I had to laugh at the usual suspects after the Murray interview, interpreting what he said in a completely different way than what was actually said.

Murray said that the team has no confidence but he hates using that word. Jeremy White takes it as "Confidence isn't a real thing! Murray said it himself"

Then he says that the Sabres would entertain being a "Buyer" but that usually happens at the draft, WGR puts up a post saying "Murray willing to buy at deadline"
- sbroads24

As a HS/college athlete, I can totally say confidence is massive. But using it as an excuse to play poorly is lame. So in that, White, and I didn't hear him say it, is wrong.

I don't like how WGR highlighted the interview as Sabres willing to be buyers, because it really doesn't define the entire scope of Murray's intentions. It's an attention grabber is all, kinda like a news paper headline that takes 5 words out of a 20 line quote. I love the idea that Murray is willing to buy, as any GM should. But we're not on the edge of the playoff picture. We don't have the "well should we hold onto some guys, should we get rentals, should we totally expel for picks etc.." We know exactly what we need, and that's young players further along than 18 year olds. Buying those types of players is the quickest way to get out of this rebuild, which should be almost over. But I'm glad we have a clear direction as to not being your traditional deadline buyer of rental players, but of making pick/vet trades for a young player on a high end team that hasn't yet cracked the line up.

I had to laugh at the usual suspects after the Murray interview, interpreting what he said in a completely different way than what was actually said.

Murray said that the team has no confidence but he hates using that word. Jeremy White takes it as "Confidence isn't a real thing! Murray said it himself"

Then he says that the Sabres would entertain being a "Buyer" but that usually happens at the draft, WGR puts up a post saying "Murray willing to buy at deadline"
- sbroads24

The Sabres are going to pick either 1 or 2. They would have no use for the other two picks in the first round. Put a flyer out after you make the selection of McEichel saying you have 2 other picks that will go to the highest bidder.

You'd probably get some good offers for those. Guys like Loui Eriksson, ROR, James Neal etc to speed up the rebuild and add to the top 6.

The Sabres are going to pick either 1 or 2. They would have no use for the other two picks in the first round. Put a flyer out after you make the selection of McEichel saying you have 2 other picks that will go to the highest bidder.

You'd probably get some good offers for those. Guys like Loui Eriksson, ROR, James Neal etc to speed up the rebuild and add to the top 6.
- ImThatGuy

I really wish you'd list better players. But I get the gist.

What would it take to get the 2nd overall pick too ? Not that I want to be greedy. But as bad as this team is , Why not ?
- cabin

My best guess, a GM with the 2nd pick would ask for the current equivalence of this:

Peter Forsberg, Steve Duschene, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Philly’s first-round pick in 1993 and 1994, and $15 million in cash.

I had to laugh at the usual suspects after the Murray interview, interpreting what he said in a completely different way than what was actually said.

Murray said that the team has no confidence but he hates using that word. Jeremy White takes it as "Confidence isn't a real thing! Murray said it himself"

Then he says that the Sabres would entertain being a "Buyer" but that usually happens at the draft, WGR puts up a post saying "Murray willing to buy at deadline"
- sbroads24

I didn't hear the interview, but just reading the transcript, I took it as "yes, they lack confidence, but players need a reason to be confident", and right now, there isn't one.

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Friday morning.

On what he’s working on for Saturday:

“A lot of the teams are finishing up their scouting meetings. I understand that Buffalo has been scouting Grand Rapids, which is Detroit’s American Hockey League team, quite a bit. So who knows what’s going on there. But a few people who have been through and around Grand Rapids have been saying they’ve seen a lot of Buffalo guys there. In the past, the Sabres and Red Wings have kind of been linked on talks, so you never know what that’s about.”

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Friday morning.

