Murray took part in the Maple Leafs' morning skate on Tuesday, the first time he's practiced with a full team this season.
Murray took part in the Maple Leafs' morning skate on Tuesday, the first time he's practiced with a full team this season.
Matt Murray could know his playing future for this season in the next few weeks.
The 29-year-old goaltender took part in his first full morning skate with the Maple Leafs this season on Tuesday morning, signifying another step in his recovery from bilateral hip surgery.
During Tuesday's edition of Insider Trading, TSN's Chris Johnston said Murray will have an appointment in the next two weeks, which could define whether we see the netminder play a game this season.
"I would say it's a long shot that that happens, but it certainly isn't entirely beyond the realm of possibility. There's still a lot of hoops I think Murray has to get through before we're even having that kind of conversation. But the mere fact, he was on the ice at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, the first time we've seen him skating with teammates since last season, at least the entire team. It's another sign of progress," Johnston reported on Tuesday evening.
"And really, the big date for Matt Murray will come in about a week and a half's time when he meets with the surgeon who did his bilateral hip procedure. He'll find out at that point if he's cleared to return to full practice. And if that is the case, of course, he's going to have to practice for a while, you're likely looking at a conditioning stint, and maybe I guess if the Leafs play long enough, and have a need, there's a world where he gets back in.
"But the good news in the short-term is Murray's working his way back to health and should be good to play for certain somewhere next season."
There was no update provided by Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe following Toronto's morning skate on Tuesday, but it's been reported by Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Star, and by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, that Murray could be medically cleared in early April.
The Maple Leafs announced on July 26 that the netminder would be out indefinitely and that his $4.6875 million cap hit would be placed on long-term injured reserve at the beginning of the season.
Murray is in the final year of a four-year, $25 million deal he signed with the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 9, 2020. After struggling with injuries in Ottawa, the Senators traded him and a seventh-round pick in 2024 to Toronto while retaining 25% ($1.5625 million) of his salary in exchange for future considerations.
He appeared in 26 games for the Maple Leafs last season and finished with 14 wins and a .903 save percentage.
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