Archives for June 19, 2015

‘“The basic plan is we have to get a goalie, that’s for sure,” Murray said at the team’s annual pre-draft news conference in First Niagara Center. “It’s a moving plan. The plan always moves. We would love to trade for a ‘youngish’ goalie. If that doesn’t work, we would trade for a real good short-term goalie who is older. If we could sign the best or second-best free agent goalie, we would be happy with that too. We’re working it every day.”’

‘“They’re a model for sure,” Murray said. “I talk to Steve a lot. I think he’s an intelligent guy. I think he’s got a plan and he’s not going to waver from it. That’s the key to me. They’ve drafted very well. They’ve made some trades that helped them. And they topped themselves off in free agency.”’

‘The team announced an expanded camp schedule Thursday, stretching from July 6-12 in First Niagara Center. The highlight will be a Blue & Gold scrimmage on July 10 at 7 p.m. Interest in the scrimmage is expected to be huge because of the presence of Eichel, the team’s presumptive No. 1 pick next week, so there will be tickets sold for the first time.’

‘“We feel he needs time in the minors, whether that’s 10 games, a half a year, whatever it is,” Murray said. “That will depend on what kind of summer he has.”’

‘“A ton of experience in both guys,” Bylsma said about Murray and Barr. “Terry is a guy who’s been a head coach in this league. He’s been an assistant coach in this league. He’s been a head coach at the American Hockey League level. He’s coached with and under some other great coaches in other great systems, organizations. Terry’s bringing that to our team. I think it’s going to be a huge part of our development for our players, especially our defensemen.”’

‘“We would love to trade for a goalie,” Murray said. “We would love to trade for a youngish goalie. If that doesn’t work, we would trade for a real good short-term goalie who’s older. If we could sign the best or second-best free agent goalie, we’d be happy with that, too.’

‘Murray said he was excited to join up-and-coming Buffalo, but admitted he would have stayed with the Flyers if they had offered him a job as an assistant.’

‘Murray’s jump to Buffalo came as a surprise to many. He was thought to be one of the front-runners for an assistant coaching position under new Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol, who has never coached at the NHL level before. Murray has been an NHL head coach in 1,012 NHL games and led the Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals.’

‘”He’s coached with and under some other great coaches in other great systems, organizations,” Bylsma said. “Terry’s bringing that to our team. I think it’s going to be a huge part of our development for our players, especially our defensemen.’

‘Barr was as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils the past four seasons. He also has worked as an assistant for the Colorado Avalanche (2008-09) and Minnesota Wild (2010-11).’