On Sunday, Kaleta's agent told NBC Sports that he “talked to a number of teams… regarding a job for the energy forward slash agitator.
On Thursday, NHL free agents like Matt Beleskey and Kaleta have been granted permission to speak with other NHL teams. They can speak about the city, the franchise and the hockey department, however, money cannot be discussed.
Kaleta is attracting attention.
The dynamics have changed dramatically in Buffalo. Kaleta represents the old guard of players from the Regier-Ruff administration. Kaleta has been a reliable performer over the years. He plays an unpopular role in that he batters his body and knuckles while charging up and protecting his teammates.
On Friday, Tim Murray added two bottom six forwards in David Legwand and Jamie McGinn. This will have an impact on Kaleta's future in Buffalo. Another factor will be the development of youngster Nic Deslauriers who is under contract with the Sabres.
Kaleta’s three-year, $3.75 million deal is set to expire on July 1.
“I know his preference is always to stay in Buffalo, he’s a local boy and he loves it there,… said Anton Thun. “At the end of the day he has to have a hockey career and if it’s not in Buffalo, then we’ll explore elsewhere.…
Kaleta and his fiancee, both Buffalo natives, are going to be married in Buffalo in July.
Due to injuries Kaleta has appeared in just 82 games total over the past three seasons.
In 2014-15, Kaleta collected three assists, a minus-11 rating and 36 PIMs in 42 games played.
He missed a solid chunk of the season after he blocked a Morgan Rielly clapper with his face, yes his FACE, during a Buffalo-Toronto exhibition game last September. That's PK36 in a nutshell. He has and will take a butt kicking for his boys. He is selfless and devoted to every man his the Buffalo room. That's how he rolls. Team first. Self second.
In 342 NHL games, Kaleta has scored 27 goals and 27 assists. He has compiled 547 PIMs.
It would be a shame to see Kaleta leave now that his Sabres are trending upwards.
My take:
I love Pat Kaleta as a player. His energy and passion levels are off the charts. Nobody loves the Buffalo Sabres and the Western New York community more than Kaleta does.
Its my hope that he signs a twp-way deal with Buffalo and he plays a mentoring role for the youngsters in Rochester.
**
Robin Lehner needed a change of scenery. His days in Ottawa became numbered when GM Bryan Murray signed Andrew Hammond to a multi-year extension earlier this summer. Murray also signed Boston University free agent goalie Matt O'Connor in May. With Craig Andersin and Hammond manning the cage, Lehner was rendered obsoletw in Ottawa.
Enter Tim Murray. In Friday, the Sabres GM gladly traded pick 21 to the Senators for his first-choice of starting goalies in Lehner.
Ottawa Sun writer Bruce Garrioch spoke with Lehner, who detailed the beginning of his end in Ottawa.
"But I think there was something between me and Paul (MacLean) that didn't click when he was there," Lehner said.
"He came from a veteran team in Detroit where it takes a long time for the young guys to break through I think. It was nothing personal between us I don't think. It just seemed like when I'd start getting hot I didn't get the chance to play ."
Lehner will take good memories away from his time in Ottawa and Binghamton.
"They gave me a lot of things and I can't talk good enough about them. They brought me in when I was young. They gave me all the tools. They helped me become a professional and a man. They helped me with so many different things I can't thank them enough," explained the netminder.
"I don't know what happened but I wasn't happy with the way things played out. I think I came out of the gate good every season, I'd play good and then I didn't get to play anymore. That's something I've got to work on going forward. People have different opinions. I can only speak for myself, but that's my opinion."
Tim Murray's leadership and confidence in Lehner will inspire the 23 year old. His best NHL hockey has yet to be played.
"I got my concussion against Carolina and it was my first major injury. It was a tough time for me personally," Lehner said. "I struggled for a long time with the concussion. Hammond came in and played fantastic, and all the rewards to him and he deserved it. I wish him the best. I wish the team best."
"I've been working out and I've got a ways to go, but I'm ready to really push it so that I'm ready for the season," he said. "… To have a good chance to compete for the No. 1 spot is something I've always wanted. It's going to be a nice challenge."