Just how hot is the iron for Sabres GM Tim Murray?

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com


"Strike while the iron's hot" is an old saying dating back to the days when the world had blacksmith's forging iron.

In regards to the Buffalo Sabres, the impending All-Star break and the eventual ramp-up to the March 2nd trade deadline, the demarcation between buyers and sellers is becoming more defined. Whereas early in the year only a few teams would have been considered out of the playoff race (Buffalo, Edmonton and Carolina) the field is starting to get crowded.

As of late, we can add the Arizona Coyotes to that list and we'll be keeping a watchful eye on four teams in the eastern conference who are at least 10 points out of a wild card spot right now: Ottawa, Philadelphia, Columbus and New Jersey. And just for good measure, we'll throw in the Minnesota Wild out west. They're on a four-game losing streak and seem to be going through the type of turmoil that could get their coach canned.



With rumors flying all over the place, the most recent concerning Sabres d-man Tyler Myers, again, we'll keep in mind two themes that Buffalo GM Tim Murray espouses with regularity: Anyone can be traded on a last place team (or second-last at this time) and pending free agents aren't going to walk for nothing.

That first theme is especially important when it comes to a player like Myers who's been in the rumor mill for nearly a year. Personal opinions aside, Myers would get moved if the return is there and Murray's holding all of the cards right now as Meyers' no-trade clause doesn't kick in until the end of next season.

The other theme concerns the Sabres pending UFA's.

As of now, with "only" four teams rolling up the carpet on the season, the market is limited and the price for a contender is relatively high. But, with things heating up and more teams dropping out of the race, if Murray wants to get the most he can for what he has, he'll need to get things rolling pretty soon.

Those four teams already mentioned--Buffalo, Edmonton, Carolina and Arizona--all have something that a playoff-bound team might want in the way of rentals. Here's a look at the UFA's that these four teams would have to offer and their cap-hits for this season.

Forwards:

Chris Stewart, RW, Buffalo ($4.2M)
Drew Stafford, RW, Buffalo (4.0)
Antoine Vermette, C, Arizona (3.75)
Jiri Tlusty, LW, Carolina (2.95)
Mikkel Boedker, LW, Arizona (2.8)
Torrey Mitchell, C, Buffalo (2.5)
Martin Erat, LW, Arizona (2.25)
BJ Crombeen, RW, Arizona (1.15)
Derek Roy, C, Edmonton (1.0)
Jay McClement, C, Carolina (1.0)
Patrick Dwyer, RW, Carolina (.900)
David Moss, RW, Arizona (.800)
Rob Klinkhammer, LW, Edmonton (.650)


Defensemen:

Andrej Meszaros, LHD, Buffalo (4.125)
Zbynek Michalek, RHD, Arizona (4.0)
Jeff Petry, RHD, Edmonton (3.075)
Andrej Sekera, LHD, Carolina (1.75)
Tim Gleason, LHD, Carolina (1.2)
Andre Benoit, LHD, Buffalo (.800)
Tyson Strachan, RHD, Buffalo (.650)
Brent Bellemore, RHD Carolina (.600)


Goalie:

Victor Fasth, Edmonton (3.4)
Michal Neuvirth, Buffalo (2.6)
Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo (1.25)
Devan Dubnyk, Arizona (.800)

Other than Arizona's Vermette, who is a center and is scoring at his best clip (.67 pts./game) in five seasons, the Sabres' Stewart might be the most attractive forward rental on the market at this time. Stafford has the size at wing and has proven he can score while Mitchell has the checking-line/faceoff prowess that playoff team like to add in a defined role.

On defense, there are an array of styles at the disposal of teams looking for a rental and with the way teams like to shore up their defense-corps for the playoffs, nearly every one of those d-men may find a new home. Although Meszaros has been a healthy scratch often for Buffalo and his numbers aren't the best of his career, he has a history of being a competent puck-mover with offensive ability. The big knock as of late was health, and he's managed to make it through the first half of the season relatively unscathed.

Trying to figure out what a team might want to do with their goaltending situation is like trying to capture free electrons with chopsticks. But if a team is looking for a back-up, or a goalie who could step into a starting role in an emergency situation, a goalie like Enroth, especially at his price-tag, would be very attractive. And Neuvirth, despite his minor injuries and struggles is not that far removed from Enroth either.

I don't know about imminent deals, but smoke's a risin'.