Maple Leafs Place Matt Murray on Waivers in Strategic Roster Move
In a bid to finalize their roster after training camp, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed goaltender Matt Murray and defenseman Marshall Rifai on waivers on Sunday. This move comes after the team re-signed Murray to a one-year, $875K deal on July 1st, despite the veteran netminder missing the entire 2023-24 season due to bilateral hip surgery.
The Maple Leafs employed a creative contract structure similar to the one they used last season with Martin Jones. According to TSN and The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, this strategy is designed to discourage teams from claiming Murray off waivers. Murray’s contract includes a $100K bonus payable the day after the season begins. Any team that claims the two-time Stanley Cup champion would be responsible for this bonus, a financial commitment that—coupled with his recovery from surgery—makes it unlikely that Murray will be claimed.
In August, Murray reassured fans that he feels better than ever following his surgery and expects to compete for starts alongside Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Should he clear waivers, the Maple Leafs will boast significant goaltending depth, with Dennis Hildeby also in the mix.
With other goaltenders like Marcus Hogberg, Pheonix Copley, and Devin Cooley also recently placed on waivers, the chances of Murray being claimed appear slim. If he remains with the Leafs, it would further solidify their strongest goaltending depth in years.