Brett Murray could bring a physical presence to the Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres called up forward Brett Murray in the wake of Vinnie Hinostroza’s injury and Jeff Skinner’s suspension.
Brett Murray is one of the more exciting players to watch over in Rochester. At 6’5, 228lb, Murray is one of the bigger players regardless of which league he’s playing in, and one of the most physical.
Down in Rochester, he is more than a physical presence, having scored 15 points in (9 + 6) in 22 games. His overall productivity and physicality would make him an exceptional lower liner in the NHL, and he may get yet another chance in the near future to show what he can do if the Sabres are playing a more physical hockey team.
Brett Murray can be a sledgehammer for the Buffalo Sabres
Last year, Murray saw playing time in 19 games, where he logged six points (2 + 4). He also tallied 17 hits in that span, while averaging 13 minutes of ice time per game. Just by looking around fan forums, many in the Sabres faithful thought that Murray’s recall was an encouraging one, but the jury remains out of whether he will get into a game as a member of the active roster.
Forward Jeff Skinner will miss another two games thanks to his three-game suspension that started with last night’s loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Further, with Vinnie Hinostroza progressing well, it looks like the seasoned veteran forward will return to action sooner than later.
Murray is also not in the expected lineup for December 13th’s game against the Los Angeles Kings, but that can change between then and now. And if you want me to be the bearer of bad news, then continue reading, because it looks like we will have Casey Mittelstadt on that first line, centering Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson.
Must Read. Banged up Sabres can’t hang with experienced teams. light
We are also projected to see Rasmus Dahlin pair with Owen Power on the first defensive pairing. This could provide a much-needed spark to rejuvenate the Buffalo Sabres high-octane scoring, which tends to stagnate when injuries hit.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Hockey DB)
Article Source: Observations: Sabres earn opportunities, fail to capitalize in 3-1 loss to Penguins by Lance Lysowski
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