3 Potential Trade Destinations for Maple Leafs' Matt Murray

It is crystal clear that Ilya Samsonov is the starting goalie in Toronto and should be for many years moving forward. Although that will require the Maple Leafs to extend the upcoming RFA, that should be easier when they trade their other goalie, Matt Murray. Samsonov and Murray were reclamation projects that partially worked out. While Samsonov has been exactly what the Maple Leafs need at a cheap price, Murray hasn’t and has continued to have issues staying healthy while being overpaid.

With one year left on Murray’s contract at $4.675 million and prospect Joseph Woll ready to back up Samsonov, the Maple Leafs should be heavily invested in trading Murray to clear up a roster spot and cap space. Let’s take a look at three teams that would be able to take him.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks not only have a need for a goalie who can play half of the games and not necessarily give great performances, they also have the cap space to take on some bad contracts to fill their roster. Murray’s contract isn’t seen as a good one and James Reimer is on his way out in free agency this summer. The team’s other option is Kaapo Kahkonen who really struggled this season and shouldn’t be seen as more than a backup. He will still play more than the average backup, but acquiring Murray and having him start at least half of the games will help get them through what will be a losing season.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost Joonas Korpisalo this season because they made the decision and chose Elvis Merzlikins over him a few years back. Korpisalo proved to be the much better goalie and the team is stuck with an overpaid starter who should split time at best at this point.

The Blue Jackets are trying to turn things around and that started when they signed one of the biggest free agents in NHL history. There’s only so much time Johnny Gaudreau is going to be one of the most productive offensive players in the game and Columbus has to start making the right moves. The goaltending market is thin, but Murray isn’t a horrible goalie to help Merzlikins out next season. Murray has posted a .903 SV%+ each of the past two seasons which is much better than Merzlikins. If the Maple Leafs can retain a bit of salary, it could be a move worth looking at for the Blue Jackets.

Philadelphia Flyers

There are rumours that the Philadelphia Flyers will be shopping Carter Hart in the offseason as he now doesn’t fit the timeline of the rebuild and played well last season, counteracting any rebuild that was trying to be started. Hart has a good contract ($3.979 million AAV) for one more season and is a RFA after that. He won’t be very difficult to move at all.

As Hart is expected to be gone, there will be a hole to fill. Murray, who will also eat up some cap and be able to start games, can fit that need for the Flyers. There are a few young goaltenders that will be vying for spots, but Murray also isn’t expected to stay healthy the entire season, so there will be plenty of opportunity for all of them to get into NHL games.

Matt Murray will likely cost a draft pick to move, but it won’t be as much as they paid to move Petr Mrazek last summer. Trading him is necessary and worth a second round pick or later to do so.