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The Toronto Maple Leafs completed a much-rumored trade on Monday, acquiring two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray from the Ottawa Senators along with a 2023 third-round selection and 2024 seventh-round selection for future considerations. Ottawa will retain 25% of Murray’s salary for the two remaining years of the deal as part of the trade.
The Leafs introduced their new goaltender on Tuesday, who indicated that he is looking for a fresh start and bounce back after struggling with injury and inconsistency the last two seasons with the Sens, with a 15-25-3 record, 3.23 GAA, and .899 save percentage in 45 starts
"I think my time in Ottawa, I don't think it was as anybody had expected, but at this point in time, I'm really just focusing on the present and the near future (with Toronto)." Murray said via Zoom interview on Tuesday. "I'm extremely motivated. I think I have a lot to prove and I think coming here, this is a place where I wanted to be......it's all about pushing myself to try to be the absolute best I can be and I think Toronto is a great place to do it."
“My first hockey game was a Leafs game with him... I think he’d be super happy.…
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) July 12, 2022
What becoming a Toronto Maple Leaf means to a motivated Matt Murray and his family: https://t.co/kbPww6rTl6 pic.twitter.com/6IgqDOcuny
Ottawa retaining 25% lowers Murray’s cap hit to $4.68 million for the next two seasons. The Leafs will be more than glad to pay that if he can stay healthy. Over his time with the Sens, the 28-year-old has been plagued by head and neck injuries but indicated that he will be working with the Leafs medical staff over the summer to be ready for training camp.
The deal represents a significant risk for Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, who opted to bring in the former Soo Greyhound instead of trying to re-sign pending free agent Jack Campbell. Reports indicate that Toronto did not make an offer to Campbell since before last season and that the term and salary demands on a new deal were not to the Leafs liking.
The fact that Dubas did not want to go long-term with Campbell could be an indicator that the Leafs did not have confidence that he could handle the starting duties (which was the reason they signed Petr Mrazek in free agency last July). Ideally, Toronto would have preferred for Ottawa to retain more salary, but Murray (even with all of his issues) represents a better bet to help Toronto get further in the playoffs than overpaying Campbell, who Dubas clearly does not believe was worth the money he was asking.
Another factor in the choice of Murray over Campbell could be that the Leafs are looking to keep the term on any goalie shorter, because in two years they will have to re-sign Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and Mitch Marne in three years. Whether it will be Dubas or another GM who tackles that issue will be on the shoulders of Murray and whoever else Toronto adds in goal in the next few weeks.
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