Hocky

Analyst Thinks Trade to Send Matt Murray to Penguins Possible

It appears extremely unlikely that Kyle Dubas wouldn’t study from his errors, however in accordance to Nick Kypreos of The Toronto Star, the previous Toronto Maple Leafs GM is probably ready to go spherical two with Matt Murray. Kypreos then wonders if Dubas is open to bringing the often-injured goaltender to Pittsburgh now that he’s the brand new President and GM of the Penguins.

In a current article, Kypreos wrote:

Leafs try actually laborious to signal pending unrestricted free brokers Luke Schenn and Noel Acciari. As of now they don’t seem to have the wiggle room to get to $2 million (U.S.) or past like different groups can … Prior to Dubas’s departure there was a robust sense he was planning on having goalie Matt Murray return to Toronto for his remaining yr. Could that prior curiosity arrange a commerce between Dubas’s Penguins and Treliving’s Leafs?

supply – ‘The best thing for Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe might have been watching friend-boss Kyle Dubas walk out door’ – Nick Kypreos – Toronto Star – 06/22/2023

Kypreos doesn’t get into what the small print of the commerce would seem like, however the assumption right here is that this may be a complete dump by the Maple Leafs for futures or an expiring contract, presumably even sending a sweetener to the Penguins to get out from underneath the $8 million wage owed to the netminder.

Why Would the Penguins Do This?

If Kypreos is right and Dubas was eager about working it again another yr with Murray within the fold in Toronto, it appears to point out considered one of two issues: there may be both nonetheless a perception by the NHL govt that Murray has one thing left to provide or Dubas needs to strike a deal to tackle Murray’s contract.

Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Many believed if a commerce was potential, it will be to a crew that had tons of cap area and didn’t see themselves as aggressive. That’s not the Penguins, who as a corporation, have a small window to win with the older gamers they’ve on their roster. There are additionally main questions in aim for that franchise and if Murray is coming in, possibly Dubas believes he can assist.

2023 NHL Entry Draft Guide Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli Banner

Murray’s finest years have been as a member of the Penguins. During the 2015-2016 season, the Penguins’ beginning goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, suffered a concussion, opening the door for Murray to begin. He rapidly made an impression, main the Penguins to a Stanley Cup victory that season. His spectacular efficiency included a stellar .923 save share and a 2.08 goals-against common within the playoffs. At simply 21 years previous, Murray grew to become the youngest goaltender to win the Stanley Cup.

Related: NHL Rumors: Sabres, Blues, Bruins, Maple Leafs, Penguins, Oilers

He continued to be a unbelievable netminder within the following season, as he helped information the Penguins to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship in 2016-2017. However, Murray bumped into hassle in subsequent seasons, battling accidents and inconsistent performances that may plague him yearly since. He was ultimately moved to the Ottawa Senators.

If the Maple Leafs Can Do This, They Should

As odd because it is perhaps for the Leafs to commerce a participant to a membership the place their former GM is now working the present, any transfer that may efficiently ship Murray off of this roster might be a great one. The Leafs may purchase him out and the fee wouldn’t be an albatross on the roster, however having a lifeless cap hit of $2 million in 2024/2025 ought to be prevented if in any respect potential.


Latest News & Highlights


Depending on the fee related to putting this deal — if the Penguins are literally — Toronto may need to take into account it so long as it falls in need of having to surrender a extremely excessive draft decide to make the transfer. There comes some extent the place you possibly can’t give away the farm to transfer Murray, and if Dubas is asking the Leafs to achieve this, Treliving might need to maintain off.

It’s laborious to understand how a lot inventory to place in Kypreos’ query concerning the Penguins and Murray. There may very well be nothing to this in any respect and the NHL analyst is simply spitballing concepts within the hopes that one thing sticks. But, if there’s something to this, the Leafs ought to actually be open to having the dialog.




Source link

Related Articles

Back to top button