On January 9, 2014 former Sabres President of Hockey Operations Pat LaFontaine hired Tim Murray, then assistant general manager for the Ottawa Senators, as the new GM of the Buffalo Sabres.
It's been just over a year since then and the following is what he and the team have been up to beginning with the latest, which happens to be over a month ago:
Trade-December 16, 2014: Tim Murray trades forward Luke Adam to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Jerry D'Amigo. “Jerry brings a tremendous work ethic to our organization," said Murray.
-November 28, 2014: Sabres sign free agent forward Jean Dupuy from the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The 20 yr. old Dupuy is 6'3", 195 lbs. and has 19 points (5+14) through 19 OHL games.
-November 2, 2014: The Sabres signed 2013 second round Justin Bailey to a three-year entry-level contract. The Buffalo native is the son of former Bills linebacker Carlton Bailey and was taken with the 52nd overall pick. That pick was acquired from St. Louis along with a conditional fifth-rounder for Jordan Leopold at the 2013 trade deadline.
-October 31, 2014: Rookie Samson Reinhart is returned to junior after playing in nine games for the Buffalo Sabres. Murray says, "it's the right thing for his development."
-October 16, 2014: Defensemen Mark Pysyk and Jake McCabe, both of whom returned from injuries, were sent to Rochester after skating with the Sabres at practice.
-October 6, 2014: Mikhail Grigorenko and Zac Dalpe (pending waivers) sent to Rochester. Sam Reinhart makes the 2014 roster and will make his NHL debut on Thursday.
-September 30, 2014: Seven players have been sent to Rochester: Forwards Joel Armia, Matt Ellis, and Tim Schaller; defensemen Drew Bagnall and Nick Petrecki; and goaltenders Nathan Lieuwen and Andrey Makarov.
-September 26, 2014: Forwards Luke Adam, William Carrier, Dan Catenacci, Colin Jacobs, Justin Kea, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Kevin Sundher and Phil Varone plus defensemen Brady Austin, Jerome Leduc and Chad Ruhwedel were sent to Rochester. The team also returned two forwards to their junior clubs, Justin Bailey (Kitchener) and Brendan Lemieux (Barrie).
-September 22, 2014: Forwards Joseph Blandisi (invitee,) Eric Cornel, (2014, 44th overall,) Michael Joly (invitee,) Vaclav Karabacek (2014, 49th,) defensemen Ryan MacKinnon (invitee) and Jared Walsh (invitee) and goalie Francios Brassard (invitee) were sent to their respective junior clubs. No Traverse City invitees are on the team.
-September 19, 2014: Defenseman Brycen Martin (2014, 74th overall) and F, Jack Rodewald (invitee) sent to their respective junior squads.
-September 16, 2014: Sabres finish Traverse City Tournament in 8th place after 2-1 loss to St. Louis. The team scored six goals in the four games and finished with a record of 0-3-1.
-August 20, 2014: The Sabres announce that Randy Cunneyworth will serve the organization as a player development coach. Jerry Forton will assume a new role to focus on scouting the collegiate ranks as an NCAA scout, and Kevin Devine will serve as director of player personnel. Jason Long will serve as coordinator of player development; Corey Smith has been named video coach; Jim Kovachik has been named a pro scout; and Seamus Kotyk and Victor Nybladh have been named amateur scouts.
-August 4, 2014: GM Tim Murray adds Rob Murphy as director of scouting and Greg Royce as director of amateur scouting. Mark Jakubowski goes from assistant to the general manager to assistant general manager.
-August 4, 2014: Sabres fill out Ted Nolan's coaching staff with Bryan Trottier, Danny Flynn, Tom Coolen and Arturs Irbe.
-July 27, 2014: Sabres re-sign 24 yr. old F, Luke Adam to a one-year/two-way deal.
-July 23, 2014: Buffalo signs 30 yr. old D, Andre Benoit (COL) to a one-year contract. The 5'11" 191 lb. Benoit has appeared in 120 NHL regular season games and seven playoff games.
