BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ryan Miller was a no-show at Buffalo Sabres practice Monday because the star goalie was still travelling from the Sochi Games. Though Miller was scheduled to return later in the day and start Tuesday, when Buffalo hosts Carolina, his absence could be something the Sabres will have to get accustomed to with the NHL trade deadline approaching on March 5. A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that general manager Tim Murray continues to pursue offers for Miller with the intention of trading him by next week. "Tim is testing the waters as hard as he can," the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because Murray declined to speak to reporters Monday. The person said the teams first option is trading Miller, who is in the final year of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. Option No. 2, the person added, would be making a bid to re-sign Miller if a trade cant be completed. Murray, who took over the Sabres last month, had previously not ruled out trading Miller or anyone else on the roster. "This teams in last place right now," Murray said, during his inaugural news conference on Jan. 9. "Everybody can be traded." That means Miller isnt the only player with an uncertain future on a Sabres team that, at 15-34-8, remains in last place coming out of the NHL Olympic break. Captain Steve Ott, veteran winger Matt Moulson and defenceman Henrik Tallinder are also in the final years of their contracts and could be used as trade bait by a team intent on building through youth. Following practice, interim head coach Ted Nolan said it would be safe to assume the Sabres will be active in making trades. "I think thats the key right there, not knowing," Nolan said. "We cant worry about who might be gone, who might be coming in. Today is the day we have to work with what weve got. And tomorrow, whatever weve got here, then well work with that, too." Nolan also had a different take on his thoughts regarding Miller. After previously saying he favoured the Sabres retaining Miller, Nolan said the decision was out of his hands. "My thoughts dont really count right now," Nolan said. "Certainly, what Ryan Miller means to this team and this town, no question youd like to keep him. But its business. And we have to look forward to rebuilding this organization." In 11 seasons in Buffalo, the 33-year-old has set franchise records with 283 wins and 539 games played. This season, Miller has been the teams MVP. With a 14-22-3 record, Miller accounts for all but one of Buffalos victories. His .923 save percentage ranks seventh among goalies with 30 or more starts. Miller won the NHLs Vezina Trophy in 2010, the same year he earned MVP honours at the Vancouver Games, where he played a key role in leading the United States to a silver medal. At Sochi, he was relegated to a backup role behind Los Angeles Jonathan Quick. The Sabres are in a tough spot as far at goaltending entering their game against the Hurricanes (26-22-9). Aside from Miller, backup goalie Jhonas Enroth was also at the Olympics as a backup to Swedish starter Henrik Lundqvist. Nolan made the decision to have Miller start against Carolina because the U.S. has been off since a 5-0 loss to Finland in the bronze medal game on Saturday. Sweden played Sunday when it lost the gold medal game to Canada. The trade deadline has become a hot topic of discussion in the Sabres locker room. "I think you guys in the media as a whole have been telling me Ive been getting traded since the first day I got here," said Moulson, who was acquired in October in a trade that sent Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders. "Sometimes its a little stressful. But I think when you tell yourself to control what you can control, it kind of calms me down a bit. Im going to go out there and play hard, and whatever happens, happens." NOTES: The game against Carolina was originally scheduled to be played Jan. 7, but postponed after a blizzard hit Buffalo. ... Moulson is scheduled to return after missing four games with an upper body injury. ... Sabres enforcer John Scott broke his stick in anger as he left the ice during practice, and then slammed the gate at the bench behind him on the way to the locker room. Nolan said he asked Scott to leave after he didnt like the way the player was practicing. Andy Isabella Cardinals Jersey . The star receiver certainly isnt celebrating it with the Texans mired in a franchise-record 13-game skid. Pat Tillman Youth Jersey . The deals were announced on Friday. Beckham will receive $4.175 million in base salary, while De Aza will receive $4.25 million. Beckham hit .267 with five home runs and 24 RBIs over 103 games last season, his fifth with the White Sox. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Customized/ . 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Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring.A night ago, the Winnipeg Goldeyes relied on their deep batting order to score 18 runs. Friday night, the Goldeyes relied on their deep pitching staff to allow just one run. Four pitchers combined to lead the Goldeyes to a 4-1 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks before 5,227 fans at Newman Outdoor Field on Independence Day in America. The win stretches Winnipegs lead to eight games in the American Associations North Division over the RedHawks. The Goldeyes have also won nine in a row and 13 of their last 15 games. Luis Alen opened the scoring for Winnipeg when he singled in Donnie Webb from second in the top of the fourth inning to give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead. After Goldeyes starter Matt Jackson struck out Ronnie Bourquin looking with runners on the corners in the bottom of the fourth, Casey Haerther hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth to double Winnipegs lead. It was Haerthers third home run in his last six games. Jackson struck out Brandon Newton in a steady rain to end the fifth, but from there the game was delayed by 1:09 due to the rain. Following a scoreless sixth inning, the RedHawks finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh inning. C.J. Retherford drew a walk and subsequently went to third on a double by Ronnie Bourquin. Kaohi Downing came in from Winnipegs bullpen in relief of Jackson and Fargo catcher Petey Paramore hit at the first pitch he saw for a single to score Retherford. However, a great thrown by Donnie Webb from right field beat Bourquin to home plate by 10 feet and kept Winnipeg in front. Brendan Lafferty came in for the final two outs of the bottom of the seventh, including a strikeout of Anthony Kaskadden with runners on first and second to end the threat.dddddddddddd In the top of the eighth, the Goldeyes gave themselves a cushion with RBI singles from Brock Bond and Alen. The lead could have been even bigger, but Webb, who led off with a walk, was caught stealing at second. It didnt matter though, as Lafferty struck out three more in the bottom of the eighth and Chris Kissock pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to earn his 11th save of the season. Its also Kissocks sixth save in his last seven outings. Jackson picked up the win for the Goldeyes for his league-best seventh victory of the season. Fargo starter Curtis Camilli suffered the loss in his RedHawks debut. At the plate, Haerther increased his lead in the leagues batting race by going three-for-four to up his batting average to .416 on the season. Alen added two RBI. The second game of the series goes Saturday night in Fargo. Winnipeg will send Chandler Barnard (2-0, 2.29) to the mound against the RedHawks Jake Laber (6-2, 4.10). Coverage on Jewel 101 (100.7 FM) will begin at 5:00 p.m. with Around the Association, followed by the pre-game show at 5:30 p.m. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. Tickets for all 2014 Winnipeg Goldeyes games and the 2014 American Association All-Star Game are available through Ticketmaster by clicking on Goldeyes.com, calling 1-855-GOLDEYE or visiting any Ticketmaster location, including the Shaw Park box office. ' ' '