Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs and Senators Trade Talks Heat Up Over Matt Murray

The Toronto Maples have reportedly circled back to trade talks involving Matt Murray as they are rumored out on Jack Campbell.

by
NHL Trade Talk
July 10, 2022

While reports indicated that the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to take one last look at Jack Campbell and potentially convince him not to jump ship in free agency, a report by Elliotte Friedman on Sunday morning seems to suggest that pitch has failed. With many believing the Maple Leafs and Campbell’s camp were too far gone after trying negotiations, Toronto has shifted gears back to Ottawa and talks are intensifying over Matt Murray. Darren Dreger of TSN notes, “Jack Campbell and Kyle Dubas met yesterday. I’m told it was was a friendly, but unproductive meeting. Nothing has changed.”

Friedman notes, “Word is that OTT/TOR have intensified discussions around Matt Murray. We will see how things play out, but those conversations continue.” This isn’t the first time the Maple Leafs have been connected to the netminder. With little in the way of options for next season, there are multiple teams battling over a handful of viable options in net, Murray is the one trade piece that the Maple Leafs know they can land.

Word is that OTT/TOR have intensified discussions around Matt Murray. We will see how things play out, but those conversations continue.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 10, 2022

Murray has struggled in Ottawa, despite having two Stanley Cup wins on his resume with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ottawa signed him to a lucrative long-term deal and it’s been nothing short of a disaster. As the Senators’ rebuild turns into a retool, Murray just doesn’t fit and GM Pierre Dorion is willing to add a sweetener to the deal to make it happen. Toronto must feel they can get Murray back to the level he was before he joined Ottawa, because they’re banking on him to get them through the playoffs if they go this route.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun tweeted a few days ago, “The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the mix on Matt Murray and he would agree to a move there. Arizona and Chicago both looking for goalies.” Talks were apparently plentiful at the NHL Draft, but Kyle Dubas needed to move Petr Mrazek first, which he did. Now that he’s got money, and the Senators are trying to get out from under having three goaltenders, there could be the makings of a deal here.

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