My thing is that three of the last four

BUFFALO, N. Harrison Butker Jersey .Y. - General manager Tim Murray decided defenceman Christian Ehrhoff and his hefty contract did not fit in his long-term vision for rebuilding the Buffalo Sabres. Former Sabres captain Steve Ott, on the other hand, just might. Fresh off clearing Buffalos books of the remaining seven years of Ehrhoffs contract, Murray is targeting veteran role players to augment his teams young roster once the NHLs free-agency period opens Tuesday. "Id like to acquire a couple of veteran guys who can play the game, but can also show our kids how to be pros," Murray said Monday. "So Im going to focus on at least two of those guys." And that makes Ott a candidate to return to Buffalo after he was part the Sabres trade that also sent goalie Ryan Miller to St. Louis in February. Murray said Ott is on the teams list of free-agent candidates, and added hes had preliminary discussions with the players agent. Ott was expendable at the time of the trade because he was in the final year of his contract. Murray, who spoke highly of Otts leadership ability before the trade, was careful to make sure Ott left on good terms by dealing him to a contender. As for Ehrhoff, who signed a 10-year, $40 million contract three years ago, Murray said the defenceman wasnt interested in being part of the teams rebuilding process. The way Ehrhoffs contract was structured was another factor. Under NHL rules, the Sabres would have faced a significant salary-cap penalty if Ehrhoff retired before the final year of his deal. "This seemed to be the best course of action for us to move on, be out from under that contract," Murray said. "And now we dont have to worry about it. Now we just have to focus on rebuilding, bringing in good young players and get going here." Murray, who took over in January after Darcy Regier was fired, is taking a patient approach to rebuilding a team that is coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Buffalo (21-51-10) finished last in the NHL standings, set a franchise record for losses and established a post-NHL-expansion-era low by scoring just 150 goals. Murray has set his sights on rebuilding through youth, a process that continued at the NHL draft last weekend. The Sabres made nine picks, starting with playmaking centre Sam Reinhart at No. 2 overall. Buffalo is scheduled to have three first-round picks in next years draft, which leaves Murray preaching patience. "We all want to speed things up. As soon as we got (Reinhart), I said I wish it was 2016. But its not. And you have to do it properly," Murray said. "Its not easy. Its hard. It takes a long time. And I think that were on the right track." Aside from convincing free agents to buy into his rebuilding plan, Murrays other challenge is upping the Sabres payroll to the NHL salary cap minimum of $51 million. The Sabres are currently at about $30 million after buying out Ehrhoff and the final three years of underperforming forward Ville Leinos contract two weeks ago. Murray is confident the Sabres will reach the cap minimum before the start of the season, and can do so without handcuffing the teams salary structure with expensive long-term contracts. "Im not worried about the floor," Murray said, and then broke into a smile while pointing to a reporter. "Ill sign you if I have to." The Sabres have extended qualifying offers to retain the rights of a number of restricted free agents, including centres Tyler Ennis and Luke Adam, forward Marcus Foligno, defenceman Chad Ruhwedel and goalie Matt Hackett. Defenceman Jamie McBain will become an unrestricted free agent after the Sabres did not extend him and offer. Derrick Nnadi Jersey . Founding members of the Genie Army, a group of Eugenie Bouchard supporters who cheered for the rising tennis star during the Australian Open in January, will be in the city for the Rogers Cup, beginning this weekend. Mecole Hardman Jersey . An offseason trade acquisition from Kansas City, Greinkes National League debut was delayed by a non-baseball injury in the spring, and he was 0-1 after dropping an 8-0 decision at Atlanta in his initial appearance with the Brewers on May 4. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Sammy-Watkins-Elite-Jersey/ . Helwani said that Weidman has been dealing with recurring swelling and pain in his knees related to torn meniscus he suffered as a teenager and the problems came to a head last week when he suffered prolonged swelling and pain in his left knee, resulting in the decision to undergo an arthroscopic scope procedure to clean up the tear in both knees. INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul George spent much of Friday worried about whether hed be suspended for Game 7 against Atlanta. Not a chance. Less than an hour after wrapping up practice, an NBA spokesman confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that league officials reviewed the tapes from Thursday nights altercation and determined none of the players who stepped onto the court would be punished for the decisive game of this first-round series. It was no surprise to the Pacers. "Were planning for him to be here until were told hes not going to be in there," coach Frank Vogel said shortly before the decision was made public. "I think he stayed in the vicinity of the bench." Players who leave the "vicinity" of the bench during a fracas can be suspended under league rules. Few, including Stu Jackson, the leagues former disciplinarian, expected that to happen with George, who took two slow, short steps onto the court before he was pushed back by assistant coach Popeye Jones. Jackson wrote on Twitter that he didnt expect the league to suspend George, Indianas best player and an All-Star starter. Losing George would have been a major blow to the Pacers comeback hopes. George has topped 20 points in all six games, has double-doubles in five of them and has been the one Pacers defender able to slow down quick, shifty Hawks guard Jeff Teague. And it was George and David West who saved the Pacers season with a late Thursday night in Atlanta, too. All the leagues best regular season home team must do now to reach the second round and avoid the distinction of becoming the sixth No. 1 seed in league history to be eliminated in the first round is protect its home court. Lately, thats been a problem. "My thing is that three of the last four times weve played these guys (in Indy), they built 20-point leads and beat us pretty good," Vogel said. "So I dont think anyone from this team can thinnk were going to be OK just because were back home. Jordan Lucas Jersey. ." The eighth-seeded Hawks understand. They had a chance to wrap up the best-of-seven series at home and rallied from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to take a five-point lead late in the fourth. Yet they still lost. "Weve responded well all year when weve been in difficult situations," coach Mike Budenholzer said Friday. "Part of our response is going to have to be better execution. I think we have a lot of positive reference points from all year. Our group has been very good and very resilient. I have a lot of confidence in our group." But this is going to be different. The Pacers, who spent all season chasing the Eastern Conferences top seed, expect a raucous crowd for the first Game 7 to be played at home in the franchises NBA history. Plus, they appeared to find a defensive solution to Atlantas spread offence by going small in Game 6. The Hawks, meanwhile, have only a day to adjust to Vogels new rotations and are on their own historic quest. A win Saturday would give Atlanta the distinction of having the fewest regular-season wins (38) of any second-round team since Detroits 36-win team beat Milwaukee in the first round of the 1976 playoffs, according to STATS. "Weve won on that floor before, so we know we can do it," Teague said. "We just have to go out there and do what we do and play our style of basketball, and it will take care of itself." George has plenty of motivation after a stressful week that included ceding home-court advantage for the second time in the series, losing his 2014 All-Star ring in a burglary that took place while he was playing Game 5, two elimination games and speculation that his 24th birthday celebration might be marred by the announcement of a one-game suspension. Theres only one thing that really would help him relax -- getting a second straight win and setting up ' ' '