Leafs GM Brad Treliving clarifies the team's plan for the first buyout window
Well, just like that, another year, another draft concluded. The Leafs walked away with 2 forward prospects in Easton Cowan and Hudson Malinoski and one defensive prospect in Noah Chadwick. The Leafs did not trade any picks or players during the draft, nor did they place Matt Murray on waivers for the purpose of a buyout.
On the subject of buyouts, Leafs GM Brad Treliving spoke with the media following the conclusion of the draft and revealed that he does not envision the Leafs utilizing a buyout in this first buyout window, meaning that a Murray waiver transaction and buyout will not occur tomorrow. He did, however, point out the fact that there is a 2nd buyout window available later in the summer.
Could it be that the Leafs already have a trade on the table for Murray? Or perhaps the plan is to have Murray ride out the year on LTIR, as Frank Seravalli had suggested earlier on Thursday. One possibility that nobody seems to be considering or talking about publicly is that Treliving could opt to roll back the Murray/Samsonov tandem next season and either try to sneak Joseph Woll through waivers or use the young goaltender as trade bait.
Whatever the case may be, we don't have any real insight on the matter at the moment, other than the fact that Murray will not be bought out at this time. Perhaps we'll have some more clarity following the first few days of free agency, which are set to kick off beginning July 1st.
