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

[Boud]

I would prefer Markstrom by a slim margin, but the Murray contract wins out for sure. 4 years is almost perfect.

I think that's the way I see it as well. Markstrom has performed on bad teams and was able to carry the load with 60 game seasons. Not every goalie can say they've played the way he did in front of the defense and team they had. The deal is too long but I think considering he was a UFA and probably the best starting goalie on the market at this point it just made sense that it would take more years.

I'm happy with Murray, I really like Markstrom though. Anyone that's paid attention to the Canucks in the past few years will tell you Markstrom is a legit starter and very reliabke goaltender.

 

[NyQuil]

I think that's the way I see it as well. Markstrom has performed on bad teams and was able to carry the load with 60 game seasons. Not every goalie can say they've played the way he did in front of the defense and team they had. The deal is too long but I think considering he was a UFA and probably the best starting goalie on the market at this point it just made sense that it would take more years.

I'm happy with Murray, I really like Markstrom though. Anyone that's paid attention to the Canucks in the past few years will tell you Markstrom is a legit starter and very reliabke goaltender.

Wasn't he the guy that flipped out when we bullied the hell out of him in the WJC final?

I almost felt bad for him.

 

[JD1]

It really puts into perspective how well he must have played last season.

Actually what it is really starting to drive home for me is the changing nature of the NHL

guys not getting their UFA years bought up like they used to

Johnson on waivers

A guy like Turris getting bought out and signing for less than a 1/4 of what he was making

The league is changing. Having a productive ELC 3 years and going long term coming out of it seems more and more to be where the money is going

 

[operasen]

If Nilsson goes to LTIR the I guess the depth chart is seriously revised. My guess is
Murray
Hogberg
Daccord
Mandolese
Sogaard
Gustavsson
Merilainen

Murray protected in the Expansion Draft, so Seattle has some really good choices in Hogberg and Daccord. Are these all open for selection?

 

[NyQuil]

Actually what it is really starting to drive home for me is the changing nature of the NHL

guys not getting their UFA years bought like they used

Johnson on waivers

A guy like Tuttis getting bought out and signing for less than a 1/4 of what he was making

The league is changing. Having a productive ELC 3 years and going long term coming out of it seems more and more to be where the money is going

It reminds to be seen how much activity this year is driven by pandemic concerns.

 

[aragorn]

Good contract & term, hopefully, Matt Murry regains his SC winning form.

 

[JD1]

It reminds to be seen how much activity this year is driven by pandemic concerns.

Ya, that's true but i think it's a trend that started a few years ago

We keep hearing the league is getting younger and statistically that's true and i think the money is starting to flow in that direction

It's personally very difficult for me to feel for a Bruin but a guy like Krug kept getting short term deals for below market money and waiting for his big ufa payday and while he was doing that, the league has changed and covid aside, he probably doesn't get close to what he hoped for

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think that's the way I see it as well. Markstrom has performed on bad teams and was able to carry the load with 60 game seasons. Not every goalie can say they've played the way he did in front of the defense and team they had. The deal is too long but I think considering he was a UFA and probably the best starting goalie on the market at this point it just made sense that it would take more years.

I'm happy with Murray, I really like Markstrom though. Anyone that's paid attention to the Canucks in the past few years will tell you Markstrom is a legit starter and very reliabke goaltender.

Yes, I'm a big Markstrom fan and have watched a lot of him since migrating to watching Vancouver with the Senators being in the crapper.

I like his consistency and body language out there big time. Calm, cool and not too feisty. Looks big in the net. Just a professional ready to put in the work it seems and doesn't get too high or too low.

That is a good point on playing for a bad team and something that should be taken in to account. This will be Murray's first go on a basement dweller, so how he handles that will be very interesting. I would have liked Markstrom for having experienced that somewhat already.

Either way though, glad we didn't sign that 6x6 deal for either of them and I think it was smart for Vancouver to avoid it as well, especially with Holtby willing to go there for a good price and short term.

 

[Leafmealone11]

I don't love the idea of committing 6+M for 4 years to a goalie before the team is ready to compete, and probably would have targeted a stop-gap on a 1-year deal.

I also recognize that this could work out very well.

