Fantasy Impact: Maple Leafs Acquire Matt Murray
Dobber
2022-07-11
The Ottawa Senators have traded goaltender Matt Murray along with a third- and a seventh-round draft pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations.
The Senators get: Really just cap space, in order to take that rumored run at signing UFA Claude Giroux on Wednesday.
The Maple Leafs get:
"A proven Cup winner in his prime." That's glass half full.
"An injury-prone goaltender who has averaged 22 games per season the last three years and has posted negative GSAA numbers and a SV% that has hovered around a paltry 0.900." That's glass half empty.
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Fantasy Players Impacted: First of all, Toronto is going to ride Matt Murray at 75% of his salary (Ottawa will retain 25%). Given his injury track record, this could entail anywhere from 20 games to 55. I'll set the over/under at 32.5 right now. Place your bets!
Toronto isn't done. Another goalie will be signed, and likely a solid 1A or 1B option who can take on a heavier workload if/when Murray goes down. I don't think they much care how many games Murray gives them in the regular season, since this team will win regular season games with anyone in net. Of course, they would rather he play closer to 55 than 20, but the main concern here is health.
Murray's numbers since January 13:
13-5-6-2, 2.72 GAA, 0.918 SV%, 61.5% QS
Over in Ottawa, the absence of Murray puts Anton Forsberg in the spotlight. They probably sign a cheap backup option such as Braden Holtby, Dustin Tokarski, Kevin Lankinen or Eric Comrie. Depending on who that is, Filip Gustavsson becomes a good dark horse option to stash on the bench. The Sens will win a solid amount of games this year thanks to their new additions and whoever plays the most games in net for them will be a quality fantasy own. Forsberg is going to be very underrated at the draft table this summer.
Fantasy Players this helps, in order
- Forsberg
- Murray
- Gustavsson
Fantasy Players this hurts, in order
none