Matt Murray Asked to Say Something Nice About Marlies Teammate, Buries Him Instead

This past week, on Valentine's Day, the Toronto Marlies were feeling the love and participating in the holiday festivities and fun questionnaires, similarly to other professional teams.

According to the Toronto Marlies on X, as Matt Murray was leaving the ice after practice, he was asked to share a compliment about teammate and one of the Maple Leafs' top defensive prospects, Topi Niemela. His response:

Murray went on to say that Niemela was incredible in practice, but his initial comment definitely poked some fun at the Finnish defender, referencing him as a bit of a nobody.

While this could have simply been a playful joke, it also presented an easy opportunity for Murray to offer a genuine compliment to his teammate.

Murray, who is in the midst of a strong comeback season, has been performing exceptionally well. Currently, he holds an 8-4-2 record with the Marlies, along with a 1.68 GAA and a .934 SV%.

Murray's strong performance in the AHL has raised the possibility that he could challenge Dennis Hildeby for the starting role.

Murray' impressive play has led him to receive time in the NHL this season, as Anthony Stolarz has battled injuries. However, Murray was sent down to the Marlies before Stolarz returned, as the organization believes he needs more playing time after missing most of last season due to injury.

Murray's veteran presence will be invaluable for the Marlies down the stretch, and for the Maple Leafs, especially if any goalie injuries arise. After all, he's a two-time Stanley Cup champion.