3 Thoughts on the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending situation

Item #3: Matt Murray is the Toronto Maple Leafs insurance policy

Perhaps the most surprising move was the Leafs signing Murray this offseason. While he got an $800K deal, the most surprising part was the club bringing him back at all. Murray was seemingly done last season after hip surgery.

Nevertheless, it seems Murray is healthy and poised to make a comeback. If he truly is healthy and can play to a level similar to the one he showed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, there’s a chance Murray could see some action this upcoming season.

But more than actually getting into game action, Murray is the Leafs insurance policy. Assuming that either Woll or Stolarz go down, Murray would be next in line. While Murray would predominantly serve as a backup, is more comforting to have Murray in the hole rather than an inexperienced goalie like Keith Petruzzelli.

In my opinion, I would have preferred Jones over Murray as a third-string option. But perhaps Treliving and Leafs management are confident that Murray is fully healthy and can bounce back into a solid third-string role.

Perhaps there’s much more to Murray than we know about at this point. As such, the Leafs feel he’s worth keeping as an insurance policy. We may even see Murray get into some game action as the season wears on. At some point, the club may feel that giving both Woll and Stolarz a break could work. So, getting Murray into a game here or there could be a possibility.

Overall, I can’t say that I’m entirely thrilled about the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending situation. But I must admit this I supposed this current situation was the likeliest outcome heading into the offseason. Let’s hope that Woll and Stolarz reach the next level, helping the Leafs shake off the playoff demons that have haunted the club for the better part of a decade.