Murray: Sabres in position to meet O'Connor's signing requests

Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray was on Buffalo’s WGR 550 on Thursday afternoon.

On the Sabres’ level of interest in Matt O’Connor:

“Well, we have interest in him. I have a couple of college scouts that have shown interest that I have told that they had the ability and the power to go to the agent and get our names in. They’ve met with the player a couple of times. He’s got some things that he would like when he signs. I think we’re in a position to do those things.

“But in saying that, I read an article that 15 teams are in the same boat as us. Can all 15 teams play him in a game after he signs and burn a year? I doubt that highly. So if that’s important to him – we hear that’s important to him – that may not be. Maybe the most important thing to him is opportunity next year. Or development.

“But we do hear that the opportunity now is important. So out of the 15 teams or 20 teams, or whatever, whoever are interested – kind of the same as the Winnipeg deal. I think that whittles it down to maybe half or less of the teams that can make his dream come true of playing NHL games this year.”

How good is he? Is he a top prospect at this moment?

“He’s a prospect. He’s a big guy who’s having a tremendous year. A late bloomer and we know goalies aren’t good until they’re older anyway. But no, he’s a good enough prospect that a lot of teams are interested.

“He’s a free player. Free being he costs you money, but he doesn’t cost you a draft pick. He doesn’t cost you another player. Those guys are always a good roll of the dice. And with our goaltending situation, he makes sense to us. He makes sense for us to give him a kick at the can with us, and we get a try with him. But he needs development, he needs some time. That’s what we’re supposed to do as an organization, is make players better.”

Source: WGR 550/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

Worth Reading

Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey