“Super excited” – Maple Leafs GM Dubas takes big gamble with risky Matt Murray trade

Goaltender Matt Murray helped Pittsburg Penguins win the Stanley Cup twice while his downplay with the Ottawa Senators left a bad impression during his last two seasons. On Tuesday he made a statement to the media before taking questions about being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The goalie mentioned, “I’m just super, super excited”. “I just wanted to get that off my chest right away.”

Murray trying to settle in Toronto did raise quite a bit of converse here and there, as he had only 5 wins last season and has been welcomed to a team that qualifies every season to win the Stanley Cup since 1967. Although he himself is excited to be part of the team, he has to make some sparks fly to calm down the controversies and put general manager Kyle Dubas at ease. Undoubtedly he took a risky gamble by welcoming the 28-years-old goalie as many had different opinions about it.

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Kyle Dubas puts his faith in Matt Murray

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired goalie Matt Murray in a trade with Ottawa Senators on Monday. As mentioned on nhl.com, Jack Campbell is expected to leave Toronto as the free market opens today. Murray surely has his baggage on, as he is expected to be the No. 1 goalie starting next season. If he can make the arena hot with his old playstyle that helped the Penguins steal the Cup, then it will create a golden opportunity for the Leafs.

The goalie has to get his act together, as his plays will determine the fate of Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas. Since he became the GM of the team, Toronto qualified for the playoffs all four seasons where they set their single season-records for most points, victories, and home wins in 2021-22. But unfortunately, the Leafs did not qualify for the second round during that time. The Maple Leafs and Kraken are the only teams to not have won a playoff since the NHL cap era started in 2005-06.

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The Leafs are putting their faith into Murray to fall into his rhythm by the time the season starts. It surely was a risky gamble for Dubas. Prior to the 2022 Draft, Dubas was asked how he felt. He replied, “I think it’s a fair question”. “I feel [my job is] on the line every year and I’m judged at the end of every season. I don’t necessarily feel there’s more of a pressure [now]. “It is a very important thing for me personally to help deliver for the organization.” Dubas and the team are surely counting on his words.

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