The timing of Hildeby's recall allowed the Leafs to officially make the move on Dec. 20, one day after the holiday freeze began
BUFFALO — The Toronto Maple Leafs made it official on Friday, calling up veteran goaltender Matt Murray from the Toronto Marlies.
The 30-year-old goaltender is expected to make the start in goal for the NHL club when they take on the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
Speculation ran rampant on Thursday that Murray was set to return to NHL action. But as the holiday roster freeze came and went on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 11;59pm local time, Dennis Hildeby was still on Toronto's roster and Murray was still not on the 23-man roster.
Under ARTICLE 16 16.4-16.5 of the NHL's CBA, players are not permitted to go on waivers, be traded or loaned from Dec. 19 until Dec. 28.
The specifics:
-(i) For all Players on an NHL Active Roster, Injured Reserve, or Players with Non-Roster and Injured Non-Roster status as of 11:59 p.m. local time on December 19, a roster freeze shall apply through 12:01 a.m. local time December 28, with respect to Waivers, Trades and Loans; provided, however, that Players may be Recalled to NHL Clubs during this period and, provided further, that if a Player is placed on Regular Waivers prior to the roster freeze period and is claimed during such roster freeze period, the roster freeze period shall not apply and the Player shall immediately report to the claiming Club. However, during the roster freeze period a Club can make any Player transactions necessary for the Club to come into compliance with Article 50 as a result of a Player being removed from the Bona-Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception.
That would typically mean Hildeby would not be permitted to be sent down because he's on an active roster. However, there is an additional clause that allows for players to be returned if they were called up after Dec. 11.
-(ii) Notwithstanding Section 16.5(d)(i), a Player on emergency Recall may be Loaned during the roster freeze period and a Player who was Recalled after December 11 may be Loaned through 11:59 p.m. local time on December 23, provided such Player is not required to be placed on Waivers during the roster freeze period in order to effectuate such Loan.
Hildeby was called up on Dec. 13 after goaltender Anthony Stolarz was sent down. Thus, they were permitted to send down Hildeby on Dec. 20, instead of having to squeeze it through a day earlier.
Murray's next chapter with the Leafs will officially begin. Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in July 2022, the two-time Stanley Cup winner arrived with high expectations but has been plagued by injuries.
His first season (2022-23) was marred by inconsistency and health issues, limiting him to 26 games with a 14-8-2 record and a .903 save percentage. He missed the entire 2023-24 season after undergoing bilateral hip surgery but spent some time at the end of it with the Toronto Marlies.
Murray signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Maple Leafs in the summer.