New GM Tim Murray pledges 'quick rebuild' for Sabres; has assets to move
New general manager Tim Murray told Sabres TV he plans on doing a quick rebuild, which in his mind begins with good drafting, which leads to trades, and finally free agent signings.
It's a tall task for Murray, who inherits a team at the bottom of the league in terms of goals for at 74 while all other 29 teams have scored at least 100. Buffalo is 12-26-4, with just seven of those victories coming in regulation or overtime.
Murray has indicated a willingness to trade anyone on the roster if it will help the team, so here's a look at some of the pieces he could move to get his quick rebuild underway:
Matt Moulson
Former Sabres general manager Darcy Regier acquired Moulson from the New York Islanders along with a pair of high draft picks in exchange for pending UFA Thomas Vanek in one of his final moves before being fired. Moulson, 30, is also a pending UFA and can provide any team with a boost in goal-scoring, having scored at least 30 in each of the last three full seasons.
Moulson's 18 points with Buffalo place him second on the team and his eight goals are tied for the team lead, and the right team could be willing to pay high for his services at the trade deadline.
Steve Ott
Ott, 31, was named team captain at the beginning of the season, but his pending UFA status and truculent reputation make him a tantalizing target in spite of the rough season he is having. Ott has just 11 points and his shooting percentage (6.8) is the lowest it's been in seven years.
His declining production indicates he may be more suited to a supporting role going forward, but a cup contender could be willing to deal a pick or prospect to add Ott to its forward depth for a playoff run.
Ryan Miller
Miller, 33, has been with the Sabres his entire career, appearing in over 500 games and recording 280 wins. He has also been Buffalo's best player during this dismal season, posting a .927 save percentage in 30 appearances. Miller's loyalty and performance is a double-edged sword, as trading him would likely cripple the Sabres in the short-term, but the potential long-term benefits of trading one of the league's star goaltenders might be too much to pass up.
Playoff-hopeful teams like the Red Wings, Blackhawks and Capitals have all struggled with issues in the crease this season and have young assets to move to solidify their netminding situations, but it seems safe to assume Murray won't make a move involving Miller unless the return is ample.
Miller's limited no-trade clause makes trading him trickier, but his expiring contract raises the unappetizing possibility of losing him for nothing after the season ends.
Other assets
Tyler Ennis, 24, will be a restricted free agent after the season and the diminutive forward relative youth and controllable contract situation could attract some interest. Drew Stafford, 28, has two years remaining on his deal but could use a change of scenery with his production on the decline. Towering defenseman Tyler Myers, 23, has a no-trade clause that doesn't kick in until the 2016-17 season and could command a big return from a team that believes in his potential enough to shoulder his contract, which pays him $5.5 million per season until 2019.