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Buffalo Sabres Trade Rumors: Murray Willing to Trade 8th Overall Pick

By Ryan Ritchie

May 28, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray speaks to the media at a press conference introducing head coach Dan Bylsma at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray speaks to the media at a press conference introducing head coach Dan Bylsma at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buffalo Sabres Trade Rumors: GM Tim Murray is Open to Shopping 8th Overall Draft Pick for Young, Left-Handed Defenseman

After speaking to reporters, Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray provided speculation for trade rumors after suggesting the team would be open to trade their 8th overall pick at Friday’s draft.

In return, Buffalo would be seeking a young, left-handed defenseman, and perhaps a late 1st rounder if possible.

via Sportsnet,

“Say if somebody offers us a top-end, young, left-shot [defenceman] and they demand our eighth overall pick and we feel that makes us better, we’ll make the trade,” Murray said.

“The fans might be short-term disappointed because we don’t make a pick. If we did that, we’d try to move back into the first round somehow, but long-term if we got — it’s a dream — a franchise left-shot that’s 25 years old, I don’t see anyone in the city complaining about that. I don’t foresee that happening, but you’re asking me a hypothetical, so in a perfect world that’s where the pick would go.”

The future of the Sabres blue line is still somewhat murky until we see players such as Jake McCabe and Mark Pysyk fully develop, along with emerging prospects Brendan Guhle and Will Borgen (among others) who eventually join the team down the road. In the meantime, Buffalo could use an upgrade in their top four (particularly in place of Josh Gorges). 

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Tim Murray uses the words “franchise left-shot”. When your top two defenders (Rasmus Ristolainen and Zach Bogosian) are right-handed, and top LH shots are Josh Gorges and Jake McCabe, any left-handed shot that can log north of 20 minutes/night is worth considering… for the right price.

Some fans may ask, why trade away the 8th overall pick when scouts project you could draft a potential number one left-handed defenseman or impact winger?

Well, Buffalo has drafted well and made great moves over the past couple of seasons through this rebuild/re-tool on the go. The only position lacking depth is on the blue line (even though promising prospects do exist).

You could add another prospect, but there’s a chance Buffalo is ready to push for a playoff spot in 2016-17 after showing vast improvement this past season. It makes sense to add a young established defender who can help this team compete now. If the Sabres find themselves in a Nashville Predators situation down the road with too many blueliners, the team has options and assets to work with.

Related Story: Buffalo Sabres Free Agency Outlook

Buffalo Sabres Trade Rumors: 5 Potential Targets

Feb 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) with the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) with the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks

This is an intriguing scenario when you consider that both GMs have trade history (i.e. Jamie McGinn, Buffalo called on John Gibson’s availability before season).

We also know Anaheim is likely to trade Cam Fowler this summer. Buffalo might even be able to squeeze one of the Ducks late 1st rounders out of them as part of a bigger deal.

Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild

After another disappointing finish in 2015-16, Minnesota needs to move a defenseman. As it stands, the Wild can only save three of Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Jonas Brodin, and Matt Dumba in expansion.

Minnesota is short on draft picks this year (other than their 15th overall selection) so the Sabres would likely be without a 1st round pick as host of the draft.

Mar 19, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) attempts to block a shot in the second period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) attempts to block a shot in the second period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Calvin de Haan, New York Islanders

Another team faces difficulties in expansion; two of Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, Travis Hamonic, Calvin de Haan, and Thomas Hickey are set to be left exposed.

If GM Garth Snow trade one now, he might be able to flip another closer to the deadline for a young automatically exempt defender to limit the potential for losses.

Patrick Wiercioch, Ottawa Senators

New GM Pierre Dorion already expressed that Patrick’s asking price is a little higher than Ottawa would prefer to pay. Truth be told, the addition of Dion Phaneuf essentially made Wiercioch expendable. Of the five potential targets listed, this would be the cheapest route, and Buffalo could still hold on to their 8th overall selection.

Next: Buffalo Sabres End of Year Review, Grades

Michael Del Zotto, Philadelphia Flyers

Call this the most unlikely of the bunch. There’s nothing to suggest Philly is looking to move Del Zotto, but with prospects such as Ivan Provorov, Samuel Morin, and Travis Sanheim (just to name a few) looking to make an impact in the near future, a trade is possible. Although truth be told, GM Ron Hextall would prefer to shed that Andrew MacDonald contract if he could find a trade partner.

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