The Edmonton Oilers could have an opening in net alongside Mikko Koskinen for next season if they decide against bringing back Mike Smith, and they’re at least poking around the league to see what the price tag is on some other options. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that the Oilers spoke with the Pittsburgh Penguins regarding Matt Murray, who is quite publicly on the block after Tristan Jarry took over as the starter this season. According to LeBrun, the asking price was too high for Edmonton (he suggests it could have been a first-round pick) and they haven’t entirely ruled out bringing back Smith.
Murray, 26, is available after Penguins GM Jim Rutherford was clear about his need to trade one of his goalies. The two-time Stanley Cup winner’s name will likely come up connected to every franchise looking for an upgrade in net until he’s dealt, given how many boxes he ticks. Relatively young? Check. History of success? Check. Team control but not locked into a long-term contract? Check.
A restricted free agent this offseason, Murray could potentially opt for arbitration and force his way to UFA status in 2021, but there is obviously also an opportunity to work out a multi-year deal for any acquiring team. The 6’4″ netminder posted a dreadful .899 save percentage during the regular season but has been much better in years past, plus has a sparkling .921 in 51 postseason appearances. There are goalies who go their whole career without getting into 50 playoff games, but Murray won his second Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins just a few days after his 23rd birthday.
With so many goaltenders set to move around the league this fall, it could benefit a team like Edmonton to wait and see who is left out in the cold. The team doesn’t have a lot of cap space to spend and are already paying Koskinen $4.5MM in each of the next two years. With excellent tandem names like Anton Khudobin, Thomas Greiss, or even Corey Crawford on the market, paying up for Murray at this point—especially if it costs a first-round pick—would likely be a mistake.
I don’t get why anyone would give up a first rounder for him when there will potentially be better options on the open market who will cost only slightly more.
JDGOAT – See Jake Allen. A 3rd for that guy??
@JDGoat – The one thing Matty has going for him is youth. His health, however, may be a concern to some GMs. I worry that he’s not fully healed from the concussions. If the target team is desperate enough, they may pay whatever GMJR wants, within limits.
Matt Murray has two Stanley Cup rings and is 26. He will flourish with a change of scenery. He is not going to be traded for draft picks. Pittsburgh’s small window is open now and the Penguins don’t need someone who MIGHT be on the team three years from now. They will make Jack Johnson part of any trade so they won’t get much. But that is still a lot
Matt is only just now reaching the age that most goalies establish themselves and he’s already got two rings.
I think the team that should trade for Murray is Buffalo because Mike Bales is their goalie coach. Matt had his best years working under Bales.
Under Buckley, Murray’s focus appears to be technique, instead of tracking the puck and battling, which is what he did in the Cup runs.
EDM desperately needs to upgrade in the net, though. Athanasiou and a 2nd should be Jimmy’s follow up ask.
Athanasiou has zero trade value right now and more than likely won’t even be qualified. Two 2nd rounders for that guy. Yzerman is still laughing at Holland.
I love how everyone keeps throwing out 2 rings like it was all him. A huge * next to the 2nd cup for Murray. Everyone apparently has completely forgot that MAF did all the heavy lifting in net through the first two rounds by backstopping the Pens to victory over the top two teams in the east not named Penguins, including the Presidents’ trophy winning Capitals. Meanwhile Murray ended up facing Cinderella stories in the overachieving Senators in the conference final and 8th seed Predators in the cup final. But no one pays any mind to that because the NHL marketing machine and their need for a great story which was the two-time-champion-but-still-a-rookie thing. In the three years since that last Pens cup, Murray has been mostly mediocre and when he’s not, he’s average at best. His numbers over that time are very similar to Jake Allens’ which includes identical .909 save percentages. The only thing he has going for him is youth. The fact is, he’s injury prone, produces like a back up and is going to be expensive. In terms of what to expect in a trade return, I would hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
This “MAF did the heavy lifting” argument gets bounced around the Yinzgrate echo chamber, but I don’t understand it.
What is the argument? That Murray couldn’t beat the Capitals on the way to winning a Stanley Cup?
If you spent 2016 in a coma, I guess you could make that assertion.
the argument is that he A) hasnt played a full season since he has been in the nhl. B) His save percentage has gone down. C) his numbers were alot better when he played less games as a back up goalie. I watch 99% of the pens games. He cant save anything high glove side at all. His vision has gotten worse as time has gone on. He lets really soft goals go by.
Those are different, some of them valid, arguments.
But the “heavy lifting” argument is just odd. Murray beat the exact same two teams in the exact same rounds the year before.
So, the unspoken implication that he couldn’t have beaten them is just incorrect and lazy.
I said back in back to back years that Murray wasnt an everyday goalie. He only was good because Fluery carried the load both seasons. He was fresh going into the playoffs. They over paid for him. Love that he won two Cups for the Pens but its been downhill since. I am not convinced jarry can either. Not sure what the answer is for the goalie position in Pittsburgh.