-July 17, 2014: The Sabres announce that 24 yr. old Tyler Ennis has re-signed for 5 yrs./$23M. According to capgeek, Ennis has a front-loaded contract with a $4.6M cap-hit through 2019:
•2014-15--$7.3M; $2M signing bonus
•2015-16--$4.75M; $2M signing bonus
•2016-17--$3.65M; $1M signing bonus
•2017-18--$3.65M
•2018-19--$3.65M
-July 16, 2014:
•Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel signs a two-year contract extension.
•Goalie Matt Hackett, who injured his knee late in the season will be out until December or January.
-July, 13, 2014: UFA forward Zac Dalpe (VAN) signs a one-year contract with the Sabres.
-July 12, 2014:
•Buffalo signs Jordan Samuels-Thomas to a three-year entry-level contract. The Sabres 2015 seventh round pick goes to Winnipeg to complete the July 9th deal.
•Sabres sign 2014 first round pick (2nd overall) Sam Reinhart to his three year entry-level deal.
Trade-July 9, 2014: Buffalo trades a conditional 2015 seventh round pick to Winnipeg for 24 yr. old F, Jordan Samuels-Thomas a 6'4" 215 lb. graduate of Qunnipiac. He was taken with the 203rd pick in the 2009 draft by the Atlanta Thrashers who were relocated to Winnipeg.
-July 5, 2014: Goalie Matt Hackett accepts $750,750/1yr. qualifying offer from Buffalo.
-July 3, 2014: UFA defenseman Tyson Strachan (WSH) signs a one-year, two-way contract
-July 1, 2014: Christian Ehrhoff signs a one year deal with Pittsburgh
-July 1, 2014: Unrestricted Free Agency begins
•Sabres trade a 2016 2nd round pick (MIN, acquired in the Matt Moulson deal) to Montreal for D Josh Gorges.
•RFA Marcus Foligno re-signs for 2 yrs/$2.75M
•Buffalo signs UFA Brian Gionta (MTL) for 3yrs./$12.75
•UFA Cody McCormick, who was traded to Minnesota at the 2014 trade deadline signs a 3yr./$4.5M contract
•UFA Matt Moulson, who was traded to Minnesota at the 2014 trade deadline signs a 5yr./$25M contact
•UFA defenseman Andrej Meszaros signs a 1yr./$4.125M contract
-June 30, 2014: Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff is bought out. Murray called it "an easy decision" as Ehrhoff played like he didn't want to be in Buffalo. Murray also mentioned the repercussions of his front-loaded 10 yr. contract as a major factor.
Draft-June 28, 2014: Sabres select F Brendan Lemieux (#31,) C Eric Cornel (#44,) RW Vaclav Karabacek (#49,) G Jonas Johansson (#61,) D Brycen Martin (#74,) LW Max Willman (#121,) C Christopher Brown (#151,) RW Victor Olofsson (#181)
--Murray made one trade sending the 39th overall pick to Washington for the 44th and 74th picks in the draft.
Draft-June 27, 2014: Sabres select C, Samson Reinhart 2nd overall
-June 17, 2014: Forward Ville Leino is placed on waivers, had three years, $11M left on his contract.
-June 1, 2014: 2012 fifth round draft pick (#133) Logan Nelson goes unsigned.
-May 31, 2014: RW Nicholas Baptiste (2013, #69) signed to a three year entry-level contracts.
-May 29, 2014: Defenseman Brady Austin (2012, #193) signed to a three year entry-level contract.
-May 27, 2014: Goalie Linus Ullmark (2012, #163) signed to a three year entry-level contract.
-May 26, 2014: Sabres ink Nick Deslauriers to a one-way, two year contract worth $1.275m. Deslauriers was a part of the Brayden McNabb trade, May 5, 2014.
-May 22, 2014: The NY Islanders elect to retain their #5 overall draft pick in the 2014 Draft officially sending their 2015 first round pick to Buffalo which completes the Oct 27, 2013 trade for Thomas Vanek.
