The Buffalo Sabres have three outstanding AHL prospects in Jiri Kulich, Lukas Rousek, and Isak Rosen. But there is one more that few talk about.
When I first concocted my Buffalo Sabres lineup prediction 2.0, I erroneously listed Brett Murray as an extra and left Jordan Greenway off. No disrespect to Greenway, but it was a sign of how thrilled I was with Murray over in Rochester, and how little the former impressed me in 2022-23, despite the fact that I thought it was a good idea to acquire Greenway.
That said, even I admitted it was a little premature to place Murray over Greenway, and I ended up making the swap. But it didn’t stop my intuition from wandering. While I think Greenway will open the season as part of the Sabres fourth line, perhaps even as an extra depending on how the dominoes fall, it wouldn’t surprise me if Murray snuck his way onto the roster at some point in 2023-24.
One reason is the fact he brings characteristics that the Blue and Gold currently lack, like physicality and an effective penalty kill. He’s also been consistent in those avenues, and as a bonus, in Rochester at least, Murray can score, having put up 49 points, 23 goals, and 26 assists in 71 games.
Will Murray find a place on the Buffalo Sabres in 2023-24?
As much as I’d like to see it, Jordan Greenway will get the first opportunity thanks to the fact Buffalo traded a second round pick for his services. But the reality is this: If Greenway doesn’t show he’s improved after a couple of months and is a liability, and if Murray returns (he will be an RFA this offseason) and picks up where he left off last season, then it’s time to give the hardworking winger a look.
Though I’ve discussed Jordan Greenway and the Don Granato Effect, 2023-24 will be a year when the Buffalo Sabres compete for a playoff spot. In short, Greenway can’t play the way he did in his 17-game stint this past season, despite scoring four goals in that span. Especially if Murray builds off his strong 2022-23 campaign.
So will we see Murray in a blue and gold uniform next year? If Greenway improves and if the Sabres forwards stay healthy, don’t expect it, regardless of how he looks in Rochester. But if Greenway struggles and Murray keeps up his production in Rochester, then the Sabres aren’t going to have a choice. Or at least, they shouldn’t have a choice.
Source: Amerks’ Brett Murray hopes career year can create more chances with Sabres by Bill Hoppe, BuffaloHockeyBeat.com
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and theAHL.com)