The Toronto Maple Leafs may be dealing with another injury to a key player.
Toronto Maple Leafs backup goalike Matt Murray is reportedly dealing with an ankle injury that was the cause that kept him from starting Friday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
He is currently day to day and questionable for today’s game.
There was speculation from Sportsnet during the broadcast that Murray took a high shot from William Nylander in warm-ups that may have been the cause for him missing his scheduled start, but Mark Master’s reported Saturday afternoon that he is dealing with an ankle issue.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Matt Murray
Murray was set to be getting some tests and there would likely be an update to determine the significance of the injury.
Murray had already missed more than a month earlier in the season with an abductor injury that knocked him out after the Season Opener.
Murray was quite impressive when he returned from that injury posting an 8-1-2 record with a 2.18 GAA and .932 Save Percentage, however has had a few struggles of late as he has allowed at least four goals in four of his last seven starts that included being pulled early in the second period of his last start. (stats hockeydb.com).
The news is breaking just a day after the club lost Auston Matthews for at least three weeks and If Murray is out long-term the team will have to make a decision what to do with Murray’s role. Does Dubas go out an acquire a goalie such as James Reimer or do they promote top goalie prospect Joseph Woll?
Reimer is in the final year of his current contract worth $2.25 Million. His numbers this season has not looked great as he is posting a 3.31 GAA and .895 Save Percentage, but you have to remember he is playing for the 28th place San Jose Sharks. Reimer will likely not cost much in the way of picks or prospects.
Josheph Woll, who has been nothing short of spectacular this season with the Marlies. Since returning from a season opening injury, the 24-year old has posted a 12-1-0 record with a 2.46 GAA and .928 Save Percentage in 13 starts. For a comparison, Woll’s goals against is almost a full goal lower and his Save Percentage is 54 points higher than Eric Kallgren while playing on the same team.
My assumption is even if it is just a minor injury, the club will likely shut down Murray for the two games left before the All-Star break to give him some rest. If this is the case, it would mean Woll would likely get called up after the Marlies game on Saturday. If it is a more significant injury, you can still assume Woll gets brought up and the team uses the All-Star break to make a determination on what they will do going forward.