Report: Maple Leafs, Senators discussing Matt Murray trade
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators have intensified discussions about a trade for goaltender Matt Murray, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The Sens were reportedly in deep talks to send Murray to Buffalo this week, but the Sabres were on the netminder's 10-team no-trade list and he was unwilling to waive.
Part of Murray's reasoning for not waiving his no-trade clause is because he apparently wants to go to Toronto or the Edmonton Oilers, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
Murray still has two years remaining on his contract with a $6.25-million cap hit. The Senators were reportedly willing to retain a portion of his salary in the trade to the Sabres.
The 28-year-old's tenure in Canada's capital has not been kind. He was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in October 2020 for a second-round pick and a prospect, and two days later he signed a four-year, $25-million pact. But Murray's battled injuries in Ottawa and struggled when healthy, registering an .899 save percentage across 47 appearances in two seasons with the Sens.
However, Murray was once one of the game's most promising, young goalies. He helped lead the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, posted a .917 save percentage in his first four NHL seasons, and owns a lifetime .921 mark in 51 playoff games.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario, product has ties to the Leafs organization, too. He played his junior hockey with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds under current Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Toronto's No. 1 offseason priority is finding a goalie. The club traded away Petr Mrazek at the draft to clear salary, and although they met with pending UFA Jack Campbell yesterday, they don't appear to be close to an agreement.
Erik Kallgren and Joseph Woll are Toronto's only two goalies under contract for next season.
The Senators gave journeyman netminder Anton Forsberg a three-year, $8.25-million extension in March after he provided some much-needed stability to their crease last season. Filip Gustavsson, 24, appears ready for a backup role, too.
The Leafs and Senators are provincial rivals, but Dubas and Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion have pulled off significant trades in the past, including a six-player deal involving Connor Brown, Nikita Zaitsev, and Cody Ceci back in 2019.
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