Leafs goalie Matt Murray reflects on his journey and gratitude after long-awaited NHL return

By ARJUN B

Modified Dec 21, 2024 04:31 GMT

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Matt Murray finally returned to the crease for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres after 628 days of rehab.

The veteran goaltender underwent major bilateral hip surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2023-24 season. But Murray's painstaking journey back has paid dividends, as he has impressed with his play in the AHL during his recovery.

On making his long-awaited return, Murray took a moment to reflect on the challenging road back.

"I was able to take a moment there in warmups and during the anthem and kind of look around and appreciate the long journey that it's been and think of all the people who helped me get here," Matt Murray said.

Murray's NHL return comes after a shutout performance for the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night. With Murray back, 23-year-old goalie prospect Dennis Hildeby was returned to the Marlies.

In his first NHL game in over 600 days, Murray stopped 24 shots to help lead the Leafs to a 6-3 win over the Sabres. The veteran netminder is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and his coach believes he still has plenty left to give.

"He's done it all, but he still has a lot left in the tank and wants to continue playing,"said coach Craig Berube(as per sportsnet).

"It takes a lot of hard work, and he's already accomplished the ultimate goal a couple times. But he still has a lot of fire inside and wants to get back to the form he had once."

In 272 NHL career games, Murray has a save percentage of 2.79 and .910 goals against average.

Max Pacioretty on Matt Murray's return from injury

Max Pacioretty knows firsthand the mental and physical struggles of returning from injuries, as he dealt with a torn Achilles tendon and a lower-body problem.

The veteran winger had plenty of praise for Matt Murray following the goalie's successful return to the net on Friday.

“It’s hard to almost remember what you've done, what you’ve accomplished, because it seems like all the noise is always in the moment, whether it’s the injury or what has happened lately,” Pacioretty said.

“He’s probably had some times where he thought it might be. I definitely did as well. And you definitely don’t want to take any of those days for granted.”

After missing extended time, it can be difficult for players to regain confidence in their abilities. But Pacioretty commended Matt Murray's perseverance through a long rehab process to make it back between the pipes.