Speak up if you’ve heard this before: Matt Murray is headed to injured reserve. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that their young goaltender will be headed back to the shelf while Tristan Jarry has been recalled from the minor leagues under emergency conditions. Jarry will join Casey DeSmith in the Pittsburgh crease. Head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters including Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the lower-body injury to Murray will keep him out “longer term.”
Now 24, Murray has struggled to stay healthy for the last few years despite such an incredible start to his career. Winning a Stanley Cup in 2016 after coming on late in the season, he was still technically considered a rookie the next year when he helped Pittsburgh win again. That impressive, lanky goaltender has been hard to find over the last 18 months though, as Murray posted a .907 save percentage last season and is off to an even worse start in 2018-19.
DeSmith has held the Penguins together through the first few weeks of the season, and with Jarry pushing for an NHL role the decision to sit Murray down was probably made a lot easier. Sullivan explained that the problem had been bothering Murray for some time, but has become bad enough to need a stint on injured reserve and a long recovery period. That means Pittsburgh, who welcomed back their captain last night, will be in the capable hands of DeSmith and Jarry for the time being. The way both have played—DeSmith has a .924 save percentage this season in the NHL, while Jarry has a .909 in the minor leagues—it actually may be a good thing for the team moving forward.
I realize as far as age why the Pens kept Murray over Fleury, but now I’m starting to wonder. Murray’s stock would have been at an all time high as far as trading him… I’m not arguing with the decision because I thought it was smart at the time, but just curious
wouldn’t they have lost Murray for nothing though in the expansion draft?
I could have misunderstood, but I think he means they should have traded Murray before hand and then protected Fleury.
I’m not sure you would be allowed to do that. Each team had to expose at least one goalie for that draft. Pittsburgh would have had to sign someone late and play them in a few games to make them qualify to be exposed. It was lose Fleury or lose Murray. Can’t trade one and keep the other.
Murray’s stock is low. He is fragile too boot. The Pens need to boost his value back up and once that happens, they need to deal him somewhere to recoup something decent.
The way around it would be to sign an existing AHL goalie to a 1 way contract extension or free agent to a contract
They could have traded Murray and kept fleury, and the only goaltenders available would have been in the AHL and not if they are on entry level contracts. Or under 21 or something similar
I was in the same boat with Murray’s young age and great play at the time. I felt we’d be fine but I always had that nagging feeling it might bite us in the ass one day.Lets be real he has a weak glove and sucks in shootouts,doesn’t poke choke that I have seen either. I think ever since the loss of his father his confidence was shaken badly and is now gone. For now I roll with Desmith and Jarry,no need to waste assets on anyone else atm. Just my view.
Poke check that was meant to be.
Wow….He can’t even sit on the bench without getting hurt. I really thought he was going to be great. Sure don’t feel that way now.