Pretty good read,
He nailed it on Mark Pysk, Nolan wanted him to stay with the big club, Management said screw you..
The risk for Murray is that he doesn't know how players filling their spots will respond down the stretch. His plan could backfire. Remember, the Sabres were losing splendidly with them in the lineup. Their overall ineffectiveness contributed greatly to their ridiculous cause. Trading them away means replacing them on the roster.
Anybody added after the trade deadline would consider the last 18 games or so an audition. For some, it could be their last chance to play in the NHL. If they can't be a good player on this lousy team, where is their career headed? For others, it would mean finally getting an opportunity to play with the big boys and showing they belonged.Either way, they would have something to prove.
It's the devil Murray doesn't know.
It's the devil Murray doesn't know.
Ted Nolan's job is developing players and winning games, but he was set up for failure. Nothing would please him more than rallying a group of second-rate players through the last month of the season. Mark Pysyk showed he can play in the NHL. He has been one of the Sabres' best players in recent games. If he plays any better, he'll get a one-way ticket to Rochester.
Look, in some respects, it doesn't matter what Murray does. Somebody will need to play goal. You might get half-baked efforts from skaters who are playing out the string, but Murray isn't going to find a goaltender who would embrace giving up goals. One hot goalie can make a world of difference.
All this, remember, for an 80 percent chance they don't get Connor McDavid. Imagine the outcry if they finished 29th and dropped back further in the draft lottery and didn't get Jack Eichel, either. Something tells me Eichel would drink to that. And it could happen.
Ironically, in his quest to lose, he could find himself in a no-win situation.
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