Grading Tim Murray's Job

[bob_sauve28]

I have to give him a D. The only thing that keeps it out of the F zone is Samson and Jack, though we only have them because we sucked so bad.

 

We are still dead last place.

 

His trades did not work out. Was he responsible for trading Brayden McNabb??

 

He hit on no second or third round surprises of note. Where is our Pasternak?

 

Lehner

[pi2000]

A+

 

He did what he was instructed to do.

[Randall Flagg]

I have to give him a D. The only thing that keeps it out of the F zone is Samson and Jack, though we only have them because we sucked so bad.

 

We are still dead last place.

 

His trades did not work out. Was he responsible for trading Brayden McNabb??

 

He hit on no second or third round surprises of note. Where is our Pasternak?

 

Lehner

Even though I like Samson, Murray had the 2nd pick and the choice of first forward in the draft, and so far there are at least 5 (Ehlers, Nylander, Pastrnak, Draisaitl, Point, maybe Larkin, maybe Arvidsson (2 30G, 60 point campaigns now)) forwards who have performed better to date/are better players right now. I don't count that among Murray's "successes" even though I am not upset with the pick and it was a completely safe/reasonable selection. 

 

I don't think it was an abject failure of a pick yet either. But he doesn't get my cheerleading for it.

[Weave]

Strange thread given we are a full season out from his release. 

 

A+

He did what he was instructed to do.

 

Unfortunately, this is likely accurate.  Too bad the ghosts of that duty are still with us.

 

Even though I like Samson, Murray had the 2nd pick and the choice of first forward in the draft, and so far there are at least 5 (Ehlers, Nylander, Pastrnak, Draisaitl, Point, maybe Larkin, maybe Arvidsson (2 30G, 60 point campaigns now)) forwards who have performed better to date/are better players right now. I don't count that among Murray's "successes" even though I am not upset with the pick and it was a completely safe/reasonable selection. 

I don't think it was an abject failure of a pick yet either. But he doesn't get my cheerleading for it.

 

Very reasonable take IMO.  I certainly can't give him much credit for selecting a player that was on many lists as the #2 overall and then doing it again the following season with the consensus #2 overall.  Had he hit at least a double on a player that wasn't on anyone's board at that spot, it would be a noteworthy achievement.  Has he even hit any singles?

[Radar]

A+

He did what he was instructed to do.

By who? Then why was he fired? I'm assuming the A+ is a bit of sarcasm toward the organization. I don't believe for a minute he was "instructed" to make all his moves although I have no problems with the idea no one opposed them either.

[pastajoe]

Even though I like Samson, Murray had the 2nd pick and the choice of first forward in the draft, and so far there are at least 5 (Ehlers, Nylander, Pastrnak, Draisaitl, Point, maybe Larkin, maybe Arvidsson (2 30G, 60 point campaigns now)) forwards who have performed better to date/are better players right now. I don't count that among Murray's "successes" even though I am not upset with the pick and it was a completely safe/reasonable selection.

 

I don't think it was an abject failure of a pick yet either. But he doesn't get my cheerleading for it.

Reinhart and Bennett were the consensus top forwards in the draft. So Murray didn’t deviate from the norm by picking Reinhart, it’s what most GMs in that spot would have done.

 

Most fans liked the ROR and Kane trades. Myers, Stafford, and Gregorinko were failing in Buffalo. The tank to get McDavid or Eichel was a success. And there are some drafted players that will be contributing in the next couple of years.

 

The trades of Lehner, Psyek, and ignoring Rochester were things I didn’t like.

 

But I loved GMTMs interviews, it was refreshing to have a GM who said what he thought after years of Darcy. “Slap him on the pee pee”.

 

So overall I give GMTM a C. Some of the players he acquired haven’t played to their potential, but that could be said about those he traded away.

[Randall Flagg]

Reinhart and Bennett were the consensus top forwards in the draft. So Murray didn’t deviate from the norm by picking Reinhart, it’s what most GMs in that spot would have done.

 

Right, that is what I meant to imply. I don't think he should get a plus for making the easy/safe choice and then having 5 guys behind that choice become better. But I don't give him a minus for it either. 

 

So in bobsauve's list of things that keep Murray out of the "f zone", I would remove Samson, but I wouldn't put drafting Samson in his list of failures either. That's all I meant to say.

[Wyldnwoody44]

He hired Bylsma, who sucked.... That downgrades him to a D

[LGR4GM]

I have to give him a D. The only thing that keeps it out of the F zone is Samson and Jack, though we only have them because we sucked so bad.

 

We are still dead last place.

 

His trades did not work out. Was he responsible for trading Brayden McNabb??

 

He hit on no second or third round surprises of note. Where is our Pasternak?

 

Lehner

You can't grade Murray's late round draft picks yet because there hasn't been enough time. This is a recording.

 

Murray sucked and I'm glad he's gone.

[darksabre]

You can't grade Murray's late round draft picks yet because there hasn't been enough time. This is a recording.

 

Murray sucked and I'm glad he's gone.

Yup.

I should also note that Murray was probably an okay talent evaluator, but a bad GM.

[SwampD]

Our team was so broken and run so poorly for so long that we think 2nd and 3rd rounders are busts because they aren't playing in the NHL only two years after being drafted.

