Buffalo Sabres Interested In Trading Compliance Buyout

Ok, so the Buffalo Sabres can’t officially trade a compliance buyout.  But they do have a second compliance buyout as granted to them by the collective bargaining agreement reached during the locked out season.

They did not compliance buyout Nathan Gerbe, and they used their first compliance buyout to rid themselves of Ville Leino and his obsurd contract.  That leaves them with one compliance buyout back on the books.  They can either use it or lose it.

Tim Murray wants back into the first round of the draft this year – he thinks there is enough value in the first round this year to make a second trip to the podium worth trading for.

What does Tim Murray have to offer?  First off you have to look at the teams that don’t still have a compliance buyout left to use.  Why would another team give up a bad contract if they in fact could just erase the contract themselves and get out from under it that way?

Teams that have used two compliance buyouts include the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadephlia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vancouver Canucks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to move up in the draft, and that might include using their first round draft pick to ease the blow of whatever team gives up their spot to Toronto.  Scratch them off the list.

The Chicago Blackhawks made a solid run to the conference finals this year before falling to the Los Angeles Kings.  They aren’t that far off from still competing for the Stanley Cup – having built themselves into the equivalent of a modern dynasty.  Selecting 27th overall in the first round of the draft may not be that appealing from them – especially if the Buffalo Sabres can throw in a second round pick.  Chicago would only be moving four spots down (or twelve if they get the 39th overall pick).

Montreal is in near the same situation as the Chicago Blackhawks.  Could Chicago be interested in Christian Ehrhoff?  The Buffalo Sabres could move the veteran defenseman for future return – if they don’t think that he is part of their rebuilding future.

Ehrhoff is not opposed to staying in Buffalo – but at the same time is open to the idea of being traded away from the Buffalo Sabres.

“I think if they want to move me, they can move me.”

A pretty cut and dry statement courtesy of Pro Hockey Talk for the veteran player who doesn’t have a restrictive contract money wise – and he still has value on the blue line.

I would love to get into what possibilities arise with dealing with the Philadelphia Flyers – but then realistically, who can really tell what goes on in Philadelphia.

The Vancouver Canucks themselves are on the verge of a rebuild.  While they are not on the verge of being one of the worst teams in the league, they have a long way to go before they can think about contending for the Stanley Cup regularly.

Tim Murray can thank Darcy Regier for a lot of things.  Mainly for leaving one hell of a mess to clean up.  Leaving Murray two compliance buyouts was the biggest gift the former GM could leave his successor.

Then again, the Buffalo Sabres can use their compliance buyout to get out of those awful third jerseys.