by James Guillory-Imagn Images
Veteran NHL goaltender Matt Murray has been fighting for his playing career for some time.
A combination of injuries and subpar play sent Murray to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. But lo and behold, the 30-year-old is ready to be recalled to the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
If he is recalled, he will likely be used almost immediately as the projected starting goaltender for Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabers or Saturday against the New York Islanders.
This is his chance to show that he deserves to be an NHL goaltender again. Maybe he won’t get another one.
Murray has excelled at the AHL level this season, posting a 1.85 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in eight appearances this year. His last game on Wednesday was a 27-save shutout against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In the previous game, he replaced 23-year-old Artur Akhtyamov, who allowed five goals in 22 minutes against the Bakersfield Condors, and stopped all 13 shots he faced as the Marlies pulled off a massive comeback.
Murray has overcome several injuries, including a long recovery from hip surgery last season. He also last played for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23 and only managed a 3.01 GAA and .903 SP. His final NHL game came on April 2, 2023, when he allowed two goals on seven shots before exiting due to injury.
If Murray performs well with the Leafs, he could be plotting his exit from Toronto at the same time.
Once veteran Anthony Stolarz returns to action in the next six weeks, Stolarz and Joseph Woll will be the duo the Leafs rely on. But if Murray is sent back to the AHL, another NHL team could claim him off waivers and give him a bigger stage in hockey’s top league. He only has a cap hit of $875,000 this season.
The better Murray plays in this NHL stint, the harder it will be for the Leafs to keep him. He also represents Toronto’s impressive goaltending insurance. The Leafs have young players Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov on the team, and of course they have Woll and Stolarz as their preferred tandem. That’s a luxury not many teams have, including some with playoff and cup ambitions.
The goalkeeping business is volatile and unpredictable. One day you are thrown away like trash and the next day you are back in the spotlight. That’s currently the case with Murray.
Murray’s delicate health also plays a role. Until Murray proves his body can withstand the rigors of the NHL, there will be skeptics about his ability to return to the form he had when the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
But give him credit – Murray fought his way back to the NHL with great difficulty. And even if he ends up playing just a handful of NHL games, he could be a candidate for the Maple Leafs’ nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player “who exhibits the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.” best embodied”. ” to the game.
He deserves credit for his tenacity and determination, but Murray’s future still has a few chapters to write. His comeback would be perfect if he had success with the Leafs, but that’s not guaranteed. And if he falters under the weight of high expectations, he will quickly become an afterthought in Toronto’s season.
He showed that he still has fighting spirit. Murray needs to parlay this new opportunity into a successful run with Toronto and another NHL stay, either with the Leafs or with another team.
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