Tim Murray chats with the media tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres GM Tim Murray trying to trade goalie Ryan Miller, ‘put him in a position to succeed’

BUFFALO – It’s still realistic the Sabres could re-sign franchise goalie Ryan Miller, general manager Tim Murray said. That, however, isn’t “the route we’re looking at right now.”

“We’re looking … to get value for him, to put him in a position to succeed,” Murray, a rookie GM, said tonight inside the First Niagara Center.

The trade deadline’s just eight days away and the rebuilding Sabres, the NHL’s worst team, are looking to deal.

Here are some highlights from Murray’s chat.

On rewarding the 33-year-old Miller, a “good soldier” for the Sabres:

“Players that treat you right, play well and hard for you over the years, you try to do what’s best for them, too, as long as it fits into what you’re doing. By trading Ryan to a contender … I think that certainly we’ve certainly not done a disservice to him and would help the organization in our own right. Our priority right now on both sides is to pursue a proper trade.”

On Miller, an upcoming unrestricted free agent, re-signing:

“I don’t know if he has no interest. I know what I think his first choice would be, and I don’t think signing here is his first choice at his age, where we’re at being the 30th-place team. But I wouldn’t say he has no interest, no.”

On a contract extension for interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan:

“We’re discussing it. We have discussed it. We’re along that path, yeah.”

On Sabres captain Steve Ott, another UFA:

“Steve Ott is the type of player that I’ve looked for for 21 years, right? … That’s not the type of player I want to trade away; that’s the type of player I want to bring in.”

He added given Ott’s status he has every right to pursue other opportunities.

On the market:

“Very quiet, quieter than I guess I was really expecting.”

On what he wants back:

“Ideally, if teams would give me two good, young players that are two years or so into their development, that would be outstanding.”

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