Leafs organization provides important update on goaltender Matt Murray
Last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs made the surprising announcement that goaltender Matt Murray was back to full health following bilateral hip surgery and that he would join the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning loan. Now, there's an update to report on that front.
Murray was originally loaned to the Marlies for three games, two of which he has already played. There were multiple NHL Insiders reporting that the Leafs still had the ability to apply for an extension on Murray's conditioning loan, which would have allowed Murray to play an additional two games beyond his original 3-game loan. On Friday, Marlies coach John Gruden officially reported that Murray would only remain with the Marlies for his 3rd and final game, indicating that the Leafs will not seek to extend his conditioning loan.
Murray's conditioning loan has not exactly gone according to plan, with the veteran goaltender posting putrid numbers and a 1-1-0 record thus far. I don't think anyone was expecting him to come out and post back-to-back shutouts, but you'd certainly have hoped he'd put up better numbers than a 3.92 GAA and a .852 SV%. As a former two-time Stanley Cup champion, even with his long layoff, he's better than that.
The Leafs are in Boston for the beginning of the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight, but with the Leafs not sharing any details with regard to their starting goalie, there's no word on whether Ilya Samsonov or Joseph Woll will get the nod for Game 1 against the Bruins.
When Murray's conditioning loan resolves this weekend, he's expected to re-join the Maple Leafs, though he'll be 4th in line in the pecking order behind Samsonov, Woll and 3rd string netminder Martin Jones, who went on a spectacular run with the Leafs in the middle of the season.
Hopefully the Leafs won't have to rely on Murray at all during this run, because if disaster strikes and Murray winds up seeing action, his play with the Marlies this week doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 20 | 422 ANSWERS Leafs organization provides important update on goaltender Matt Murray Do you think Matt Murray will be called upon in the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs? | ||
| Yes, he'll see game action | 49 | 11.6 % |
| Yes, but only as a backup | 50 | 11.8 % |
| No, he'll be in the press box | 217 | 51.4 % |
| I'd be shocked if he ever plays another NHL game | 106 | 25.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