The next two or three years are probably going to be bottom 5 anyway full rebuilds take at least 5 years and this is only year 2 so I don’t think it’s going to matter what they pay this guy

 

[ottawah]

back loaded is what players want right now due to escrow

Hard to imagine escrow will be different for the foreseeable future, 3 years at least likely more. Its capped at 20%, but everything above 20% is rolled over into the next year. If revenues are down 50% this year, escrow is guaranteed to stay at 20% for three years, and longer if revenues do not recover next year.

 

[hockey20000]

dont mind signing him but 6.25 is way 2 high based on his performance last year... 4-5 . 5.5m max lol. oh well we got idiot dorian in charge what else can i expect

 

[DrEasy]

I wonder what this signing means for our pipeline of goalies. There's quite a logjam.

 

[Cosmix]

Players can’t be placed on LTIR until the first day of the season.

Thanks. I suppose he was already on LTIR due to his injury, right?

 

[Cosmix]

I wonder what this signing means for our pipeline of goalies. There's quite a logjam.

I view it as a statement of confidence! Just kidding. They will all battle for the backup position over the next couple of years.

 

[AJRAYMOND]

It's funny that a RFA is really no different from an UFA in terms of money. Matt Murray will do a good job in Ottawa. Penguins hung him out to dry in a lot of games last year. He's a better goalie than he gets credit for. Good deal for both sides.

 

[JD1]

I wonder what this signing means for our pipeline of goalies. There's quite a logjam.

Yes there is.

Nilsson to LTIR and he's gone in a year

Hogberg as backup for the year and exposed

Daccord is a bit older and will need to accelerate to have a career. I could see Daccord as backup next year

Gus needs to establish himself. He's probably 2 years out

And the 2 junior guys if they come along well would probably be ready towards the end of Murray's deal

To me the wild cardis Gus. If he gets it together he could climb the ladder quickly

 

[Emerica]

It's funny that a RFA is really no different from an UFA in terms of money. Matt Murray will do a good job in Ottawa. Penguins hung him out to dry in a lot of games last year. He's a better goalie than he gets credit for. Good deal for both sides.

Thanks. Have you seen our defence tho?

 

[GCK]

Thanks. I suppose he was already on LTIR due to his injury, right?

I don’t think so. He won’t be on LTIR this year as it’s not required. We won’t be within 2.8M of the cap.

 

[Hutz]

4 years is an awful lot of time if he doesn't re-find his form, tho

 

[TheDebater]

My only concern with Murray is that he has already won 2 cups. Does he have at least 1 more in him? Will he have the same drive and desire to win now that he has "been there done that"?

 

[Hutz]

I don't love the contract either, but the guys on TSN said he'd easily get 6 million in arbitration

I feel like 6 million aav for 2 years would've been a better deal for the team anyway.

 

[Hutz]

My only concern with Murray is that he has already won 2 cups. Does he have at least 1 more in him? Will he have the same drive and desire to win now that he has "been there done that"?

This is a great point. Does anyone have a "cups won" vs "desire to win cup" graph? Advanced stats guys, I'm looking at you.

 

[Yak]

Getting a goalie of Murray's caliber and for 4 years is great, I don't think we could have signed Markstrom even if we offered more. Not many UFA's jumping at opportunity to come to rebuilding team with a crazy owner. We have some depth in goal but honestly we don't know how any of them will pan out for us. Not like we got awesome Goalie waiting in the wings and if we do is going take a few years to find out.

 

[Korpse]

Chabot did. It’s what corner stone players do. Offer him 8 x $8, but don’t give me the excuse there’s a million reasons not to sign Tkachuk but you’ve got money for Matt Murray

I just can't.

 

[NyQuil]

4 years is an awful lot of time if he doesn't re-find his form, tho

I doubt he signs here otherwise.

You have to think like him. He has to figure, he has maybe 2 years where he puts up with potentially subpar defence and losing seasons. Those years could look very bad on a goalie's resume going into free agency.

So he tacks on two years, where presumably the team is playing better, and the Sens figure that they can pay more in real dollars anyway because we may actually have a winning team and a pandemic-free environment. Even if he leaves at that point, he'll hopefully have shown a pair of good seasons that maintain his standing as a desirable commodity in the league at age 30.

It's actually loaded in a way where expectations will be.