The Nashville Predators have locked up goaltender Matt Murray to a two-year, two-way contract today, per a team release. The contract is worth $775,000 at the NHL level in both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.
Murray – not to be confused with current Maple Leaf and former Penguins standout Matt Murray – has made the most of his opportunity in the AHL this season. He has a 25-10-5 record, .930 save percentage, 2.15 goals-against average and two shutouts with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season. The 27-year-old has the most wins, best save percentage and fourth best goals-against average in the AHL and has been a key factor in Milwaukee giving up the second-least amount of goals in the AHL’s Western Conference. For his success on the year, Murray was selected to represent Milwaukee in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic and has helped the Admirals clinch a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
His best season as a professional comes directly following his most difficult. Last year with the Dallas Stars’ AHL-affiliate, he struggled to the tune of a 14-15-2 record, 3.02 goals-against average, and .896 save percentage. However, he has largely found success over the course of his four years in the AHL, compiling a 62-36-12 record, 2.44 goals-against average, and .916 save percentage. He has added a solid .918 save percentage in 10-career Calder Cup playoff appearances.
However, he has only appeared in four career NHL contests (all with the Stars), including a 23-save shutout against the Minnesota Wild in his only appearance last season. With his arrow pointing up, it will be interesting to see if Murray can take his career to the next level and establish himself as a trusted reserve option for the Preds moving forward. Undrafted, Murray spent five years at the UMass-Amherst and helped the Minutemen earn the 2021 NCAA championship.