from Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News,

Sabres winger Evander Kane sent out a quick tweet saluting the work of his general manager following last year’s NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla. It said simply “Tim Murray” and was followed by four applause emojis.

The players in the Buffalo locker room believe in the gumption Murray shows in trying to build this team, and there’s huge anticipation for what might happen here starting Friday morning and into the evening’s first round of the draft in First Niagara Center.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be here by tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens,” a smiling Kane joked after a youth clinic with the top draft prospects Thursday in HarborCenter. “Tim is a very unique character and it’s served him well. He’s done a great job so far of building our team, and I’m sure he’s looking to add and make us better. As a player, it’s really all you can ask for, and it’s up to us to use what he brings in to the best of our advantage.”

“You’re excited to see what happens here with trades, free agency, the draft,” center Jack Eichel told The News later in the day at (716) Food and Sport following a Bauer hockey event with presumptive top pick Auston Matthews. “You want the best for the team and you really never know. That’s what makes free agency and trades and things so appealing and exciting. But it’s out of my control, and that’s why Mr. Murray and everyone up there does their job so well.”

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