Matt Murray- What would you be willing to give up to get rid of him

[Menzinger]

Let's not forget that Matt Murray's final year is $8M so it's $6M (75%) in actual money. I don't think anyone is going to want to pay that for such an uncertain asset.

LTIR him.

Worth noting that Mzarek was owed more real money over more term and they found a trade partner.

If Murray ends up getting injured for more than a few games, insurance picks up the bill too, so the financial brisk for another team is actually limited in many ways.

 

[Racer88]

Is there anybody left that still thinks it was a good trade? Didn't think so.

Ya but I think they left and went to the Penguins boards

 

[hockeywiz542]

Where do the Maple Leafs go from here with Matt Murray?

What can the Leafs do with the goalie who has one year left on his contract?

theathletic.com

2. Trade him

The Leafs were here last summer when they poofed the last two years of Petr Mrazek’s contract in a trade with Chicago.

The cost was mild: Moving down 13 picks in the 2022 draft — from 25th to 38th.

That would be the play here. Foist the last year of Murray’s deal on some team, likely one that’s rebuilding, for a draft pick of some kind, maybe even another swap.

Of course, it’s not so simple.

For one thing, Murray has a 10-team no-trade clause. The pool of teams that might be interested in bringing him and his contract aboard figures to be small anyway. It might get even smaller if Murray’s veto power comes into play.

Just last summer, the Sabres tried to trade for Murray and were rebuked by Murray.

In short, the Leafs may not have a lot of teams to work with.

Another potential problem on the trade front: Murray is owed $6 million in salary (and another $2 million from the Senators). That’s a lot of cash.

Is it even possible for the Leafs to flip Murray, with a sweetener, and still get something useful in return? The Nick Ritchie contract dump notably netted the team Ilya Lyubushkin for one playoff run.

Who might the Leafs go calling in hopes of securing a Murray deal?

Pittsburgh: I mean, this one is almost too perfect isn’t it? Dubas, a true Murray believer, is now running the show in Pittsburgh. The Penguins might need another goalie with Tristan Jarry set to become a free agent. And of course, it was in Pittsburgh that Murray shined brightest, winning those two Cups. It would be rather ironic if Dubas squeezed an asset out of his old team to take on Murray. Or would he just, you know, take him as a favour? (Doubtful.) The Penguins don’t have a second-round pick so simply sliding back from 28th overall (the Leafs’ top pick at the moment) a la Mrazek isn’t an option.

San Jose: The Sharks are rebuilding and need another goalie. Could the Leafs slide back from No. 28 in exchange for the Sharks’ second-round selection? You’d have to think that Murray wouldn’t mind the chance to rebuild his career in NorCal obscurity.

Anaheim: Another California rebuilding project. The Ducks do have John Gibson and his monstrous contract ($6.4 million cap hit) on the books for four more seasons. Adding Murray’s contract would make for a pricey crease. But for a team that’s rebuilding, who really cares? Murray would be a one-year commitment for the prize of a useful asset on Rebuild Road. And hey, if all went well, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek could even flip Murray elsewhere for another asset at the trade deadline. The Ducks have three second-round picks to swap, potentially, for that 28th selection.

Arizona: We just talked about Ritchie. How about Murray? Are the Coyotes and their college arena on his no-trade list? It’s clear the Coyotes are in the we’ll-take-your-bad contracts-for-assets business. Murray could be the backup to Karel Vejmelka for a year. Does Arizona want more picks though?

Chicago: This might be too weird. Mrazek and Murray as next season’s tandem, both contract dumps from the Leafs. Like Arizona, Chicago already has a million picks. Do they really want more? Would a prospect do instead? Is that enough for such a large contract?

Buffalo: We know Sabres GM Kevyn Adams was interested in Murray before. Would Murray reconsider a move to Buffalo? The Sabres are on the upswing, but they don’t exactly need another goalie — though Murray would offer experience.

Can Treliving find a deal? A decent deal that erases one of his predecessor’s bigger mistakes?

