More help could be on the way up front if Harvard University forward and 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner Jimmy Vesey signs with the Sabres. Buffalo acquired Vesey from the Nashville Predators in a trade for a 2016 third-round pick on June 20. Vesey said he intends to become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15 when his draft rights expire, but Murray and coach Dan Bylsma met with Vesey in Boston last month to make their case to him to play in Buffalo.
"For me, this is in his court and I don't sit at home and speculate about this," Murray said on July 12. "He's either going to sign here or he's not. If he doesn't, it's going to be obviously not the decision we want, and then you guys will call me a dummy for trading away a third-round pick, but I've got all the scenarios and I'm ready for them all, but it's up to him, it's his time."
Robin Lehner will be the No. 1 goalie. The Sabres acquired Anders Nilsson from the St. Louis Blues to be the backup. Linus Ullmark will challenge Nilsson for that job in training camp, but Buffalo will need a healthy Lehner to carry the load.
Lehner, who was limited to 21 games last season, his first with the Sabres (5-9-5, 2.47 goals-against average, .924 save percentage), had season-ending ankle surgery on March 30 and decided to stay in Buffalo for the summer to prepare for the season. The Sabres will need him to prove he's worthy of the No. 1 job if they are going to make a push for the playoffs.