Category: Sports News

Matt Murray will forever remember playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 31-year-old goaltender, acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Ottawa Senators on July 11, 2022, signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Seattle Kraken on the opening day of free agency this summer. Over two seasons with Toronto, Murray appeared in 28 games, winning 15 and putting up a .901 save percentage.

Murray spent most of last season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies as Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll held the reins with the Maple Leafs. The veteran goaltender played 21 AHL games, registering 10 wins and a .934 save percentage, the highest among goaltenders in the league who played 20 or more games.

It was his first full season of hockey after having bilateral hip surgery in September 2023, which kept him out the entire 2023-24 season.

The Thunder Bay, Ontario native joined The JD Bunkis Podcast on Friday and looked back on his time with the Maple Leafs (the team he grew up cheering for), plus what the organization has in Joseph Woll.

"I loved all my time I spent with him. We sat beside each other pretty much everywhere. We had a lot of great discussions about all kinds of things. Almost never about hockey, to be honest," Murray told Bunkis of Woll.

"It was always about other stuff, and I think that's one of the things that makes Joe so mentally resilient, is that he has a very wide perspective on life. He has a very big perspective on life. He's into a lot of other things, other than hockey, which I think is a huge benefit as a goalie... I really enjoyed spending time with him and getting to know him. I'll miss sitting next to him, but in Toronto, they got a real keeper there in my opinion."

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With a lot of chatter recently about the pressure of playing in Toronto, Murray said that didn't go into his decision to remain in Toronto over the years. He said his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he won two Stanley Cups, prepared him for the Toronto market.

"I think a big thing for me was, I went through a lot of that same type of stuff in Pittsburgh. Like, Pittsburgh is a very pressure-packed market as well, especially when we had our really good team there. If we lost two or three games in a row, you'd start to feel the energy shift there.

"That probably helped me in the sense that I'd been in an extremely pressure-packed environment already," he said.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

Toronto will always have a special place in Murray's heart. He and his father, James, who passed away in January 2018, often watched the Maple Leafs on TV when he was young.

"It was my dad's favorite team, and it was the first NHL hockey game I ever went to with my dad," Murray said, before revealing what it was like to wear the blue and white jersey.

"I thought it was the honor of a lifetime to wear that jersey. Like I said, it had a special place in my heart just from family history, so it wasn't much of a consideration for me. I enjoyed every second in Toronto...

"I loved every second. I'm super grateful and like I said, it was the honor of a lifetime to get to wear that jersey and to have my game-worn jerseys that I'll be able to show my kids one day. They got to see me play. They were young, but they got to see me play for the Leafs, and that's incredibly special for me."

'Couldn't Ask For Anything Better': How Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Jake Muzzin Is Helping Develop The Next Crop Of Toronto DefendersAs Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford finishes a battle drill at the organization's development camp, he receives a stick-tap from Jake Muzzin.

(Top photo of Murray: Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have made some significant moves this off-season. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders to bolster their blueline. They also acquired a promising young forward on the rise in Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues, who has the potential to be a key part of their offense. 

However, the Canadiens also made a smaller move that has the potential to benefit them. On July 1, the Canadiens signed forward Sammy Blais to a one-year, one-way contract for the 2025-26 campaign. Next season, the 6-foot-2 forward will carry a $775,000 cap hit, so there is no risk in this depth move for Montreal. 

Blais certainly has earned this NHL deal with Montreal, as he had an excellent 2024-25 season while on an AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks. In 51 regular-season games, he posted 14 goals, 40 points, and a plus-8 rating. He also stepped up big time for Abbotsford during their Calder Cup championship run, recording six goals, 13 assists, and 19 points in 23 games. 

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After an AHL season like this, Blais should certainly receive real consideration for a spot on the Canadiens' NHL roster. He has shown throughout his NHL career that he can be an impactful bottom-six forward, as he plays a heavy game and is solid defensively. Thus, the possibility of him being on the Canadiens' fourth line or as an extra forward should not be ruled out. 

Another appealing factor about Blais is that he has a good amount of playoff experience. Besides winning the Calder Cup with Abbotsford last season, he was also a solid depth player for the St. Louis Blues when they won the Stanley Cup in 2019. NHL teams can never have enough Stanley Cup winners, and Blais gives the Canadiens just that.

