Matt Murray's time in Toronto is finally, mercifully coming to an end according to a report from NHL insider Chris Johnston of TSN.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs adding the likes of Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi to the books this week, something's got to give with the Leafs' salary cap situation. Johnston reports that the Leafs are aggressively looking to "unload" Murray and his $4.69 million contract.
The Leafs, of course, still have to get RFA Ilya Samsonov under contract as well.
More from Johnston:
The GM has said his roster issues can’t all be fixed in a day, and he’s still got plenty of work ahead this summer in concert with master capologist Brandon Pridham. The Leafs currently sit above the NHL’s $83.5-million ceiling and are now looking to unload goaltender Matt Murray and his $4.69-million cap hit.
They’re on the hunt for trade options, but they have a Plan B in their back pocket if something palatable fails to materialize. Teams that have a player go to salary arbitration gain a second buyout window following the hearing, and it appears likely that goaltender Ilya Samsonov will be taking Toronto to arb later this summer.
- Chris Johston
Murray, to put things lightly, has been a disaster for the Leafs since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators last offseason. Scratch that... he's been a disaster since leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2020. He's been plagued by injuries and inconsistencies for nearly five seasons now, turning him from one of the league's best goaltenders to a washed up has-been who isn't worth a fraction of his contract.
Frankly, I wish the Leafs and Treliving all the luck in the world in moving Murray via trade but I'm not optimistic. The best route for the team is likely to place him on Long Term Injury Reserve (LTIR) where he doesn't count against the Leafs' cap and can essentially head into semi-retirement while still getting paid his full salary. Again, I just can't see a team wanting to take a chance on Murray... the dozenth chance of his career at this point. Sad as it is, I think he's absolutely cooked.
