TORONTO, ON - April 22 During the first period, fans react to the Leafs scoring their second goal. As the Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 3 of the first round of the playoffs in NHL hockey action in Tampa, a sell out crowd came out to Maple Leaf Square for a watching and tailgate party. April 22 2023 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Matt Murray, the goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was practicing on Friday in full gear.
Murray underwent bilateral hip surgery in October and has been on LTIR for the whole season. He estimated that the recuperation period from the procedure would be between six and eight months.
Before the Maple Leafs began their practice, the 29-year-old left the ice. The fact that Murray was on the ice was later hailed as “a very good sign” by head coach Sheldon Keefe, who noted that he is still a ways off from seeing game action.
“Today was probably the biggest step he’s taken in terms of our guys being out there … looks like he’s moving well,” Keefe stated.
That Matt Murray participated in skills training before to primary practice is deemed “a very good sign” by Sheldon Keefe.
“Today was probably the biggest step he’s taken in terms of our guys being out there … looks like he’s moving well”
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Murray had a 14-8-2 record in his debut season with Toronto, finishing with a 3.01 goals-against average and a.903 save percentage while playing through a number of injuries.
He signed a contract with Toronto that had a $4.69 million cap charge; the Ottawa Senators kept an additional $1.56 million on their books.
He is currently in the last year of the deal. In return for future considerations, he was purchased from the Senators in 2022 along with a third-round choice in the 2023 NHL Draft.
In 2020, Murray signed a $25 million, four-year contract with Ottawa after being a free agent.
Murray’s playing time has been restricted to 27 games or fewer in the last three campaigns. He has a 146-86-24 record in 272 career games, a 2.79 GAA, and a.910 save percentage.
The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and the Pittsburgh Penguins shared two Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017.
