2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Zee said:
You're obviously correct, but I can conceive of a scenario where they don't put him through waivers right away.
Zee said:
I looked at a number of these surgeries with goalies.
A number of them come back considerably better.
Broissoit 2022
Demko 2016
Luukkonen 2019
Rinne 2013
Ullmark 2015
Robin Lehner surgery of 2022 did not work out.
But Murray played some games last spring so he isn't in Lehner's situation.
bustaheims
Well-known member
cw said:
I?m not sure this means much other than them wanting some extra depth in camp and through the pre-season to ease the load on their other goalies. He?s have to be much better than he ever has been to earn an NHL contract - especially considering he was out of hockey last season.
bustaheims said:
I think you're right. With a PTO, there isn't much commitment: a target obstruction with a pulse.
Though I still wonder if Murray will create a stir with his play and not clear waivers. Maybe if he does, they could trade him and get something.
The PTOs for Pacioretty and Lorentz are better than a contract in a way. If they don't catch on, they're UFAs who can play anywhere rather than being subject to a particular bottom feeder by waivers. Heard Lorentz interviewed - can't specifically recall seeing him play - has a pretty good head on his shoulders.
bustaheims
Well-known member
cw said:
Considering he also basically just missed a full season and his results in the previous few seasons were not great, I suspect it will take more than a good pre-season to create a stir around Murray. I think, more and more, teams understand that pre-season performance - especially in the early games in the pre-season - is essentially meaningless once the regular season starts. There will be options on waivers with less question marks than Murray, and the majority of them will slip through waivers untouched. I have to imagine the same will be true of Murray, regardless of how he looks in what will likely only be a couple pre-season appearances.
bustaheims said:
I hope he survives in the Leafs org
The whole world knows Woll's health is not reliable.
A lot of those goalies that had that hip surgery came back better. There's a decent chance with the summer to condition after playing some in April that he'll be considerably better than anything he showed us since arriving here. If I'm a GM looking for a goalie, he's on my list - could pick him up for nothing with a NHL minimum salary = low risk.
I?m 100% rooting for Murray. He seems like an all around awesome guy and he wants to be here. Obviously the issue with him is health, but we all saw it, when he?s on he?s elite.
I?ll also go out on a limb and say that if he?s healthy he should be the starting goalie in the playoffs.
I?ll also go out on a limb and say that if he?s healthy he should be the starting goalie in the playoffs.
bustaheims
Well-known member
cw said:
If I'm a GM, I'm looking at options I'd consider more reliable who haven't been out of the league for a full season. They'll also come at low salary and available for nothing. Murray would be pretty low down on the list, all things considered. That might change later in the season, but, coming out of camp, I wouldn't be looking at him as a solution to anything.
bustaheims said:
Murray did very well with his surgery in late Sep 2023.
Dr Kelly of NY, one of the best with this type of hip surgery, did the surgery.
Matt was quickly back on the ice in January.
Worked hard. Started taking shots in February. Played in the AHL in April.
Leafs doctors knew his condition intimately and Leafs rehab watched him work.
After seeing all that, they re-signed him. That should tell people something.
On Aug 8th, Matt Murray said ?My hips haven?t felt this good in a long, long time. That was the goal, and that was the hope of getting the surgery done. It?s starting to pay off now. It?s starting to feel really, really good,?
In the interview, he said they had bothered him since he was 20-21 yrs old and caused all kinds of other issues with his back, groin, etc.
Then this on Sept 9th:
Sports.Yahoo.com/Hockey News: 'This Is The Best I've Seen Matt Murray Look': Former NHL Goaltender Carter Hutton Says Not to Sleep on a Bounce Back From the Maple Leafs' Netminder
There has been other chatter that he could make things interesting in camp.
He says that he really likes playing in Toronto. Maybe he doesn't try too hard ..
We'll find out soon enough.
I'm not alone in my concern that he may not clear waivers.
It's kind of a nice problem for the Leafs to have.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
One can hope.herman said:
Playing with the lines is fun. Like Wordle for hockey geeks. I like this lineup best for overall balance of offense/defense/puck retrieval. Third line is pretty slow in this configuration though.
Knies-Matthews-Domi
McMann-Nylander-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Patches
Holmberg-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Reaves
Sub in Reaves for 50% of the games - whenever the other team deserves it. Trade Jarnkrok to get under the cap I suppose. Whenever I put Marner up with Matthews, Nylander?s line looks sketchy defensively
Knies-Matthews-Marner
McMann-Nylander-Robertson
Patches-Tavares-Domi
Holmberg-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Reaves
Knies-Matthews-Domi
McMann-Nylander-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Patches
Holmberg-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Reaves
Sub in Reaves for 50% of the games - whenever the other team deserves it. Trade Jarnkrok to get under the cap I suppose. Whenever I put Marner up with Matthews, Nylander?s line looks sketchy defensively
Knies-Matthews-Marner
McMann-Nylander-Robertson
Patches-Tavares-Domi
Holmberg-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Reaves
This is something I didn't expect to see though it reinforced my feelings that the Leafs have improved their goaltending
Ranking by Kevin Woodley ? In-Goal Magazine
https://x.com/JasonGregor/status/1841217326865400095
Here's his reasoning (20 min audio)
https://www.jasongregor.com/october-1st-2024-dave-mccarthy-jason-strudwick-derek-van-diest/
I think it is the most unpredictable position in hockey in drafting and development and can be from season to season. So I can't embrace "the Leafs tandem is the best in the Atlantic". I don't feel qualified to make such a claim or defend it. It can be a nuts position to predict.
But I also feel they're better. Woll has worked on fitness to reduce injuries. Stolarz is coming off a Cup win and looked decent. Murray (if he clears waivers) has looked good in his recovery from hip surgery. Hildeby, coming of a good 1st season in the AHL, has looked good in preseason. They only need one of those guys to really shine. That is bolstered by some improvement in the D with the addition of Tanev, OEL and the young guys with another year of experience.
Ranking by Kevin Woodley ? In-Goal Magazine
https://x.com/JasonGregor/status/1841217326865400095
Here's his reasoning (20 min audio)
https://www.jasongregor.com/october-1st-2024-dave-mccarthy-jason-strudwick-derek-van-diest/
I think it is the most unpredictable position in hockey in drafting and development and can be from season to season. So I can't embrace "the Leafs tandem is the best in the Atlantic". I don't feel qualified to make such a claim or defend it. It can be a nuts position to predict.
But I also feel they're better. Woll has worked on fitness to reduce injuries. Stolarz is coming off a Cup win and looked decent. Murray (if he clears waivers) has looked good in his recovery from hip surgery. Hildeby, coming of a good 1st season in the AHL, has looked good in preseason. They only need one of those guys to really shine. That is bolstered by some improvement in the D with the addition of Tanev, OEL and the young guys with another year of experience.