Report: Goalie Says “No” to Getting Traded to the Buffalo Sabres

The next week will be a whirlwind for NHL fans.

The first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft will take place tonight at 7 pm from Montreal. Rounds 2-7 will take place on Friday, while the start of unrestricted free agency will begin next Wednesday, July 13th.

The Buffalo Sabres hold three first round picks in tonight's first round and have plenty of draft capital over the next two seasons.

Get our free mobile app

That means general manager Kevyn Adams will be exploring any and all options available to him. Perhaps the Sabres trade up or trade down. They could also make a trade for a skater or forward.

The biggest short-term need on the team is clearly a goaltender. They re-signed Craig Anderson to a one-year contract and only have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the roster right now. Last year's goaltenders Dustin Tokarski and Malcolm Subban are pending free agents.

The Sabres could trade for a goalie and they have been linked to one in the same division.

According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, the Sabres have "kicked the tires" on a trade for Ottawa Senators goaltender, Matt Murray.

Murray worked with Sabres goalie coach Mike Bales when the two were with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Murray is signed for the next two seasons at a $6.25 million cap hit but not the starting goaltender in Ottawa.

Now, Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the Senators and Sabres were deep into a Murray trade, but Murray has said "no" to a trade to the Sabres.

Murray has a 10-team no-trade clause and it appears Buffalo was on that list.

Murray has been disappointing since shining in Pittsburgh, but he had two years left on his deal, which would have been a perfect bridge to prospects Devon Levi or Erik Portillo. It's surprising Murray would say "no" to the option of being a starter with the Sabres. It might show the stigma that is sticking with the Sabres and Buffalo.

Adams now has to find another goaltending option.