With the massive buyout of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, it has lead to rumors if the Toronto Maple Leafs will buyout Matt Murray?
Murray played well for the Maple Leafs last season when he was healthy. The problem was, Murray only started in 26 games last season and injuries plagued a good portion of his season once again.
Leafs will look to trade Matt Murray
Darren Dreger was on TSN Radio 1050 and was asked the question, what will with the Toronto Maple Leafs do with Matt Murray?
Dreger stated in his radio hit that the first option the Leafs will explore is for a team to take on Murray’s contract, plus sending over assets ( draft picks or prospects ). This will save the Leafs some much needed salary cap room next year.
The last resort would be for the Leafs to buyout Murray’s contract.
What is the cost of a Matt Murray buyout?
If the Leafs can’t find a trade partner, they will buyout Murray. The buyout will span two seasons at a cost of $5,333,333 and save the Leafs $2,666,667.
| SEASON | INITIAL BASE SALARY | INITIAL CAP HIT | BUYOUT COST | SAVINGS | CAP HIT (TOR) | CAP HIT (OTT) |
| 2023-24 | $8,000,000 | $6,250,000 | $2,666,667 | $5,333,333 | $687,500 | $229,167 |
| 2024-25 | $0 | $0 | $2,666,667 | -$2,666,667 | $2,000,000 | $666,667 |
| TOTAL | $8,000,000 | $6,250,000 | $5,333,333 | $2,666,667 | $2,687,500 (75%) | $895,834 (25%) |
Based off the table above the Leafs would be hit with a $2,000,000 additional salary cap in the year 2024-25 which is not good considering they will likely have Auston Matthews and William Nylander signed to new big deals.
What are Leaf fans saying about a Matt Murray trade or buyout?
I’d rather deal Matt Murray with a sweetener worth a 3rd rounder or less but if that doesn’t seem possible then a buyout isn’t that bad.
Dubas should have taken Murray back with him to Pittsburgh.
The ideal outcome to the Matt Murray situation would be to keep him and put him on LTIR for the entirety of next season.
