Brett Murray arrived at the Prospects Challenge last September slated to play three games alongside his fellow Buffalo Sabres prospects in the showcase event.
Beyond that, nothing was guaranteed.
Murray, who was drafted by the Sabres during the fourth round in 2016, arrived at that camp with no team in place for 2019-20. He played well enough in those games to earn a stay in camp with the Rochester Americans, where he earned a one-year AHL contract.
The 6-foot-5 winger excelled as a rookie with the Amerks, earning him the two-year, entry-level contract he signed with the Sabres last Friday.
"It was definitely an interesting journey," Murray said.
Murray's path to an NHL contract was hardly the linear route many prospects take upon being drafted. There were times, he admits, when doubt about his future crept in.
The uncertainty he felt after leaving Penn State, for example, prepared him for the pressure of playing for a contract at last year's camp. Murray spent two seasons at the college but tallied just six points in 21 games as a sophomore.
Though he still speaks highly of the program today, Murray decided the fit wasn't right for his development. He left the school and returned to the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, where he had previously spent the first half of the 2016-17 season.
"It was definitely tough," Murray said. "There were times where, you know, things sort of don't seem like they're going your way and you kind of get down. I think the one positive that I had was working hard, or as hard as I could. Eventually, I knew something was going to start going my way. Lucky enough, it did. If I keep working, hopefully it will keep going up and up."
Murray led the USHL with 41 goals and finished second in the league with 76 points in 2018-19, earning First All-Star Team recognition. Though he had two years of eligibility remaining, he decommitted from Miami University (Ohio) and arrived at Sabres camp with no set plans for the season.
"It was just part of the journey that I was on," Murray said. "There was a lot of uncertainty leaving Penn State when I did. I wasn't sure as to what was going to happen then. I had a good season in Youngstown and I sort of got my confidence back. I think that's where it stemmed from.
"I realized who I was as a player and I believed in myself and the work that I put in. So, I think having that mindset going into camp definitely helped."
Murray quickly found his way on the score sheet upon earning an AHL deal with the Amerks. He tallied an assist in his pro debut and scored in his first game at Blue Cross Arena. He tallied 14 points in his first 15 contests, becoming a regular on a team that was destined for a playoff berth before the pandemic brought the season to an early end.
That's not to say it all came naturally. Despite his own large frame, Murray cited seeing the physical maturity of his Amerks teammates at camp as a wakeup call. He credits the team's veteran core with helping ease the pro transition throughout last season.
"It was definitely a bit of an adjustment at first," Murray said. "You don't know what it's going to be like. But eventually, or pretty quickly, I felt I was meant to be there. I felt good on the ice, I felt like I was keeping stride with all these pro players and eventually your confidence grows even more from where it was before."
Murray led Amerks rookies with 24 points (9+15) in 55 contests. Despite changes in the Buffalo front office and on the Rochester bench, the impression Murray made convinced new Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams to reward him with an entry-level contract.
"Brett acclimated very well to the AHL and showed continued improvement throughout the season," Adams said. "He has a unique blend of size and scoring ability and we're excited to see his development continue."
Murray, for his part, had the opportunity to explore other options as an unrestricted free agent but felt loyalty to the Sabres for the organization's role in his development.
"I was able to tie down this two-year contract and it's really just a dream come true," he said. "… I've wanted this and my family has wanted this since before I can even remember, since I was just pushing the puck around on the pond. So, yeah, it feels really good."
