Sabres GM Tim Murray on Babcock signing with Maple Leafs: 'It is what it is'

Close, but no cigar.

The Buffalo Sabres just barely missed out on acquiring Mike Babcock as their new head coach and have moved on to other candidates.

General manager Tim Murray is already over the loss and sat down with Buffalo radio station WGR 550 on Thursday to discuss the entire process.

"I thought the process was great and certainly great for my experience," said Murray. "We were in negotiations of a contract, knowing full well that at the end of the day there's no deal done until he says."

Buffalo reportedly offered Babcock a six-year, $30-million deal as early as Monday, but the coach turned down the Sabres en route to his new home with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I think at certain times you might have felt that a conversation went well," said Murray. "It is what it is.

"When a team like Toronto is involved, you can never be surprised."

The Sabres GM continued by adding that he's "open-minded" about the experience level of the next coach in Buffalo and that any accusations made about Babcock lying about a potential deal with the Sabres to gain leverage in other deals is "ludicrous."