 

[tmlfan98]

On buyout candidates around the league:

"Anthony Mantha in Washington. Mike Reilly and Mitchell Miller in Boston. Matt Murray in Toronto. Mikael Granlund in Pittsburgh. Ryan Suter in Dallas. Kailer Yamamoto in Edmonton. Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Vancouver. Marco Scandella in St. Louis.

While buyouts tend to be a last-resort option for most NHL teams, the urgent need to free up cap space will likely make this buyout period fairly busy."

 

[ULF_55]

Rights to Justin Holl.

 

[mydnyte]

bundle Murray and Brodie ...clears out near 10mil, and can get an actual return

 

[ToneDog]

bundle Murray and Brodie ...clears out near 10mil, and can get an actual return

I'd gladly take nothing if I knew I could sign Mayfield.

 

[Trapper]

Just last summer, the Sabres tried to trade for Murray and were rebuked by Murray.

What you can hope for is that if the Leafs sign Samsonov and have Woll, Murray might consider expanding his list to go somewhere else so he can play every day. Being injured for so long he might want the chance to prove himself again.

 

[ULF_55]

What you can hope for is that if the Leafs sign Samsonov and have Woll, Murray might consider expanding his list to go somewhere else so he can play every day. Being injured for so long he might want the chance to prove himself again.

LTIR him until the playoffs.

Then use him as the 3rd. guy.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

They have that first round pick from trading Sandin.

I assume the plan is to use it to unload Murray. Same way they did Mrazek. History has a tendency to repeat itself and all.

Can you imagine if someone told you last summer, right after Dubas just traded a first to dump Mrazek, that the Leafs would have to do it again this summer with Murray?

Would you have believed them? Or would you have thought even Dubas wouldn't be that stupid? Now what if they told you that he would have to trade Sandin in order to do so?

It doesn't sound real does it?

Like I just made that up. Because there is no way anyone could possible be THAT stupid. But it actually really did happen.

Another master class in asset management, Kyle Dubas style.

 

[Leaf Fans]

They have that first round pick from trading Sandin.

I assume the plan is to use it to unload Murray. Same way they did Mrazek. History has a tendency to repeat itself and all.

Can you imagine if someone told you last summer, right after Dubas just traded a first to dump Mrazek, that the Leafs would have to do it again this summer with Murray?

Would you have believed them? Or would you have thought even Dubas wouldn't be that stupid? Now what if they told you that he would have to trade Sandin in order to do so?

It doesn't sound real does it?

Like I just made that up. Because there is no way anyone could possible be THAT stupid. But it actually really did happen.

Another master class in asset management, Kyle Dubas style.

No, it doesn't sound real and it probably isn't.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

No, it doesn't sound real and it probably isn't.

It might not be a 1st.

But you can be sure there will be a cost associated with dumping Murray.

Don't forget, Ottawa paid Leafs to take him to begin with.

Would the Leafs make that same trade again now? Probably not. Would any other team? Since nobody else was dumb enough to trade for Murray last year other than Dubas I don't see there being a market for him again this year.

Dumping Murray won't be cheap, and in all likelihood, will cost the Leafs more than what Ottawa paid to take their trash away for them.

Nobody wanted him last year.

I don't expect that to have changed.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Unfortunately a lot of reports make it seem like we will be unable to LTIR him.

Do we have to give up the 1st for him if so?

Id almost rather just send him to the Marlies until he gets hurt in 10 games and eat the 3 whatever million that isn't buried from the transaction

Maybe they will buy him out. Is it this coming season or the one after that, that the cap is supposed to go up by a million, and then continue to rise even more?

 

[Thornbury]

They have that first round pick from trading Sandin.

I assume the plan is to use it to unload Murray. Same way they did Mrazek. History has a tendency to repeat itself and all.

Can you imagine if someone told you last summer, right after Dubas just traded a first to dump Mrazek, that the Leafs would have to do it again this summer with Murray?