At worst, Blais should be a key forward for the Laval Rocket if he does not make the Canadiens' roster out of training camp. Yet, he certainly could earn a spot on the Canadiens' roster if he stands out during training camp and proves that he deserves another chance in the NHL. 

In 257 career NHL games over seven seasons, Blais has recorded 27 goals, 44 assists, 71 points, and 835 hits. It will be interesting to see how much he builds on these career stats as a member of the Canadiens from here. 

Canadiens Facing Big Decision With Mike Matheson Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson is entering the final season of his contract in 2025-26. With this, he has the potential to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 of next year. 

Photo Credit: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Insider Frank Seravalli reported last night that there's a new rule coming in the CBA that teams will be extremely excited to take advantage of.

Per Seravalli, "Sources say a new provision in the CBA will allow each NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the AHL per season. One per organization per season, and 18-year-olds are ineligible. Begins in the 2026-27 season."

This rule is sure to make teams like Columbus and other prospect heavy teams very happy. It will also bring an extra level of excitement to the Cleveland Monsters and other AHL clubs who never get to see these kids play before going to the big league. 

Every year there are kids drafted out of the CHL that have to return to their junior team because they're not old enough per the NHL/CHL agreement to play in the AHL. Current rules say they must to 20 year's old to be eligible for the AHL. 

Now, with this rule, teams like Columbus can choose to put players like Cayden Lindstrom, Liam Foudy, or many other 19-year-olds who had to return to junior hockey, into the AHL instead. Keeping them somewhat close and also playing against better competition to get them ready for the NHL. 

The hockey landscape is changing with CHL kids leaving for the NCAA, and now this rule. 

This is a great for the players, great for the AHL, and great for the NHL.

Let us know what you think below.

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Pyotr Andreyanov Signs Extension With CSKA MoskvaPyotr Andreyanov, the 18-year-old goaltender selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of this month's NHL draft, has officially signed a 5-year extension with  CSKA Moskva. Former Monster Signs In EnglandFormer Cleveland Monster Cliff Pu has signed with the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL, the club announced yesterday.  Former Blue Jackets Forward Still Looking For New ContractFormer Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic is still looking for a new place to call home.  From The Archive: Better Every DayThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

On the surface, the decentralized NHL draft seems to defy logic.

One year after holding the glitziest and most spectacular NHL draft ever at The Sphere in Vegas, it turned in a tedious, clunky, awkward and loooooong affair with its decentralized draft in 2025.

And after watching what transpired in Los Angeles, the NHL will likely do it again?

Well, not the league, exactly. As was the case this year, the GMs wanted this because it was a less expensive and more efficient way to do business.

That's the crux of the matter here. The NHL draft is not for us. It's not to entertain the fans or keep members of the media happy.

It's the most important day of the year for a hockey operations department. They are procuring young talent that will dictate the future direction of their franchises. That's the purpose of the draft. Everything else is just window dressing.

If the NHL can clean up the process, then there's no reason why a decentralized draft can't work.

Watch today's video column, and share your thoughts.

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Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko has signed a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Friday.

“He’s vastly experienced playing in the NHL, international tournaments with the Russian national team, as well as the Gagarin Cup, of which he is a three-time winner,” Traktor GM Alexei Volkov said about Grigorenko. “He is equally capable of playing in several positions, is creative and has a great shot. Add excellent human qualities here and we get a really great top-line player, capable of making the team even more competitive.”

Born in Khabarovsk, in the far east of Russia near the Pacific coast, Grigorenko moved to Moscow as a child and played for the famous CSKA club. At age 17, he went overseas to play junior hockey for the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, and then a year later was drafted 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Grigorenko played parts of three seasons with Buffalo before he was part of a blockbuster trade at the 2015 Draft, going to the Colorado Avalanche in a deal that also included Nikita Zadorov, J.T. Compher, Ryan O’Reilly, Jamie McGinn and a first-round pick. Grigorenko’s two seasons in Colorado were his most productive in the NHL, recording 27 and 23 points, respectively.

After two seasons back in the KHL, Grigorenko had one more 32-game NHL stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the pandemic-shortened 2021 season, recording 12 points. In all, he had 76 points and 36 penalty minutes in 249 career NHL games.

Igor Larionov Jr. To Play For Father In KHL American-Russian center Igor Larionov Jr., 26, has signed a one-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL club announced on social media on Wednesday.

