The Buffalo Sabres just went from a joke to a team that may sneak up and contend for a wild card spot. It’s a matter of prospective; some old guard Sabres fans may consider the actions of GM Tim Murray during yesterday’s NHL Draft reckless. I on the other hand consider what “GMTM” just pulled off a stroke of genius. It’s refreshing to see a NHL GM just say the heck with it and go with his gut.
Tim Murray: "If you'd have told me we'd end up w Eichel, Kane and Lehner for 3 first round picks, I'd have said you were high on mushrooms."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 26, 2015
For the Buffalo Sabres this all started at last years NHL trade deadline with Evander Kane, and it continued into last night. It took two trades and two years of bad play, but the Sabres added Robin Lehner and David Legwand, Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly and left-wing Jamie McGinn. The Sabres took three first round picks and turn them into two great top six forwards, and hopefully a young starting goaltender.
*Buffalo did give up Nikita Zadorov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and JT Compher and a second-round pick in the NHL draft to get O’Reilly and McGinn.
Tim Murray wasn't kidding today when he said: "I guess I am in on everything." Story from #TSN: http://t.co/lDclmOskco
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 26, 2015
With Murray running the team Sabres fans have had to learn nothing is done or out of reach until it’s official. The Buffalo Sabres have money and had picks; making it seem like the Sabres were at least in talks on almost every deal. For Buffalo Sabres fans it’s been a terrible few seasons, and now the suffering could be ending. One thing is for sure. If “GMTM” misses on these deals he will be fired.
The Buffalo Sabres just told the entire NHL that losing is no longer acceptable in Buffalo. They took young promising talent and turned them into NHL star caliber talent over night. Buffalo managed to get much better without getting much older. Something that is not common in today’s NHL. The days of keeping prospects around because you hope
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they develop are over.
When the puck drops next season and March rolls around I expect to see the Buffalo Sabres hanging out around that final wild card spot. By no means is missing the playoffs a big deal com next year, as there are some kids that will just be getting their feel wet in the NHL, but going from last to slightly better than average is remarkable, and making that happen in this fashion is something that some Buffalo Sabres fans thought could never happen.
Buffalo was promised suffering, and they got it. Buffalo was told money wan not going to be an issue, and it hasn’t been. Now it’s time for one more promise to come true; it’s time for the Buffalo Sabres to develop into a Stanley Cup contender. After all if that doesn’t happen it would be a complete waste of talent.
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