On the Buffalo Sabres …
Joe Yerdon of NHL.com: GM Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma are under review, with ownership meeting with Murray next week.
” my coach today; I’m the general manager today,” Murray said at KeyBank Center. “There’s a review top to bottom. I have to meet with ownership next week in Florida. I’m sure I’ll be reviewed, I’m sure I’m being reviewed right now, as I should be.”
John Vogl of the Buffalo News: GM Tim Murray would like his coaching staff to worry less about their opposition, and more on what’s going on with their team. Murray isn’t thinking of firing Bylsma yet.
“He has three years left on his deal,” Murray said. “I have three years left on my deal. I’m the general manager today. He’s the coach today. I haven’t had any thoughts of firing him up to this point.
“The reason I always say today is because something can happen tomorrow.”
Murray said they are all to blame for their disappointing season.
“We feel we have the talent and we didn’t, for multiple reasons through all the layers of the organization, we just didn’t get it done,” the GM said. “I think the players have legitimate gripes about the coach. I think players have some legitimate gripes about the way our team is built, and that’s me. I think the players have some gripes that aren’t legitimate and are excuses.”
The Sabres were hit with some injuries throughout the season – Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo and Dmitry Kulikov – and Murray admits they didn’t have the depth to handle that, but he one day hopes to have it.
Murray on if the Sabres are open to bringing Brian Gionta back.
“My expectation would be a one-year deal, and the money would have to work for us,” Murray said. “He had a very good year. I think he’s a great guy. He’s a great teammate. I think he’s a culture guy, so I do have interest.”
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: It’s know that Jack Eichel has soured on coach Dan Bylsma. GM Tim Murray said he’s open to talking contract extension with Eichel after July 1st. Murray thinks Eichel is ready to be the captain of the Sabres.
“He’s our guy,” Murray said of Eichel. “He wants to be a leader, wants to take more of a leadership role and I encouraged him to do that.”I made a promise to him that I would do the best I could to make the team around him better and we would be a long-time playoff team.”