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Murray says he's got something to prove in Toronto

Thunder Bay goaltender says the Leafs were his favourite team growing up, adding he and his late father used to watch their games together.
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Thunder Bay’s Matt Murray. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com/FILE)

OTTAWA – Growing up, Matt Murray was a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

He and his late father, Jim, used to watch games, cheering on the Blue and White from their Thunder Bay home, hoping the team finally had what it took to erase the chants of ‘1967’ that echoed from the rafters in opposing rinks.

Alas, Murray and the Leafs weren’t meant to be, at least not until Tuesday, when the 28-year-old goaltender was traded to Toronto from Ottawa, along with a third-round draft pick in 2023 and a seventh-rounder in 2024, in return for future considerations.

Murray, drafted by Pittsburgh, went on to lead the Penguins to Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017, but fell on hard times after being dealt to Ottawa, even sent briefly to the American Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls midway through the 2021-22 campaign.

Clearly wanting to put Ottawa in the rear-view mirror, the veteran netminder on Wednesday said he’s looking forward to helping Toronto take that next step and he’s convinced he’s got what it takes left in the tank to help the team get there.

“It was definitely my favourite childhood team,” Murray said during an introductory news conference with Toronto media.

“It was my dad’s favourite team. We used to watch games together, so just being able to put on that jersey for the first time I think is going to be something really special for me, as it is for a lot of people, especially a young kid that grew up in Ontario.”

Murray has a lot to prove, and he knows it.

After convincing the Penguins with his play that they could part with former No. 1 draft pick Marc-Andre Fleury, Murray never quite lived up to the hype.

In Ottawa, where in 2020 he signed a four-year, $25-million contract, it never really clicked. He had an .893 save percentage in his first season, and was just 5-12-2 with a .906 save percentage last season.

The Senators, who will retain 25 per cent of Murray’s salary, were ready to move on, and so was Murray, who earlier in the week nixed a potential trade to Buffalo, invoking the partial no movement clause in his contract.

Going to Toronto, where the media is relentless and the fans maybe more so, was Murray’s choice, and he believes he’s ready for all that’s in store playing for a team with high expectations, but one that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since Canada’s Centennial and not even a first-round series since Murray was a 10-year-old boy.

“I’m extremely motivated. I think I have a lot to prove and I think coming here, this is a place where I wanted to be. I have a familiarity with a lot of the folks there and I think they have an unbelievable support staff that I’m going to lean on,” Murray said.

He’s already familiar with key parts of the team’s hierarchy, including coach Sheldon Keefe and General Manager Kyle Dubas, from his time with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He’s also skated with the Leafs goaltender evaluation and development consultant, Jon Elkin, since he was 10 or 11.

“I know I’m glad to have a familiarity with those guys. I really look forward to working with all those guys again. They know me from the past and I think they’re a group that will be really able to help push me and maximize my potential.”

Murray, entering his eighth season, is 132-78-32 in 246 NHL games, with a 2.77 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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