Would you have believed them? Or would you have thought even Dubas wouldn't be that stupid? Now what if they told you that he would have to trade Sandin in order to do so?

It doesn't sound real does it?

Like I just made that up. Because there is no way anyone could possible be THAT stupid. But it actually really did happen.

Another master class in asset management, Kyle Dubas style.

They did not trade a 1st to dump Mrazek. They traded down 13 spots. Still poor asset management, but present it accurately. I'd rather just bury him with the Marlies and save $1 million of his cap hit. They'll be paying Woll less than that to be our #2.

 

[bentharbs]

LTIR and that's the end of it.

 

[Captain Crunch]

It might not be a 1st.

But you can be sure there will be a cost associated with dumping Murray.

Don't forget, Ottawa paid Leafs to take him to begin with.

Would the Leafs make that same trade again now? Probably not. Would any other team? Since nobody else was dumb enough to trade for Murray last year other than Dubas I don't see there being a market for him again this year.

Dumping Murray won't be cheap, and in all likelihood, will cost the Leafs more than what Ottawa paid to take their trash away for them.

Nobody wanted him last year.

I don't expect that to have changed.

Unless there is a team who actually wants Murray, and would take him with maybe a mid-tier prospect included, then the best option is to buy him out (assuming he would not be able to go on LTIR).

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

They did not trade a 1st to dump Mrazek. They traded down 13 spots. Still poor asset management, but present it accurately. I'd rather just bury him with the Marlies and save $1 million of his cap hit. They'll be paying Woll less than that to be our #2.

The Leafs didn't have a first round pick last year.

Because they traded it to dump Mrazek.

They got a second round pick back as well.

1st = 2nd + cost to dump Mrazek

Using a DPVC, that 1st they traded down was worth two 2nds.

So the actual, hidden cost, to dump Mrazek was not only the difference between the 1st and 2nd they received, but also another 2nd round pick that, depending on which DPVC you use, would have been somewhere around 50.

You can sugarcoat it and say they "traded down 13 spots".

The fact is, in order to dump Mrazek, they had to trade out of the first round.

It cost them a first round pick.

Period.

 

[DarkKnight]

Giving up a first two years in a row to get rid of a trash goalie Dubas signed. Thanks a lot Lou.

 

[Captain Crunch]

The Leafs didn't have a first round pick last year.

Because they traded it to dump Mrazek.

They got a second round pick back as well.

1st = 2nd + cost to dump Mrazek

Using a DPVC, that 1st they traded down was worth two 2nds.

So the actual, hidden cost, to dump Mrazek was not only the difference between the 1st and 2nd they received, but also another 2nd round pick that, depending on which DPVC you use, would have been somewhere around 50.

You can sugarcoat it and say they "traded down 13 spots".

The fact is, in order to dump Mrazek, they had to trade out of the first round.

It cost them a first round pick.

Period.

Why would people not understand that? Sounds pretty straightforward to me.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Unless there is a team who actually wants Murray, and would take him with maybe a mid-tier prospect included, then the best option is to buy him out (assuming he would not be able to go on LTIR).

There's essentially three ways of getting out of this contract: trade, buyout, or LTIR.

A buyout and LTIR both have cap implications that will further complicate the Leafs already screwed up cap situation.

The problem with the buyout is that while it saves significant money this year,, it comes with a $2M cap hit in 2024/2025.

That's the same year that Matthews, Nylander, and Liljegren all have their extensions and raises kick in.

They are going to be soooo tight to the cap that year that $2M will absolutely be a hindrance.

The problem with LTIR is that they can't accrue unused cap space and use it as leverage at the deadline. They would have to trade dollar for dollar to accomodate the incoming player(s). So they will be limited in pursuing rentals at deadline to third line chumps and bottom of the roster grinders again, unless they pay a third party to retain salary again. But if they did that, they may as well just go with option three: dump him.

I'm not a hockey expert. Just an armchair GM. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs attach a good prospect like Robertson and/or the 1st they got in return for trading Sandin, and just dump Murray on a tanking team.

