Maple Leafs are in a tight spot if goaltender Matt Murray is injured

The Leafs currently have four goalies signed to NHL contracts: Murray, Ilya Samsonov, Erik Kallgren and Dennis Hildeby. Kallgren went down with an injury during the Toronto Marlies’ season opener on Friday, and Hildeby is in Sweden. The Leafs are also at the maximum allowed 50 contracts right now, meaning they can’t easily sign someone.

Toronto hosts the Ottawa Senators Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET, so finding a solution is a short span will be challenging. A year ago today, the Leafs were forced to use University of Toronto goaltender Alex Bishop as backup due to cap constraints. And, of course, you can’t forget the David Ayres game back in 2020.

So the Leafs aren’t strangers to amateur tryout deals or emergency backup situations. But this is definitely a bit earlier than the Leafs likely wanted.

Murray has a history of injuries, missing time with multiple ailments last year and a bout of COVID-19. He also had two different injuries the season before in Pittsburgh.

The Leafs acquired Murray from the Senators during the offseason, taking his $4.687 million cap hit with him. Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins, struggled last year due to injuries and poor play. Murray spent time in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators, but his trade to Toronto was supposed to be a fresh start for the 28-year-old.

Murray was a standout for the Leafs in a loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, with Samsonov suiting up on Thursday against Washington.

If Murray can play, then crisis averted. If not, Saturday night might get a bit more interesting for the Buds.