Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

[DetDannyWilliams]

A couple of sources confirm Murray was chatting here this week with Florida GM Dale Tallon (Murray and Tallon, like most NHL GMs, were not here Saturday and left the physical testing watch to their assistants or strength coaches). Tallon has been quite forthcoming about the Panthers shopping the No. 1 pick and said “I’m open for business” during a radio interview a couple weeks ago on a Toronto all-sports station.
How do the Sabres get involved? A couple of the second-rounders could be packaged. Perhaps the St. Louis first-rounder next year. And how about a current player, especially someone from the ever-crowded defense to help fill the Panthers’ need?
Christian Ehrhoff, for instance, has a very cap-friendly $4 million salary for the next seven years. He has grown tired of losing in Buffalo and might welcome a change of scenery to a team a little bit ahead of the Sabres in the growing process that features former Vancouver teammate Roberto Luongo in goal. Or perhaps Tyler Myers and his $5.5 million cap hit could be of interest.

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/m...abres-20140531

[Skooby]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

$4 Million in FL where there's no state taxes, juicy.

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

the word is, teams are really pushing to get a top 3 pick. apparently, fla, buf, and edm have been fielding many calls about the picks, because the interest in a potential franchise player is high (duh) but with the weak draft, it makes those picks even more valuable.

[coastal]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

I would trade the pick for a 2015 first rounder, swap of first rounders, and time if their top prospects (especially a goalie).

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

heres a nice article on rebuilding through the draft.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/05/30/buffalo-sabres-gm-tim-murray-aiming-to-rebuild-roster-through-upcoming-draft/

[trapezeus]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

I would trade the pick for a 2015 first rounder, swap of first rounders, and time if their top prospects (especially a goalie).

the 2015 first rounder could be mcdavid. the bills and sabres trade out of the 2015 first round they year they both need it the most? No thanks.

[coastal]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

the 2015 first rounder could be mcdavid. the bills and sabres trade out of the 2015 first round they year they both need it the most? No thanks.

No what I mean is I would trade our second overall for the other team's first this year, their first next year and one of their best prospects.

[Skooby]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

No what I mean is I would trade our second overall for the other team's first this year, their first next year and one of their best prospects.

It'd be better if it was an NHL player & not a prospect.

[Ginger Vitis]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

Rumour out of Toronto is Dion Phaneuf.. Nazem Kadri and the 8th overall pick to Florida for Ed Jovanoski and the No.1 pick

Anaheim apparently wants to get as high as they can.. Under the Coastal scenario the Sabres get the No.24 pick in 2014..Anaheims 1st Round pick in 2015 and John Gibson(widely considered to be he best goalie prospect in the NHL)

[Ginger Vitis]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

Craig Custance of ESPN

" Sabres have 3 2nd round picks and want another 1st Round pick.. Sabres will get calls on Christian Ehrhoff and will trade a 2nd round pick and Ehrhoff and try to get as high as they can in the 1st round"

[DetDannyWilliams]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

According to sources at the NHL combine this weekend, several teams have aggressively pursued trades with Florida and Buffalo, owners of the first and second overall picks respectively. Panthers general manager Dale Tallon has said from Day 1 that he’s entertaining all offers, though he has given no indication exactly what the price tag might be, nor what make or model he’s in the market for. For his part, Sabres GM Tim Murray has shuffled the deck aggressively since he arrived in mid-season. The prevailing wisdom in the marketplace is that Tallon and Murray might be motivated dealers.
One scout aware of multiple offers for the top two picks said, “The going price to move up into those [first two] spots would be picks — a high first and a second or third — and an established player that helps your top two lines.”
Tallon and Murray would be motivated traders but with divergent motives.

Does Sam Bennett or Aaron Ekblad significantly boost the roster next year? Bennett might be best served with another year back in junior — the call the Panthers made with Huberdeau, who at least managed a chin-up at the NHL combine in his year. As for Ekblad, the opening for a right-handed shot would seem to be there with the trade of Mike Weaver to Montreal. Ekblad would seem a better fit in Florida than Gudbranson. Still, it would seem the Panthers need a player — or players — who can lead and provide immediate help rather than other works in progress. Tallon has taken a few desperate swings with vets in the past couple of years (e.g. Scott Gomez and Tim Thomas). With his job security surely on the line, he might be coaxed by veteran talent that’s more bankable than reclamation jobs.
It’s a different situation for Murray in Buffalo. Time isn’t on any GM’s side, really, but he has more of it to play with than Tallon. Replacing Darcy Regier in mid-season, he has a season’s grace as well as the second, 31st and 39th overall picks in June. He also has the New York Islanders’ first-rounder in 2015 (not lottery-protected) from the Thomas Vanek trade and the St. Louis Blues’ first next year from the Ryan Miller-Steve Ott trade. Add to that nine picks in the first or second round in the last two drafts. With the Sabres’ own pick and the Islanders’ selection, Murray has what looks like two viable tickets in next year’s Connor McDavid-Jack Eichel derby, a stronger draft than this one. In fact, either McDavid or Eichel would likely be the first overall pick in this year’s draft if under-agers were eligible.
Murray is listening to offers — if somehow he were able to convert his available assets (including his chip from the Blues) into two picks in the first 20 or better next month, he’d move on it. It will have to be a first-liner to get his attention if a prospective trade partner puts an established veteran in play.
If Murray stands pat, it won’t be because he has taken the phone off the hook. Open for business? He’ll do everything but set up a 1-800 hotline.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/top-two-picks-may-be-available-at-nhl-draft/

[don137]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

Really hope they stay at number 2. Get a blue chip prospect for the first time in years. Don't need additional mid first round picks and second/ third line player. That got us no where in past 15 years. We need a future all star. Don't want to have suffered for status quo draft selection.

[coastal]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

Rumour out of Toronto is Dion Phaneuf.. Nazem Kadri and the 8th overall pick to Florida for Ed Jovanoski and the No.1 pick

Anaheim apparently wants to get as high as they can.. Under the Coastal scenario the Sabres get the No.24 pick in 2014..Anaheims 1st Round pick in 2015 and John Gibson(widely considered to be he best goalie prospect in the NHL)

Oh god yes to both.

Dion Phaneuf and Kadri gone? Please, please, pretty please.

[Skooby]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

I hope the Blues & Isles suck real bad next season, so we have a chance to pick 1,2 & 3. That'd set us up for years of great hockey, something we have been lacking.

[Skooby]

Re: Florida shopping #1? could Murray make deal to get two draft picks

Oh god yes to both.

Dion Phaneuf and Kadri gone? Please, please, pretty please.

Agreed.