Media outlets are reporting that the Buffalo Sabres have decided on Tim Murray as their next general manager.
TSN and Sportsnet first reported the development Tuesday night. The Canadian outlets says the parties are in the process of gaining approval from Sabres owner Terry Pegula before beginning contract negotiations.
WBFO News spoke with Buffalo News sportswriter Mike Harrington who says the move follows a methodical search conducted by Sabres president of hockey operations, Pat LaFontaine.
"This organization has wallowed too long in being insular and not having enough objective views from the outside. So that's one thing LaFontaine has done, he's kept his cards close to the vest, but because he hasn't been in the NHL for awhile he needed a good, honest evaluation of the Sabres from the outside. And I think that no matter who he got, he was going to get that (an assessment of his team) and that's been a real key point to this search," said Harrington.
The current assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators, Tim Murray would fill the vacancy created when Darcy Regier was fired nearly two months ago.
Murray has spent time working in player personnel departments with the Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. He is the nephew of Ottawa Senators' General Manager Byran Murray.
The 50-year-old Murray was reportedly among a pool of candidates that included former Sabres scout Jim Benning who currently works for the Boston Bruins. Wikipedia even lists Murrary as "a candidate for the role of GM of the Buffalo Sabres."
Social media also weighing in on the news. TSN has tweeted @TSNBobMcKenzie: "Pending successful negotiation of contract with Buffalo, Ottawa assistant GM Tim Murray will be next GM of the Sabres."