SENATORS `A TEAM HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION'
Two-time Stanley Cup champ Murray believes he can provide Sens with net gain
Matt Murray is ready to make himself at home in his new home.
Twenty four hours after being traded to the Ottawa Senators by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 26-year-old goaltender told reporters in a Zoom call Thursday morning he expects to sign a contract extension and is excited about the move.
Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins, wasn't caught off guard with Wednesday's deal, which sent him to Ottawa for the No. 52 selection in the NHL draft and prospect Jonathan Gruden. He's confident the Senators are headed in the right direction under general manager Pierre Dorion.
“There's definitely mixed emotions because it's the first time being traded for me,” said Murray from his home near Huntsville. “I had a lot of good years in Pittsburgh and I'll always miss it there. There's definitely a ton of excitement. Ottawa is a place I'm pretty familiar with. I live a few hours away now.
“I played in the OHL so I played in Ottawa a lot growing up. I'm from Thunder Bay, so I'm an Ontario kid. It just presents a really good opportunity for me and my family. I see a really good fit there. I'm really excited.”
The Senators extended a qualifying offer to Murray, a restricted free agent with rights to arbitration, on Wednesday. He said on the call he doesn't expect an extension to take long in coming together and his agents have already had discussions with Dorion since the deal was made.
Given his success in Pittsburgh, Murray — who made US$3.75 million last season — would probably get an annual award of somewhere between $6 million to $7 million in arbitration. It wouldn't be a shock if the Senators made a three-year deal with Murray because they're confident he's the right fit.
Dorion, Smith and Groulx wanted this guy and owner Eugene Melnyk was thrilled the Senators were able to get a player with his kind of resume, so there's a strong chance a deal will be put in place.
Murray brings stability and credibility to the Ottawa net.
“That's my hope,” Murray said when asked about the contract talks. “I'm hoping something gets done here in the next little bit. I haven't heard anything on that front as of yet. I'm sure my agent and the team are having talks. I definitely hope we can get something done so I can be here for years to come.”
The Senators have a lot on their plate with unrestricted free agency getting underway Friday at noon, so it wouldn't be a surprise if it took a few days for a deal to get done with Murray.
Murray spoke with Dorion, coach D.J. Smith and goalie coach Pierre Groulx on Wednesday. Thomas Chabot and Brady Tkachuk, who are expected to be among the alternate captains this season, both reached out to Murray and he likes the direction the team is taking.
“I see a team that's headed in the right direction and headed there pretty quickly,” Murray said. “This is a young team stacked with talent and absolutely headed in the right direction.
“It's a team anybody would be excited to be a part of. A team that has a really bright future and I see a good fit for me there. I'm a bit of an older guy now, I guess, and I feel like I have a lot to bring to a team like that. Everybody should be really excited about the future of this team.”
It's not like Murray is old, but he is by Ottawa's standards because they'll have so many young players in their lineup next season. He knows his role here is to be one of the veteran leaders. The Cup rings alone will earn him respect.
“I'm excited for the opportunity. I learned a lot of lessons from some legends of the game in Pittsburgh and some great leaders,” Murray said. "I'm hoping I can bring some of that to the room in Ottawa. I've been through a lot in this league already at a pretty young age.
“That experience will serve me well. I'm hoping I can bring it to the locker-room and my teammates, as well.”
The lingering concussion issues Anders Nilsson is still dealing with from the injury he suffered last December left the organization with no choice but to go out and get a goaltender. Sure, Dorion kicked tires on the likes of Darcy Kuemper in Arizona and Joonas Korpisalo in Columbus, but Murray was always at the top of Ottawa's list.
The Senators have a lot of young goalies in the system and Murray will be expected to play the role of mentor for guys like Marcus Hogberg, Filip Gustavsson and Joey Daccord.
“I see a good fit for me in that role,” Murray said. “(Marc-Andre Fleury) was definitely a mentor for me and a guy I was lucky to play with. I've had plenty of great goalie partners going back to junior and guys I've learned a lot from. I definitely hope I can be that for younger guys in the future.
“That's the circle of goaltending and goalies, in particular, have a special bond and one that we always stick together. I really look forward to that and working with the guys around me.”
Murray remembers a nice gesture by former Senators goalie Alex Auld when he was a youth growing up in Thunder Bay that has always stuck with him.
“Back when I was in bantam, the AAA team up there, they go from peewee to midget, Alex
Auld offered to pay for either a chest protector or a new set of gloves for every goalie in the organization,” Murray said.