On what he’s working on for Saturday:

“A lot of the teams are finishing up their scouting meetings. I understand that Buffalo has been scouting Grand Rapids, which is Detroit’s American Hockey League team, quite a bit. So who knows what’s going on there. But a few people who have been through and around Grand Rapids have been saying they’ve seen a lot of Buffalo guys there. In the past, the Sabres and Red Wings have kind of been linked on talks, so you never know what that’s about.”
- TheSabresTaco

Detroits farm system does not overly excite me. There is one guy on that team and that in Mantha, which they will not give up (Allegedly)

Detroits farm system does not overly excite me. There is one guy on that team and that in Mantha, which they will not give up (Allegedly)
- ImThatGuy

Pulkkinen as well, maybe they're more interested in the coach?

33 more games to go

Pulkkinen as well, maybe they're more interested in the coach?
- Sabresfan-365

Isn't Pulkkinen in Detroit now?

Isn't Pulkkinen in Detroit now?
- sbroads24

nathan paetsch is in grand rapids

According to TSN and their scouts.

"If we're to interpret the voting results of the scouts surveyed by TSN, there's an elite tier of three at the top (McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin) followed by a secondary tier of three more (Strome, Marner and Crouse) high-end prospects. Then comes a third tier of six prospects, filling in the Nos. 7 through 12 slots. Czech winger Pavel Zacha of the Sarnia Sting - with a blend of speed, size, strength and skill - is No. 7, though he's currently injured and expected to be out until sometime next month."

To sum it up

Tier 1:
McDavid, C
Eichel, C
Hanifin, D

Tier 2:
Strome, C
Marner, W
Crouse, W

Tier 3:
Zacha, W
Werenski, D
Rantanen, W
Barzal, C
Kylington, D
Provorov, D

Murray, yesterday, mentioned there is a drop off after about the first 20 players. For my money, I'm willing to bet Murray tries taking those last 2 firsts and jumping into Tier 3. Maybe for Werenski or Kylington. Either would be fantastic, although Werenski has the better size.
- TheSabresTaco

posted on spector today


NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray is open to trading his two later first-round picks in this year’s NHL draft…Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning will see what the market bears for goalie Jacob Markstrom.

posted on spector today


NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray is open to trading his two later first-round picks in this year’s NHL draft…Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning will see what the market bears for goalie Jacob Markstrom.
- homiedclown

posted on spector today


NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray is open to trading his two later first-round picks in this year’s NHL draft…Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning will see what the market bears for goalie Jacob Markstrom.
- homiedclown

Not sure if he's trying to tie the two together, but I really hope not.

Detroits farm system does not overly excite me. There is one guy on that team and that in Mantha, which they will not give up (Allegedly)
- ImThatGuy

Pulkkinen, Frk, Marchenko , Sproul and Athanasiou are not bad prospects

Not sure if he's trying to tie the two together, but I really hope not.
- TheSabresTaco

Those two picks are not looking all that great with the Blues and Islanders sitting at 5th and 7th in the league.

If the Sabres were to finish last and lose the lottery for the #1 pick, is it a definite that they take Eichel at #2? If not who else might they take?
- Pierceme69

None you don't pass on generation talent..

Eichel is making the NCAA his playground he is going to break the NCAA record for a Freshman Truly Insane how close they're but it's still 1a ) McDavid 1b Eichel

Those two picks are not looking all that great with the Blues and Islanders sitting at 5th and 7th in the league.


- cabin

but if they lose in the first rd, things change

posted on spector today


NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray is open to trading his two later first-round picks in this year’s NHL draft…Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning will see what the market bears for goalie Jacob Markstrom.
- homiedclown

could of had him for free

Isn't Pulkkinen in Detroit now?
- sbroads24

He is? I was just going off their leading scorers page

but if they lose in the first rd, things change
- homiedclown

Details ?

if it's for Myers it has to be one of Mantha or Larkin

if it's not myers

i want Bertuzzi

Pulkkinen, Frk, Marchenko , Sproul and Athanasiou are not bad prospects
- homiedclown

I think they're looking at Blashill.

Details ?
- cabin

NYI vs boston

that would be good for us

this might mean something or nothing...

but Bruins recall Malcolm Subban http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...751040&navid=nhl:topheads