The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired goalkeeper Matt Murray, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Incoming Draft and a seventh-round pick in the Ottawa Senators’ NHL 2024 Incoming Draft in exchange for futures considerations.
Ottawa will retain 25% of Murray’s salary as part of the trade. Murray has two years left on his contract for a $ 6.25 million period, leaving Toronto stuck for $ 4.7 million off Murray’s limit over the next two years.
Murray, 28, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is expected to be in charge of the Maple Leafs’ starting lineup as starter Jack Campbell will hit the open market this week. . Toronto hadn’t found a midpoint with Campbell, the team’s No. 1 goalkeeper for the past season and a half. Campbell now joins Darcy Kuemper as the unrestricted free agent goalie’s main goal when the signing period officially opens Wednesday at 12:00 ET.
The Maple Leafs replaced last season’s replacement, Petr Mrazek, for the Chicago Blackhawks last week. Murray is the only NHL goalie with extensive experience in Toronto to be on the roster next season, though the Maple Leafs will be looking for another experienced goalie to complement him.
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Murray was selected in 83rd place overall by Pittsburgh in the 2012 NHL Draft and began his career there supporting Marc-Andre Fleury. Murray won his consecutive titles in 2016 and 2017, becoming the first rookie goalkeeper to ever win consecutive Stanley Cup championships.
Murray was a pending restricted free agent when the Penguins traded him in Ottawa in October 2020, and senators signed him with a four-year, $ 25 million extension. The goalkeeper struggled throughout his tenure in the Canadian capital, with a 10-13-1 with a .893 savings percentage and an average of 3.38 goals against his first season.
In his second season, Murray did not win his first six games, and Ottawa quickly placed him on exemption in November 2021. After the veteran was not claimed, he was demoted to the League of Nations affiliate. American hockey franchise, the Belleville Senators. It participated in two parties of smaller league, with a 1-1-0 and a percentage of .906.
Murray returned to the Senators in January and played well (5-3-2, .937) before facing a couple of injuries later in the year. A disease of the upper body suffered against Arizona coyotes on March 5 landed Murray on the injured reserve and marked the last game he would play in the senators ’uniform.
Now, Murray will have a fresh start with some familiar faces. Murray played his youth hockey with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe and general manager Kyle Dubas. He also has a long history with Toronto goalkeeping assessment and development coach Jon Elkin. That might be enough to throw Murray back to his former form as the No. 1 capable goalie.