Buffalo Sabres fans should not dwell on the nixed trade

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 10: Matt Murray #30 of the Ottawa Senators prepares to make a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre on February 10, 2022 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 10: Matt Murray #30 of the Ottawa Senators prepares to make a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre on February 10, 2022 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

News broke earlier today that Senators goaltender Matt Murray would not waive his 10-team no-trade clause that included the Buffalo Sabres. 

Big news out of Buffalo Sabres headquarters just a few hours ago as it appeared the organization and the Ottawa Senators had a trade in the making for goaltender Matt Murray. The trade would have reportedly sent Murray and the seventh overall selection to the Sabres while the Senators would retain the salary.

Okay, two picks in the top ten would have been epic, so it is understandable that the Sabres faithful are hanging their heads right now. But here is the thing: Let’s not get too far down on what we can’t control. 

Clearly, general manager Kevyn Adams could not control whether Murray would waive his no-trade clause. He could only concoct a deal to try and grab the goaltender, the seventh pick, and supposedly another asset.

Buffalo Sabres fans need to worry about what their team can control

What the organization can control is one, how they respond to the bad news, and two, what they can do to improve their situation in tonight’s draft. That means getting excited for and focusing on the ninth, 16th, and 28th picks, assuming they keep all three of them from now until they announce someone’s name.

So is losing out on the seventh pick a major blow? In the short-term. But we must also remember that there is plenty of talent in this draft and the Sabres can easily snag a big time prospect 16th overall.

For now, let’s just worry about not what could have been, but what the Sabres will do with the ninth overall pick. Then, once we find out what they will do with the ninth pick, let’s celebrate the new acquisition then move onto the next selection.

In other words, let’s compartmentalize. Our team missed out on a serviceable goaltender who probably wouldn’t have resolved the situation in the first place and the seventh overall pick. Okay, but the truth is, they still have three picks to worry about in the first round. So let’s snag three keepers tonight, worry about them, and dwell on what could have been with the seventh pick.

Article Source: Sens G Murray declines to waive NTC for move to Sabres by TSN.ca staff.