Archives for June 2014

'Pedigree seemed to be very important. Three picks are sons of former NHLers: first-rounder Sam Reinhart (father is Paul), Lemieux and Brown (father Doug was on the Red Wings' Cup-winning teams in 1997 and 1998, and uncle Greg was an Amerks defenseman in the early 1990s). Murray, however, said it was more coincidence with regard to hockey heredity. They simply liked the … [Read more...] about Like fathers, like sons? Buffalo Sabres draft recap

'“We thought he responded very well to some tough questions,” Murray said.' … [Read more...] about Prospect Brendan Lemieux impressed Sabres in difficult draft interview

'“We have a potential top-two center that can play for us next year,” he said about Reinhart inside the Wells Fargo Center. “The other thing it did for the organization is we added a lot of assets. The way I’ve spoken with that in the past, they’re either going to be Buffalo Sabres or they’re going to be or they’re going to allow us to get other Buffalo Sabres.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres GM Tim Murray leaves draft happy: ‘I think we went after potential’

'Make no mistake, though, despite the lack of warm fuzzy pronouncements, Murray was plenty happy he got his man. After the selection, Murray revealed the Sabres had Reinhart rated as the best player in the draft, ahead of stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who was selected first overall by the Florida Panthers. That’s a bit surprising. Ekblad was widely thought of as a worthy No. 1 … [Read more...] about Reinhart the reward for Sabres’ suffering

'Given Lemieux's bloodlines and the earlier projections, it was almost as if the Sabres ended up with an extra first round. The Sabres have been loading up with skilled players, and now they have a layer of prickliness to go with it.' … [Read more...] about Claude Lemieux’s son also a fiery player

'''I expected to be a first-round pick and never even really looked at the second round,'' Lemieux said.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo takes Lemieux to open 2nd day of NHL draft

'The Sabres used seven of their nine selections on forwards. They also picked Swedish-born goalie Jonas Johansson, 61st overall, and Swift Current defenseman Brycen Martin (74th).' … [Read more...] about Sabres draft class features ‘Family Ties’ theme

'Brendan Lemieux, 18, finished tied for third on the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League this past season with 53 points, including 27 goals, and led the club with 145 penalty minutes.' … [Read more...] about Sabres take Claude Lemieux’s son with 1st pick of Round 2

'"I was one of those guys who was trying to figure out for a long time where I was going to go," he said. "Nobody really knew. I had no idea I would drop out of the first round, but I had no idea I was going to get picked this morning. I walked in the arena like 2 minutes before I was going to get picked."' … [Read more...] about Sabres grab Lemieux in second round

'"He's definitely not quiet, he's a leader," Claude said of his son. "He's a winner, he loves to win and he plays the game the right way. It's the kind of player you need when you're in a rebuilding mode. You want to have these character players."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Go With Lemieux To Start Round 2

'"He plays just the way I did, north-south," he said. "You know, [he's] a good skater. Bang, crash, he goes hard to the net. He scores dirty goals. Just the same game I had."' … [Read more...] about Sabres tab Lemieux with top pick in second round

'Beyond his on-ice ability, Murray likes what Lemieux's energy and personality potentially could bring to a locker room that at times has been a bit low-key. "He will add another dimension to a quiet room," Murray said. "... The room won't be as quiet with him in it, that's for sure."' … [Read more...] about Sabres collect nine new pieces at NHL Draft

'“I’ve certainly visualized myself in this uniform, and I’m just thrilled and ecstatic to really make an impact there and go to Buffalo for the first time,” Reinhart said in Wells Fargo Center. “I’m very excited and I’m very motivated to step in the league next year with a young team that’s developed very well and to make an impact.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres get their Sam; draft Reinhart with the second overall pick

'This was the plan all along. Lose big, draft high, get a scoring center. It was an ugly scenario, played out through a season littered with a deposed general manager and coach, a “fired” president of hockey and the trades of the franchise goaltender, a captain and two goal-scoring wingers.' … [Read more...] about Murray’s stone face speaks volumes

'“Greedily, I’m upset because I think we have more of a chance of next season being one of the lower teams, which I don’t like, but it’s just reality,” Murray said Friday. “I just think it affects the teams you see at the bottom now, so you know who you’re affecting. I’m not sure that’s fair. I think if you did it three years out, you know you’re affecting somebody, you’re … [Read more...] about Murray miffed at lottery changes