Some Kraken goalie depth was added Tuesday when the team signed one-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner Matt Murray to a one-year, $1 million deal on the opening day of NHL free agency.
The move, made not long after the Kraken inked defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually, creates some added competition heading into training camp. Kraken general manager Jason Botterill already said last week that Philipp Grubauer will be returning to the fold alongside netminder Joey Daccord.
Tuesday’s move reunites Murray, 31, with Botterill, who was an assistant general manager with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 when they defeated San Jose to win their first of consecutive Stanley Cup titles. Murray had just turned 22 when named Conn Smythe winner as playoff MVP by virtue of going 15-6 with a goals against average of 2.08 and a .923 save percentage.
Murray, the following season, went 32-10-4 with a 2.41 goals against average and .923 save percentage in a tandem with Marc-Andre Fleury. But Murray was injured in the pregame warmup ahead of the team’s playoff opener, and Fleury took over in net, leading the Pens back to the conference final. Murray replaced Fleury in Game 3 of that round against Ottawa and helped the Pens to their second straight championship – shutting out the Nashville Predators in Games 5 and 6 and the final 146:52 of the final.
Murray spent parts of five seasons in Pittsburgh before being traded to Ottawa in 2020-21. The Senators then dealt him to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with draft picks for future considerations ahead of the 2022-23 season. Murray appeared in 26 games to start that campaign but then missed nearly two years of NHL action and the entire 2023-24 season due to bi-lateral hip surgery.
Murray signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with Toronto ahead of last season and returned to the NHL for two games for the Leafs and 21 more for their AHL Marlies affiliate.