It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours for your Thursday. The Toronto Maple Leafs did get past the first round for the first time since 2004. However, there is still plenty of off-season drama to be had. Toronto already switched general managers from Kyle Dubas to Brad Treliving. However, there are plenty of other decisions to be made this off-season. This edition of NHL rumours looks at a possible Matt Murray buyout this off-season.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Matt Murray Buyout Options
Rumour: The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal took a look at some possible buyout candidates. Murray’s name came up as a possible candidate for a buyout. The Leafs would probably like to make a trade to unload his nearly $4.7 million cap hit. Toronto did manage to attach enough sweetners to allow trade Petr Mrazek to the Chicago Blackhawks. However, Murray’s cap hit is a little bit larger and would be harder to move.
Buyout watch: @harmandayal2 and I dive into the (potential) logic of 13 players to watch when the buyout window opens sometime between June 15th and June 21st: https://t.co/n316LYnA6Q via @TheAthleticNHL
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) June 7, 2023
Toronto would save $4 million this season if they do decide to buy Murray out. However, the Leafs would have $2 million of dead cap space for 2024-25. This would not be ideal as Toronto has Auston Matthews and William Nylander to re-sign.
Questions About Matt Murray Buyout
This could be all rendered moot if Murray is put on long-term injured reserve. This would allow the Leafs to move onto signing Ilya Samsonov to a new deal. His cap hit would be buried and give the Leafs some flexibility. However, the buyout option does come into play if a trade can’t be made and can’t be put on LTIR.
Murray showed some ability to stop the puck at times. However, his continuing health struggles have made his contract an albatross at this point. It also doesn’t help that Dubas is no longer with the Leafs. The former Leafs GM was a big backer of Murray, but he’s no longer with the club. This likely means that Murray won’t be back with Toronto.
Main photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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