Toronto Maple Leafs make cuts, place players on waivers, sign two PTOs
As the Toronto Maple Leafs come closer to the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, Coach Craig Berube and General Manager Brad Treliving continue to trim down the roster, but still have a ways to go.
On Sunday, Chris Johnston among several other insiders and outlets announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs had placed both Matt Murray and Marshall Rifai on waivers for the purpose of sending them to the Marlies.
Murray, who is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins was originally acquired by the Maple Leafs back in the summer of 2022 from the Ottawa Senators when he had two years remaining on his contract. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native looked outstanding to start his Maple Leafs career as he posted an 11-4-2 record with a 2.48 GAA and .919 save percentage through his first 17 games, however injuries derailed the remainder of the season.
Murray would require double hip surgery last off-season, which led to him playing in just three games for the Marlies at the end of the 2023-24 season after an extensive rehab. When Treliving signed him to a one-year contract this past summer it was an almost identical contract that Martin Jones signed with the team last year. The contract comes with a $100,000 signing bonus that if a team claims him over the next 24 hours would be required to pay. Most fans and experts predicted that Murray would be destined for the waiver wire with him likely clearing.
Toronto Maple Leafs make cuts, place players on waivers, sign two PTOs
While Murray is unlikely to be claimed, there is a chance that Rifai may be an attractive piece to a rebuilding team. The 6'2" defenseman appeared in two games with the Maple Leafs last season after being one of the top defenders for their AHL team last year.
Rifai joined the Maple Leafs organization after signing an AHL deal with the Marlies in the summer of 2022 despite being undrafted and spending three years with Harvard University. He impressed management and earned an NHL deal. He definitely jumped up the depth charts over the last year and got into two exhibition games during training camp with the Maple Leafs.
Three other names that joined Rifai and Murray on the waiver wire is former Maple Leafs James Reimer, Pierre Engvall and Justin Holl. Reimer signed on with the Buffalo Sabres this past off-season on a one-year, $1 Million deal after playing in Detroit last year.
Holl was the brunt of a lot of frustration by Maple Leafs fans for years and departed in free agency last season where he signed a three-year deal at $3.4 Million per season with the Red Wings but played in just 38 games.
Lastly, the big surprise is Engvall who was acquired and then signed to a seven-year deal by former Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello. Engvall still has six years left and $18 Million owing on his contract.
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Additionally, the Toronto Maple Leafs extended contracts to Steven Lorentz and Max Pacioretty.