Maple Leafs’ Matt Murray Could Get One More Shot In The NHL. Will He Shine?

For quite some time, veteran NHL goaltender Matt Murray has been fighting for his playing career.

A combination of injuries and subpar play pushed Murray to the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. But lo and behold, the 30-year-old is readying to be recalled to the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

If he does get recalled, he’ll likely get almost immediate action as the presumptive starting netminder for either Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres or Saturday against the New York Islanders.

This is his chance to show he deserves to be an NHL goalie again. He might not get another.

Murray has excelled at the AHL level this season, posting a 1.85 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in eight appearances this year. His last game on Wednesday was a 27-save shutout against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The game before that, he replaced 23-year-old Artur Akhtyamov, who allowed five goals in 22 minutes against the Bakersfield Condors, and stopped all 13 shots he faced as the Marlies pulled off the massive comeback.

Murray has overcome multiple injuries, including a lengthy recovery from hip surgery last season. He also last played for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23, only putting up a 3.01 GAA and .903 SP. His last NHL game was on April 2, 2023, when he allowed two goals on seven shots before leaving with an injury.

If Murray does perform well with the Leafs, he might simultaneously author his exit from Toronto.

Once veteran Anthony Stolarz returns to action in the next six weeks or so, Stolarz and Joseph Woll will be the duo the Leafs depend on. But if Murray is sent back down to the AHL, another NHL team might pluck him off waivers and give him a bigger stage in hockey’s top league. He’s only got an $875,000 cap hit for this season.

The better Murray plays in this NHL stint, the harder it will be for the Leafs to retain him. He also represents Toronto’s impressive goaltending insurance. The Leafs have youngsters Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov in the system, and of course, they’ve got Woll and Stolarz as their go-to tandem. That’s a luxury not many teams have, including some with playoff and Cup aspirations.

The goaltending business is volatile and unpredictable. One day, you’re discarded like rubbish, and the next day, you’re squarely in the spotlight again. That’s the case with Murray right now.

Murray’s delicate health status is also a factor. Until Murray proves his body can withstand the rigors of the NHL grind, there will be skeptics about his ability to return to the form he had when the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

But give him credit – Murray has scratched and clawed his way back into the NHL. And even if he winds up only playing a handful of NHL games, he could be a candidate for the Maple Leafs’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication” to the game.

He should be applauded for that tenacity and determination, but Murray’s future still has a couple of chapters left for him to author. His comeback will be complete if he succeeds with the Leafs, but that’s not guaranteed. And if he does falter under the weight of high-end expectations, he’ll quickly become a footnote in Toronto’s season.

He’s shown he still has some fight left in him. Murray has to convert this new opportunity into a successful run with Toronto and another NHL stint, either with the Leafs or with another team.

Related: Tavares Is Thriving In Contract Year With Leafs, But What Will His Next Deal Look Like?

Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.