In 481 career KHL regular-season and playoff games, Grigorenko has 371 points – mostly with CSKA, but he played last season for SKA St. Petersburg, where he had 48 points in 71 games.

Internationally, Grigorenko has represented Russia at one IIHF U-18 World Championship, three World Junior Championships and three senior-level World Championships. He’s also played in the Olympics twice, winning gold with the Olympic Athletes from Russia in 2018 and a silver with ROC in 2022.

Traktor Chelyabinsk finished first in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last year and advanced to the Gagarin Cup finals, where it was swept by Lokomotiv Yaroslav. In addition to Grigorenko, the team has under contract for 2025-26 goaltender Chris Driedger, former NHLers Vladimir Zahkarov and Jordan Gross, as well as prospects Arseni Koromyslov (St. Louis Blues), Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Toronto Maple Leafs), Matvei Guskov (Minnesota Wild) and Alexander Rykov (Carolina Hurricanes).

© Tim Fuller-Imagn Images.

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

Former Chicago Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia is taking his talents overseas.

Brynas IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) has announced that they have signed Delia to a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season.

Delia, 31, spent this past season with the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. In 28 games with the AHL squad on the year, he posted a 12-11-3 record, a .906 save percentage, a 2.76 goals-against average, and two shutouts. 

Delia began his professional hockey career with the Blackhawks after he signed a two-year entry-level contract with them in 2017. This was after he played three seasons at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he had a 21-24-10 record, a 2.48 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, in four shutouts in 56 games. 

In 32 games over four seasons as a member of the Blackhawks, Delia posted a 9-12-5 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 3.68 goals-against average. His time with the organization ended when he signed a one-year contract with the Canucks during the 2022 NHL off-season.

In 52 career NHL games over five seasons, Delia had a 19-18-7 record, a .897 save percentage, and a 3.51 goals-against average. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with Brynas IF from here. 

Sergachev Has Concerning Story About New Blackhawks Head CoachThe Chicago Blackhawks hired a new head coach this offseason in Jeff Blashill. He has been a head coach in the NHL for seven years, all with the Detroit Red Wings.

Photo Credit: © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a quiet off-season in terms of acquisitions thus far. 

Their biggest additions were acquiring Nicolas Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Mitch Marner and bringing in playmaking winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth. 

On Thursday, they sent little-used enforcer Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks for depth defenseman Henry Thrun.

Sportsnet's Sonny Sachdeva included the Maple Leafs among his five teams that he believes could make moves during a quiet free-agency period. While Roy and Maccelli are good players, Sachdeva believes the Leafs must do more to replace Marner's offense. 

The Leafs' need for another scoring forward prompted Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun to suggest a reunion with Nazem Kadri. That's unlikely to happen given Kadri's importance to the Calgary Flames as they attempt to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. 

Sachdeva suggested Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust as possible trade options. Rakell is coming off a career-best 35-goal season and has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5 million. Rust also has three years remaining on his deal ($5.125 million AAV) and reached career highs of 31 goals and 65 points this past season.

PuckPedia indicates the Leafs have $5.33 million in cap space for this season with 23 active roster players under contract. Sachdeva cited colleague Elliotte Friedman reporting that forwards Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1 million AAV) and David Kampf ($2.4 million) are candidates to be traded out of Toronto, which would free up $4.5 million in cap space.

Rust lacks no-trade protection, and Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list. Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported on July 7 there is considerable interest around the league in both players, but Penguins GM Kyle Dubas isn't under pressure to move either guy. Dubas could be uninterested in Jarnkrok or Kampf unless a high pick is included in the deal.  

Meanwhile, RG.Org's James Murphy reported the Maple Leafs are among multiple teams interested in Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson. He cited an NHL source claiming the Leafs seek another puck-moving defenseman, noting they were also linked to Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils. 

Murphy claimed there's a widespread belief that the Penguins would have to retain a portion of their share ($10 million) of Karlsson's $11.5 million AAV to facilitate a trade. He also said the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Mammoth and Dallas Stars were interested in the three-time Norris Trophy winner. 

Karlsson has a full no-movement clause but could waive it to join a contender. That rules out all but the Stars, which have less than $2 million in cap space. 

The Penguins' asking price for Karlsson could include a first-round pick, a top prospect or a good young NHL player, assets that the Leafs have little to part with.

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