The top prospects aren't the only people ready to get the 2014 NHL Draft started Friday at Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, RDS).

Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray, speaking with reporters Friday morning in Philadelphia, said he's counting down the minutes until things get underway.

"We're ready," he said. "I hope we're not over-prepared. We've talked a lot about it, the different scenarios. Whatever happens, I have confidence that our guys are ready to execute."

The Sabres have eight picks, starting with the No. 2 pick in the first round and three selections in the second round (Nos. 31, 39 and 49).

Murray said he's held numerous trade discussions but right now his plan is to keep the No. 2 pick.

"I have no other options right now, so that's our plan," he said.

Murray would like to add a second pick in the top 30 and his three second-round picks, as well as an early pick in the third round (No. 61), are interesting trade chips. However, so far his trips through the trade market have proven fruitless.

"With the amount of talking we've done in the last three weeks, for it to come down to this and look like we might not do anything, I don't know if it's disappointing … I shouldn't be surprised, I've been around this a long time. But it's quiet," Murray said. "I think a lot of people, including myself, did a lot of tire-kicking. I thought I did more than tire-kicking. I said, 'There must be a blockbuster going on because no one's reaching out to us anymore.'"

However, Murray hasn't completely given up hope on getting something done at the draft. He said he expects business to start picking up when the teams arrive at Wells Fargo Center.

"Everyone gets there two hours before and you make your rounds," he said. "I have a couple of really complicated ideas, so I don't know if I can execute them in that hour. But we've got good people here, so we'll get it done if something happens.

"I knew moving up into the first round, if that involves a couple of seconds, people that have called me previously on that same, 'if so-and-so is not there, are you interested,' that'll happen on the [draft] floor. I still might not be able to move into the first round, but I'm going to get people to talk to me on the floor."