Will Brett Murray see more than two games with the Sabres in 2024-25?

Brett Murray has just 23 games of NHL experience through three seasons - 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2023-24, having played all of 2022-23 in the AHL. Through those 23 games, he has just six points, two goals, a minus-3, 25 hits, and three blocks, nominal production so far in what’s mainly been a career as organizational depth. 

But is that about to change in 2024-25, with a potential 14th skater needed for the Sabres? It depends on what the Blue and Gold are looking for and if they feel any of their higher draft picks are ready to take the next step. Isak Rosen is a possibility, as is Jiri Kulich, but then again, there’s the cost-to-benefits ratio. 

Would Kulich and Rosen fare better with another season in the minors, dominate the competition, then move up to the NHL at a later date? Regardless of whether you want to see the dynamic duo, or at least one half of that dynamic duo, in the NHL, we can all agree it wouldn’t hurt to keep them developing for another year with the Amerks. 

Brett Murray could fill the 14th forward spot should the Sabres keep one

I’m using the word ‘could’ lightly here because, looking at the Sabres lineup in the NHL and AHL via Puck Pedia, there are other would-be takers. Lukas Rousek jumps out, but there isn’t much more to go on unless Justin Richards or Joshua Dunne show they’re better fits than Murray. 

Plus, there’s always the chance of signing one more free agent to sit in the press box as a 14th forward. They did this two seasons ago with Riley Sheahan, who stuck around between August and November 2022. 

As for my take on the matter, Murray has all but proven he’s nothing more than a decent depth piece who is an above-average performer in the AHL. That said, I’d rather see someone like Justin Richards sit in the press box, as he at least produced admirably across his limited number of chances in the NHL and it could indicate more potential.

(Statistics powered by Hockey-Reference)