This offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed goaltender Matt Murray, hinting at a potential comeback. General manager Brad Treliving and the Leafs management made it clear they want Murray back, signing him to a one-year, $875,000 contract. It remains to be seen if Murray can indeed stage a comeback.
Murray is set to serve as the third goaltender on the Leafs roster, a role Martin Jones filled last season. Jones, who signed a similar one-year, $875,000 contract, ended up playing a significant role, appearing in 22 games due to Joseph Woll’s injury and Ilya Samsonov’s inconsistent performance. Jones even had a brief stint as the starter, finishing with a 19-11-8 record, a 2.87 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage.
Murray will need a similar opportunity to prove himself. Initially brought to Toronto to partner with Samsonov, Murray’s first season with the Leafs was solid but unspectacular, with a .903 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average over 26 games. He excelled on the road, posting a .915 save percentage and a 2.75 GAA in 16 games.
Murray’s career has been a roller coaster. The Thunder Bay native won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017, playing a crucial role in both championships. In 2016, he won 15 of 21 playoff games with a 2.08 GAA and a .923 save percentage, and in 2017, he posted even better numbers with a .937 save percentage and a 1.70 GAA.
Although those achievements might seem like a distant memory, Murray is only 30 years old, giving him time for a potential resurgence. His time with the Ottawa Senators was challenging, but it’s hard to shine when the team in front of you isn’t strong. Injuries and other setbacks also hampered his performance during his Ottawa days.
Murray’s career has been plagued by injuries and personal hardships, including nearly 20 absences due to factors largely beyond his control. In January 2018, he lost his father, James Murray, which coincided with a decline in his performance over the following seasons.
However, Murray recently revealed on a podcast that he’s feeling much better after undergoing hip surgery last October. Although he missed the entire season, he made progress in practices with the Leafs after recovering.
“My hips haven’t felt this good in a long time,” Murray said. “This year is just about proving that I can stay healthy and that I got a nice little reset with the surgery, so proving that I can stay healthy and get the job done.” Murray is determined to return to form and start winning games again.