If the deal that Matt Murray blocked to Buffalo is available to the Leafs, Kyle Dubas should pick up the phone immediately
Early this afternoon, it was reported that Ottawa Senators netminder Matt Murray had blocked a trade to the Buffalo Sabres, who were one of the teams on his 10-team no-trade list. As far as what the details of the trade were, those were not available at the time. However, TSN's Darren Dreger did some digging and the details of the trade were rather shocking.
Not only were the Buffalo Sabres going to acquire Murray in the deal, but also the 7th overall pick in tonight's draft. Hold on.. it gets better. The Sabres were intending to swap their 16th overall pick with the Sens' 7th overall pick, with the Senators actually eating some of Murray's $6.25M cap hit for TWO MORE SEASONS.
If that deal is on the table for the Leafs, I firmly believe that GM Kyle Dubas needs to pick up the phone and call Pierre Dorion. Now, granted, the deal would need to be altered slightly, due to the fact that the Leafs' first rounder (25th overall) is 9 picks later than Buffalo's, but if the Leafs could land Murray at 30%-50% retained and swap the 25th pick for the 7th pick, parting with a prospect or a future mid-round pick to balance it out would be very easily digestible.
Look. At the end of the day, even if the Leafs could get the Sens to eat $2M on Matt Murray to get him down to $4.25M per season over the next two seasons, $4.25M Murray is a better bet than $3.8M Petr Mrazek - even if Murray is a pure backup or a 1B option. AND it nets the Leafs the 7th overall pick.
I just don't see the sense in allowing another team to reap the benefits of a deal like that when it's right there for the taking for Kyle Dubas. We know that Dorion is okay dealing within the Atlantic Division if he's agreeing to a deal with the Sabres. If there's any truth to any of this, Dubas needs to at least put in a call, and fast.
