Buffalo Sabres: Don’t Expect Any Trades to Help Injury Situation
By Paul Taylor
Despite the Buffalo Sabres’ seemingly never-ending stream of injuries, GM Tim Murray says getting some help via a trade is virtually impossible, due to their salary cap situation.
All teams have to contend with various injuries during the NHL campaign – such is the nature of one of the most physically demanding games in all of professional sports. Regardless, the Buffalo Sabres have dealt with more than their fair share thus far, during a season which is a little over one month old.
In addition, the Sabres’ current casualty list includes some of the more important members of their team, such as Jack Eichel, Dmitry Kulikov, Tyler Ennis and Zach Bogosian. Throw in absences from Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane, you find yourself believing more than ever that the sporting Gods do have it in for Buffalo.
Taking all of this into account, it’s little wonder the Sabres currently find themselves struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Most telling of all, they have scored the fewest goals in the NHL up to this point.
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With this in mind, the Sabres are scrambling for a solution, to remain in playoff contention until the injury situation starts to clear up. General manager Tim Murray has talked to other teams, but it doesn’t look promising at this stage.
Speaking recently on WGR550, Murray said; “I’ve made some calls just to see what’s going on and what’s out there.
“It’s very hard to make a trade, because it has to be money for money. We’ve had 27 guys on our roster right now and we’re right up against the cap, so it’s a daily grind.”
This grind isn’t helped by the fact the salary cap is calculated daily. As a result, there have been times when the Sabres have had to practice with fewer skaters, in order to save money.
Despite making calls around the league, Murray knows full well no one is going to feel sorry for him or his team: “That’s not going to happen.
“Plug away and see if we can get something done. Right now there’s just been a lot of vague talk and nothing specific.”
As much as the pressure must be there to do something drastic, the 53-year old deserves credit for not panicking: “I think I can get a fourth liner from a team or a sixth or seventh defenseman from a team, but…I’d rather play the kids than make a change for change’s sake.”
Murray acknowledges the frustration of Dan Bylsma and his coaching staff, but says everyone is in this together: “The coaches know they have to get through this.
“There will be brighter days ahead, hopefully sooner rather than later, but we know this is not our team on the ice. We’re looking forward to at some point having the team on the ice and seeing what we really need to get better, or if we’re good enough.”
One silver lining through all this adversity, is that the Sabres are still fighting. Look no further than Saturday’s 2-1 shootout win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Murray refuses to flow in the towel on this season, but acknowledges the Sabres need to get back on track, after losing six straight prior to playing the Penguins: “We’re doing what we said we’d try to do – tread water and stay in the hunt.
“There’s a point where you’re in the hunt or you’re not in the hunt. I don’t think we’re out of the hunt for a playoff spot yet, but certainly we’re not going in the right direction.”
One reason the Shawville, Quebec native remains hopeful, is that other teams will likely encounter similar problems to the Sabres: “I think you’re going to see a lot of injuries this year.
“Maybe we’ll have ours early and sail through the second half, I don’t know…Somebody else is going to get their turn at this agony we’re going through right now.”
In closing, Murray was quick to add: “I don’t wish that on anybody. It’s just the reality of the game.”
Next: Evander Kane drawing interest from Canucks
What’s your take on the Sabres’ current injury situation? Are you convinced they will come through and still be able to make a playoff challenge, or have you already written off this season? Let us know in the comments section.