-May 19, 2014: The St. Louis Blues re-sign goalie Brian Elliott and will use him in tandem with Jake Allen. Ryan Miller will not be re-signed meaning the Blues will retain their 2014 first round selection. The Sabres will still receive a conditional 2016 third-rounder to complete the trade, which could move up to a second-rounder should the Blues trade Miller's rights before July 1.
-May 1, 2014: Alexander Sulzer inks a long-term deal with Germany after Murray and Ted Nolan inform him he won't be back with the Sabres next season.
-April 16, 2014: Sabres announce coaching changes. Murray gives keys to the coaching staff to Ted Nolan. Assistant coach Teppo Numminen and long-time goalie coach Jim Corsi released. Assistant bench coaches Joe Sacco and Jerry Forton offered reassignment within the organization.
-April 4, 2014: Rostislav Klesla placed on unconditional waivers. Goes unclaimed April 5.
-April 2, 2014: Sabres sign 6'0" 195 lb. defenseman Jake McCabe (2012, #44 overall) to a three-year entry level contract. McCabe will forgo his senior season at Wisconsin and it's expected he'll join the Sabres tomorrow in St. Louis.
-April 1, 2014: Sabres sign 6'4" 214lb. center Justin Kea (2012, #73) to a three-year entry level contract. Kea finished his fourth season in junior with the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) and will finish the season in Rochester on an amateur tryout.
-March 31, 2014: Interim coach Ted Nolan signs a three-year contract extension.
Trade-March 5, 2014: Trade deadline
•12:00pm Sabres claim Ottawa forward and Canisius graduate F Cory Conacher off of waivers. Conacher came from Tampa Bay for G Ben Bishop
•To the LA Kings: D Brayden McNabb (2009, #69), F Jonathan Parker (2011, FA,) and two second round picks--2014 and 2015 (both picks were received from LA in the Robyn Regehr trade); To Buffalo: F Hudson Fasching (2013, #188) and D/LW Nicolas Deslauriers (2009, #84)
•To Minnesota: F Matt Moulson (received as part of the Thomas Vanek trade) and F Cody McCormick; To Buffalo, F Torrey Mitchell, a 2014 (WPG) 2nd round and a 2016 (MIN) 2nd rounder
•To Washington: Jaroslav Halak (acquired from St. Louis in the Ryan Miller trade) and a 2015 3rd round pick; To Buffalo: G Michal Neuvirth (2006, #34,) D Rostislav Klesla (2000, #4, CLB)
-March 2, 2014: Ryan Miller wins his first game in St. Louis, 4-2
-March 1, 2014: Sabres President of Hockey Operations Pat LaFontaine resigns.
Trade-February 28, 2014: Murray trades Ryan Miller and Steve Ott (previously acquired from Dallas in the Derek Roy trade) to St. Louis for Jaroslav Halak acquired from Montreal,) Chris Stewart (acquired from Colorado,) William Carrier (2013, #57), a 2015 first round pick and a conditional 2014 1st round pick--The conditions: if the Blues make the Western Conference Finals or Miller re-signs, or if St. Louis trades Miller by the 2014 draft, the Blues surrender their 1st rounder with the Sabres giving a 2014 2nd round (MIN, acquired in the Jason Pominville trade) and a 2014 3rd round pick to the Blues. If the Blues do not make the WCF and Miller re-signs after the draft, the Sabres will receive a 2016 2nd round pick. If neither conditions are met, the Sabres will receive a 2016 3rd round pick
-February 17, 2014: Murray terminates Linus Omark's contract.
-February 7, 2014: Linus Omark originally acquired by Pat LaFontaine from Edmonton on December 19, 2013 for a conditional 6th round pick (not fulfilled) placed on waivers
-January 9, 2014: Craig Patrick hired as advisor to Pat LaFontaine
-January 9, 2014: Hired by the Buffalo Sabres as General Manager
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