As training camp will be coming to a close after this upcoming weekend, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have some decisions to make with regards to which players will make the team’s Opening Night roster.
There’s no doubt that for many of the Toronto Maple Leafs players that are on the bubble, they will try their best to make a last ditch effort to improve their chances for a spot in the regular lineup.
For some, they will be lucky enough to grab a precious role for the 2024-25 NHL season, but whereas for others, they will likely still have some more work to do in order to get back a spot on the Leafs roster.
Here, we take a look at four Maple Leafs players that will fall short in making the team for the upcoming regular season.
4 players that won’t make the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 Opening Night roster
Matt Murray
Veteran goalie Matt Murray was brought back by the Leafs on a value one-year contract worth $875,000 this offseason to help provide valuable goaltending depth for the organization. When on his game, Murray can actually be a solid tandem netminder even at 30 years old. The biggest and perhaps only problem has been his troubles in staying healthy throughout his career. Last season was no different, as he spent the entire 2023–24 season on the sidelines after having bilateral hip surgery.
Nevertheless, when he was healthy, Murray recorded a 14-8-2 winning record with a 3.01 GAA and .903 save percentage in 26 career games with the Maple Leafs. So far during this preseason, he has performed solidly, giving up 3 goals on 18 shots in two appearances. However, barring an injury to either Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz, Murray will likely serve as this year’s Martin Jones.
With the Leafs highly unlikely to go with a three-goalie rotation, he won’t make the Opening Night roster as a result. Rather, he should be able to make it through waivers and stay in shape with the Toronto Marlies as he awaits his chance over the course of the season.