There would be no cap implications that way.

 

[Mess]

LTIR him until the playoffs.

Then use him as the 3rd. guy.

Hey, that was idea last summer at the time of acquisition, and Leaf Nation fans ripped my head off for its suggestion.

Now when you put it that way it looks genius.

 

[Gaberd2608]

There's essentially three ways of getting out of this contract: trade, buyout, or LTIR.

A buyout and LTIR both have cap implications that will further complicate the Leafs already screwed up cap situation.

The problem with the buyout is that while it saves significant money this year,, it comes with a $2M cap hit in 2024/2025.

That's the same year that Matthews, Nylander, and Liljegren all have their extensions and raises kick in.

They are going to be soooo tight to the cap that year that $2M will absolutely be a hindrance.

The problem with LTIR is that they can't accrue unused cap space and use it as leverage at the deadline. They would have to trade dollar for dollar to accomodate the incoming player(s). So they will be limited in pursuing rentals at deadline to third line chumps and bottom of the roster grinders again, unless they pay a third party to retain salary again. But if they did that, they may as well just go with option three: dump him.

I'm not a hockey expert. Just an armchair GM. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs attach a good prospect like Robertson and/or the 1st they got in return for trading Sandin, and just dump Murray on a tanking team.

There would be no cap implications that way.

I would buy him out before paying someone to take him. Next year brodies cap come off the books. I also fully expect one of the fellas to not be here.

I think there is a way to move him in a trade though and avoid the buyout. There are teams with lots of cap space. I dont think 1 year would cost a 1st round pick.

We can also put him on waivers. Im sure a team will get into a jam at some point. He is a good low risk waiver pickup given he only has the year left imo for a team desperate enough for a goalie.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I would buy him out before paying someone to take him. Next year brodies cap come off the books. I also fully expect one of the fellas to not be here.

I think there is a way to move him in a trade though and avoid the buyout. There are teams with lots of cap space. I dont think 1 year would cost a 1st round pick.

We can also put him on waivers. Im sure a team will get into a jam at some point. He is a good low risk waiver pickup given he only has the year left imo for a team desperate enough for a goalie.

I can't remember if the Leafs tried waiving him last year, but I know Ottawa tried waiving him multiple times with no takers.

You can't even give him away for free. Nobody is going to help the Leafs out with their cap problems. The fact the Leafs went with a rookie, Woll, in net for the final game of the playoffs, the most important game of their lives, while Murray looked on from the bench, tells us everything we need to know.

It's not going to be an easy resolve no matter what they do.

 

[Mess]

They have that first round pick from trading Sandin.

I assume the plan is to use it to unload Murray. Same way they did Mrazek. History has a tendency to repeat itself and all.

Can you imagine if someone told you last summer, right after Dubas just traded a first to dump Mrazek, that the Leafs would have to do it again this summer with Murray?

Would you have believed them? Or would you have thought even Dubas wouldn't be that stupid? Now what if they told you that he would have to trade Sandin in order to do so?

It doesn't sound real does it?

Like I just made that up. Because there is no way anyone could possible be THAT stupid. But it actually really did happen.

Another master class in asset management, Kyle Dubas style.

but for me its more like.

However if accountability is assigned, and justice is served to the one that made that mistake, then I can get over it much quicker,

 

[Gaberd2608]

I can't remember if the Leafs tried waiving him last year, but I know Ottawa tried waiving him multiple times with no takers.

You can't even give him away for free. Nobody is going to help the Leafs out with their cap problems. The fact the Leafs went with a rookie, Woll, in net for the final game of the playoffs, the most important game of their lives, while Murray looked on from the bench, tells us everything we need to know.

It's not going to be an easy resolve no matter what they do.

I guess im hoping with one year left it may be easier. If woll works out leafs can also possibly retain 50% for the year to make it more palatable for another team. Murray at 2.25ish probably starts to border on value if he is healthy.