The Leafs may turn to Matt Murray at some point over the next 6 weeks with Anthony Stolarz out, and TSN’s Chris Johnston revealed when he may make his season debut.
On Tuesday following practice, Leafs GM Brad Treliving shared the unfortunate news that Anthony Stolarz would miss 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing a procedure on his knee.
Stolarz was placed on injured reserve on Sunday, prior to the Leafs’ victory over the Buffalo Sabres and was initially injured in the first period of last Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
With the news of his prolonged absence making headlines on Tuesday, many speculated that Matt Murray would have an opportunity to make his return to the NHL.
TSN’s Chris Johnston confirmed as such on ‘Insider Trading’ on Tuesday evening before providing a timeline for Murray’s return to the NHL on ‘The CJ Show’.
“The sense is that it is going to open up an opportunity for Murray to at some point return to the Leafs’ crease,” said Johnston on Insider Trading. “He’s been down in the American Hockey League this year and recently returned from what was described to me as a minor injury and so the Leafs want to see him get a few more starts there. He’ll start Friday for the Marlies in Wilkes-Barre.”
With the NHL’s roster freeze set to go into effect on December 20th, lasting until the 27th, and Murray recently returning from injury, Johnston believes Murray could be on the Leafs’ roster for their back-to-back against the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals on the 27th and 28th of December.
“It’s going to be Dennis Hildeby with Woll here until Christmas, I would expect, but it wouldn’t be surprising if, on the other side of the holiday, Matt Murray re-emerges and gets his chance back at the NHL level.”
Murray has not played an NHL game in almost two years after undergoing bi-lateral hip surgery last season, but given the health issues surrounding Joseph Woll and Stolarz, some predicted that Murray would play a larger role than expected at some point this season for the Leafs.
In 7 games with the Marlies this season, Murray is 3-1-2 with a 2.15 GAA and very solid .919 save percentage and with his experience, Murray would give Woll and the Leafs a calming presence in the locker room and on the ice, should he make his return to the NHL as planned.
