Pens’ Matt Murray demands huge pay check!

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins extended qualifying offers to five restricted free agents: Pontus Aberg, Anthony Angello, Sam Lafferty, Sam Miletic, and Matt Murray. The goalie was at the centre of other moves that same day when Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Chicago Blackhawks had looked to acquire him in order to sign him to a low contract. 

However, according to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoien, Murray is seeking quite the pay raise of the upcoming season. Lavoie has reported that the netminder is seeking to earn $6 million annually, which is way over what the Blackhawks can afford. After trading Olli Maatta recently, the Hawks had opened up over $3 million of salary cap space, which they’re considering using that on Murray, but his ridiculous demands make it impossible for Chicago to add him to its roster. 

Even after dropping Maatta , CapFriendly says the Blackhawks have $11.1 million of cap space, and that’s what they have to add a starting goalie and need to re-sign 30-goal scorer Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome, both restricted free agents this offseason. 

The Penguins have bought out defenseman Jack Johnson’s contract, but we can’t imagine them wanting to re-sign Murray for that much. Murray and his agent are aware that the Pens have neither the cap room nor much inclination to want to keep him. 

So, Murray, who’s earned an annual salary of $ 3.75 million this season, ust looks unreasonable now!