Here we are. One week away from the NHL Entry Draft in Philly and Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray has his dealing shoes on. Over the past couple of weeks, Murray has met several times with his assistant general manager Kevin Devine and his scouts. From a drafting standpoint, Murray says that he and his scouts are prepared to select the best player available to them with their second overall pick. Could be a Sam. Could be a Leon. It likely won't be an Aaron named Ekblad, who Murray feels will go first overall to Florida, or to the team that may trade with Dale Tallon to assume the #1 overall pick.
Murray's got his poker face on and he's not showing his cards.
Murray has a ton of needs, both in Buffalo and in Rochester. He needs to acquire capable, qualified D and forwards be it in the draft, by draft or via free agency. The one area that Murray doesn't need help right now is goaltending. He's satisfied, for now, with Jhonas Enroth, Matt Hackett, Nathan Lieuwen, Michal Neuvirth, Connor Knapp, Andrey Makarov, and Linus Ullmark.
The first year GM met with the Buffalo media on Thursday. He said aloud that he wants to get his hands on another first round pick in next week's draft. He owns the second pick, and now he wants another pick, perhaps in the teens or early twenties. Murray has targeted his dance partners and has made his trade a big proposals. Now, he awaits the return phone calls to green light the deal(s). Murray has made a ton of phone calls, and has spoken to his other NHL GM counterparts about making trades. He has the one thing the his rival GMs don't have and that is disposable salary cap space. Murray will have to spend $18 million just to get to the $41 million salary cap floor. He scoffs at the idea that he won't be able to spend to the floor. "Its only money" the wily GM said on Thursday. Its a great headache to have.
Murray works for a multi-billionaire and money is no object right now. He has offered to take on a big existing contact in a trade so long as the deal includes a first round in the 2014 entry draft. So far, there have been no takers. There haven't been any teams who have bristled at the idea either.
Murray has money. Player agents of free agents and disgruntled NHLers love money.
“I hear about it all the time. It’s just a distraction,… Murray said today, per the Buffalo News. “You get in the middle of a meeting, and then somebody walks in the door and talks about the floor. It’s easy to spend money. I don’t like spending money, but it’s easy to spend money.
People want your money, so it’s not hard to give away. It’s just, are the right players, or the guys we like, are they going to approach us to take our money?…
No worries for Murray.
“I think there are players that are playing for other teams that may want to be moved,… he said. “I think there are players that are hitting free agency at 27 or 28 years old that are late bloomers that feel they haven’t gotten a proper chance where they’ve been.
“I mean, what’s attractive to some players may not be attractive to other players. I think we’re attractive to a certain type of player, and I don’t think they all necessarily have to be bad players. I think they can be guys that need an opportunity, that certainly see opportunity here.…
Thanks, Sabres.com
Buckle your chin straps, boys.
Tim Murray is bound for the floor. He's going to make trades along the way!
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Murray appeared on the NHL Network and discussed his young team and the progress that the kids have been making in their young pro careers.
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