Player Discussion Matt Murray (G) - 4 years, $6.25M AAV

[DaveMatthew]

I can guarantee you that Chabot and Tkachuk have a lot more confidence in the mid-term prospects of this organization knowing they'll have Matt Murray in nets instead of Marcus Hogberg.

This is good. After 3 years of tire-fire and tear-down, it signals to our players, and potential acquisitions, that we're actually thinking of becoming a good team.

Every contract has risk, and nothing is a sure thing. 4 years is perfect term to try and mitigate that, IMO.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

This is fantastic guys. Murray crushed our dreams a couple of seasons ago. He had a bad year but go look at what Penguins were icing as a D core. Imagine they go trashed by Montreal; and we all know Montreal will never be a good team

 

[Senscore]

I guess my valuation of goalies is all off.

I'd expect this kind of contract for a goalie who just came off a good season.

Exactly. If he was still playing up to what he used to the Pens wouldn't have moved him.

Seems we didn't even get a discount for reasonable doubt. But then again look at Josh Anderson so who knows how this all works anymore.

 

[NyQuil]

Matt Murray wanted a NTC? To stay in Ottawa??? Feels good man

LOL, that is funny.

An NTC in Ottawa.

 

[BatherSeason]

A positive step. Nice work Dorion. Step in the right direction. Now for some scoring....oh ya, and that BT extension.

 

[NyQuil]

He had a bad year but go look at what Penguins were icing as a D core.

Their D corps looks like our D corps.

 

[IranCondraAffair]

I mean, Years 3 and 4 are bad, but what can you do?

 

[Masked]

You know that negativity thread will be bumped if he plays poorly

It'll be bumped if anyone doesn't play great.

 

[HSF]

back loaded is what players want right now due to escrow

 

[NyQuil]

Oh well, no point of trading for him if you aren't going to sign him.

I'm blaming my Gerber/Leclaire flashbacks.

 

[NyQuil]

It'll be bumped if anyone doesn't play great.

Show a little optimism.

Everyone on the team will play great in every game!

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

The number is irrelevant. We needed to lock up our #1

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Hmm, not sure I would have gone with Murray if I knew it would take over 6 mil aav, but I'm happy with the term and no guarantee they could draw a guy like Markstrom instead.

I'm going to file this one under an over payment to keep term reasonable and I like that strategy.

 

[bert]

Backloaded contract because Melnyk doesn’t expect to be here in two years?

Backloaded for him because escrow is likely to go down good for both sides probably. Seems like alot, oh well the sens have to pay a permium to keep players happy. They have a legit starter I am still happy with the deal. I dont see Duclair coming back now. They are going to get to the cap floor with all of this assuming Nilsson gets LTIR'd.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Any word on Nilssons status

 

[DueDiligence]

He's 26...

He is actually entering the prime age range for a goalie.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Their D corps looks like our D corps.

Hahaha
First year could and probably will be bad; but it should get better after that!

 

[Ginger Papa]

Congratulations on signing the extension folks. I spent a lot of time on the Pitt GDT’s this season so I know he was being doubted.

The man is a winner who suffered the loss of his Dad last year and I think his grief took a lot of his focus away (completely understandable). His 2nd half was much better.

I really hope he can rebound in style for you.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Any word on Nilssons status

LTIR

 

[thinkwild]

I don't like paying for what a player used to be.

I agree but im thinking they are paying him for what they are hoping he will deliver. If he doesnt then yeah, oof.

The NTC does seem a little unexpected but perhaps this is more to give him control over where he gets traded if he is dealt. But then he may also see a little optimism for whats happening here too.

Im guessing this is pretty much what an arbitrator would have done on a 1 yr deal, no?

 

[bert]

Matt Murray wanted a NTC? To stay in Ottawa??? Feels good man

Wait what? Wow didnt see this one coming. Its actually bad for Ottawa if he stinks but whatever.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

LTIR

I guess we will be rolling with a Murray/Hogberg tandem

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

A young 24 year old goalie with 2 cups under his belt and he was treated like trash by some Pens fans; he was deflated playing there after.
Goalies normally play their best hockey 26-30. He has something to prove and was stellar in other leagues and not just in Pitts.

He also opposite from every other goalie we have had in that he plays his best in the clutch. We gonna enjoy this guy.

With that being said he still got a million too much. Puzzling but I guess that’s what’s needed to get him to stay in Ott.

 

[Senscore]

Oh well, no point of trading for him if you aren't going to sign him.

I'm blaming my Gerber/Leclaire flashbacks.

Lol the Gerber move was so horrible from the get go.

Sure let's get a career backup goalie with a sv% hovering around .900 (during his contract year) who got dethroned after tanking the first two games in the playoffs.

At least the Murray situation isn't quite that obviously terrible.

 

[JaredCowen4Norris]

That contract seems about right. I like that we kept it at 4 years, hopefully some of our young goalie prospects will be ready by the time his contract is up. With Murray the biggest thing will be staying healthy. Hoping he can find his game again if he has a full season in good health.