The Toronto Maple Leafs made a notable roster move by placing two-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender Matt Murray on waivers before the start of the regular season. NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that alongside defenseman Marshall Rifai, Murray was placed on waivers on Sunday. “Among the boatload of players on NHL waivers today are Leafs’ Marshall Rifai and Matt Murray, who is still recovering from bilateral hip surgery that sidelined him last season,” Johnston shared on X. Murray, who won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was waived to free up a roster spot and relieve some of the Leafs’ salary cap pressure.
According to PuckPedia, the Maple Leafs remain $2.7 million over the $88 million salary cap, despite having two open spots on their 23-man roster.Matt Murray missed the entire last season after undergoing bilateral hip surgery and did not appear in any NHL games for the Maple Leafs. Now 30, Murray faces two possible outcomes after being placed on waivers: he will either clear waivers and remain within the Leafs organization or be claimed by another team seeking goaltending depth. If he stays in Toronto, Murray will join the AHL’s Marlies, where he played the only three games he appeared in last year
Despite signing a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Leafs on July 1, the team has decided to go with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz as their goaltending duo for the upcoming season. According to Chris Johnston in The Athletic, Matt Murray is owed a $100,000 signing bonus, which could potentially discourage other teams from claiming him off waivers.
“Included in the $875,000 contract the Leafs gave veteran Matt Murray over the summer is a $100,000 signing bonus due this Thursday,” Chris Johnston wrote. “This pending payment could act as a deterrent for other teams considering claiming Murray after he was placed on waivers Sunday afternoon.” The Leafs also placed defenseman Marshall Rifai on waivers alongside Murray. Rifai, who appeared in two NHL games last season, will be re-assigned to the Toronto Marlies if he clears waivers.