The Toronto Maple Leafs have an abundance of goaltending right through the organization, which includes two top goalie prospects and a veteran goalie on the Toronto Marlies.
This past summer, Matt Murray re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs to fill the role that was held by Martin Jones during the 2023-24 NHL season while he rehabilitates his surgically repaired hips.
By bringing Murray back to the organization, general manager Brad Treliving gave the former two-time Stanley Cup champion a team to work on getting his game back to its elite level. Murray also served as a safety net for coach Craig Berube in case Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz went down with an injury.
Through five games with the Marlies in the American Hockey League, Murray has posted a 2-1-2 record with a 2.35 GAA and .914 save percentage. The numbers are good and he is looking like he may be deserving of an NHL opportunity, the problem is the 30-year old goalie may not get that chance in Toronto and with only so many years left on a battered body you'd expect that Murray would want to seize an opportunity if one arises.
Are the Toronto Maple Leafs trading Matt Murray?
That opportunity may come from the Carolina Hurricanes who have lost their top two goalies for the foreseeable future. The often injured Frederik Andersen is out again after having knee surgery that should keep him out of the line-up of upwards of 12 weeks and knowing his past the 'Canes can't expect him to be back sooner than that.
Andersen's goalie partner Pyotr Kochetkov was knocked out of his game this past weekend with what looks like a serious concussion. Any head injuries can't be rushed, so expecting their former second round pick back is likely weeks at the minimum if not months.
This leaves Carolina with Spencer Martin as their starting goalie and the soon to be 30-year old has been anything but that over his career. Currently in six games this season, the career minor league goalie has a 3.40 GAA and .854 save percentage that goes along with a career .885 save percentage.
The Hurricanes currently have the league's scoring leader Martin Necas, along with a strong supporting cast so to sit and hand the reigns to Martin would be negligible. By acquiring Murray, Carolina would be taking a low risk, high reward chance as when healthy the former Sault Ste. Marie goaltender has been one of the top in league.
While Murray is a good safety net for the Maple Leafs, helping the veteran goalie with continuing his NHL career would be the right thing to do by Treliving.