 

If we were run properly, this would have/should have been Grigorenko and Zadorov's first year playing for the big club.

[LGR4GM]

Agree with both of you. A 3rd round or later pick probably won't be nhl ready till about age 22. So that's 4 years post draft. That's the minimum. Some you can expect 2 more years of juniors. 3 years of AHL. Or 2 years of college 2 AHL.

[Jacque Richard]

Friggin F

[GASabresIUFAN]

Is there a grade below F.  He is the worst GM is Sabres history.  He has no idea how to manage the cap, manage assets such as picks and prospects, build a roster or manage people.  His drafting was mediocre at best, his trades awful and FA signings nearly as bad.  His strategy to accelerate the rebuild was ill conceived, ill advised and poorly executed.  He destroyed the farm system and ignored the Amerks.  He clearly didn't do what he was hired to do.

 

Isn't it fun many of guys TM traded away because they weren't need here playing in the playoffs.

McNabb LV (after winning 2 Cups in LA)

Armia, Myers and Roslovic (1st rd pick we traded to Wpg) in Wpg

Zadorov and Compher for the Avs.

Edited April 16, 2018 by GASabresIUFAN

[PerreaultForever]

Is there a grade below F.  He is the worst GM is Sabres history.  

Yup. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Yup. 

Can you imagine our D if we had just kept the guys we drafted and developed?

 

Risto Zadorov

Myers McCabe

Pysyk McNabb

Nelson Guhle

 

Now think about our D if a competent GM had drafted Sergachev instead of Nylander?  or maybe had TM allowed the team to develop more slowly, maybe we'd have had a top 4 pick in 2016 maybe Laine, Dubois, or Matt Tkachuk would be Sabres.  Add that guy to the defense we should have kept, with the 2 1st rd picks we gave away and we'd be a playoff team this season. 

Edited April 16, 2018 by GASabresIUFAN

[PotentPowerPlay22]

You can't grade Murray's late round draft picks yet because there hasn't been enough time. This is a recording.

 

Murray sucked and I'm glad he's gone.

He was an arrogant miserable sour puss who thought he was a genius. He squandered all the draft capital that Darcy Regier acquired before him. He overpaid on virtually every trade. He doesn't deserve any credit for drafting Jack Eichel since that was obvious. He gave up a 1st round choice for Lehner which was atrocious. Mark Pysyk was traded for a useless bag of pucks. The team and organization is worse off because of him. And by the way, the team is still in last place.

 

His grade is clearly an "F"

Edited April 16, 2018 by PotentPowerPlay22

[LikeEich]

Reinhart and Bennett were the consensus top forwards in the draft. So Murray didn’t deviate from the norm by picking Reinhart, it’s what most GMs in that spot would have done.

 

Most fans liked the ROR and Kane trades. Myers, Stafford, and Gregorinko were failing in Buffalo. The tank to get McDavid or Eichel was a success. And there are some drafted players that will be contributing in the next couple of years.

 

The trades of Lehner, Psyek, and ignoring Rochester were things I didn’t like.

 

But I loved GMTMs interviews, it was refreshing to have a GM who said what he thought after years of Darcy. “Slap him on the pee pee”.

 

So overall I give GMTM a C. Some of the players he acquired haven’t played to their potential, but that could be said about those he traded away.

That Kane trade was one of the worst trades in the history of the NHL

[Wyldnwoody44]

That Kane trade was one of the worst trades in the history of the NHL

Erat.... Forsberg, was maybe the worst trade ever

[nucci]

Look at all the ex-Sabres playing well in the playoffs...

[Wyldnwoody44]

I hate the argument of ex sabres in thr playoffs..... How many of those guys are driving their team, let alone their own line..... They get to be passengers on a good team (granted they bring a decent supplemental role) but they are slotted where they should be, 3rd/4th line mainly

[Cage]

Can you imagine our D if we had just kept the guys we drafted and developed?

 

Risto Zadorov

Myers McCabe

Pysyk McNabb

Nelson Guhle

 

Now think about our D if a competent GM had drafted Sergachev instead of Nylander?  or maybe had TM allowed the team to develop more slowly, maybe we'd have had a top 4 pick in 2016 maybe Laine, Dubois, or Matt Tkachuk would be Sabres.  Add that guy to the defense we should have kept, with the 2 1st rd picks we gave away and we'd be a playoff team this season. 

 

Now that's a depressing post.....

[irregularly irregular]

A+

 

He did what he was instructed to do.

Maybe it was what he was instructed to do, but the botched execution is well documented. What a slap in the face after Darcy screwed the pooch. The two of them combined in back to back administrations has left JBots with a huge hole(s) to fill. More than a couple of people are already calling for his head, or at least the head of his coach, after less than a year. At this point it's Go Amerks!!! and lets see a few of those young guys force their way onto the Sabres' roster next October.

[Stoner]

So terrible. It's so obvious. Show of hands, who wanted him fired?

[North Buffalo]

Me, think he and his hockey trade sense was stupid. His first round trades and evals including Nylander and even Sam though it may turn out ok were less than stellar and on top of which he was a drunken arrogant jerk.