Other options land on Matt Murray’s table as buyout appears ruled out!

We may be getting closer to a resolution when it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie situation ahead of next season. There are some things new GM Brad Treliving simply cannot control like having to wait to settle the arbitration case with goalie Ilya Samsonov before looking at buying out Matt Murray once the second buyout window opens. That window doesn’t open for Toronto until after Samsonov’s arbitration decision or settlement agreement. His hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman joined NHL Network on Tuesday and provided an update on what might come next for Murray and revealed how more than just the buyout option remains on the table for the veteran netminder. Friedman believes Murray could get placed on long-term injured reserve or be once again traded if the Leafs cannot buy him out during the second window.

“Now, there is some questions about Murray’s health. He’s had some concussion history unfortunately, he’s had an ankle injury too,” Friedman said. “I think the biggest question was going to be, if the Maple Leafs were going to be able to buy him out, if they wanted to.

“So, if the answer is no, they can’t do that because of health, I think that’s uncertain as we look at this right now, I think he’s either not going to play and they’re going to be able to use his long-term injury or they might have to trade him somewhere with a sweetener. But I do think this one’s going to get sorted out.

“The Maple Leafs don’t seem overly concerned about their cap situation. I think they’re going to work out some kind of solution with Murray, whether it’s long-term injury or something else that’s going to give them room to do something.”

Murray still has a year left to the contract he signed with the Ottawa Senators back in 2020. Ottawa retained some of his salary when they moved him to Toronto last summer, giving him a $4,687,500 cap hit with the Maple Leafs.

He played 26 games for the Maple Leafs last season, putting up a 14-8-2 record and a .903 save percentage.

We are all wondering what comes next for Murray.

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