Two Maple Leafs Players May Have Their Careers Cut Short

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Ryan Hall
September 21, 2023 (8:49)

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It is safe to say that this summer has been one of the most eventful in recent Maple Leafs history. After a disappointing five-game loss to the Florida Panthers in the second round, many expected the Maple Leafs to make changes to their roster while keeping most of it intact.

However, that was far from the case. It all began when former general manager Kyle Dubas announced that he might have to step down due to the stresses of the job. After an odd press conference by Dubas and a revised offer to his boss Brendan Shanahan sent a few days afterwards, it was reported that Shanahan fired him the following morning for attempting to take Shanahan's job.

This turn of events led to Brad Treliving being appointed as the new general manager, and several players, including Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Reaves, and John Klingberg, were added to the roster.

During today's opening press conference for the training camp, Treliving announced that two of his players would not be playing this season. Firstly, Matt Murray, the beleaguered goaltender who has struggled with constant injuries, was informed that he would require extensive surgery to address his issues.

According to Treliving, it is widely expected that Murray will miss a significant portion, if not the entire season.

Murray, who previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators, had a history of struggling to stay healthy during his stints with those teams. Although the specific injury hasn't been disclosed, past patterns suggest that it may be related to his groin. This situation strongly indicates that his career is likely over, especially as a Maple Leaf, considering this is the final year of his contract.

The other player in question is Jake Muzzin, a severely injured defenseman whose contract, worth around $5 million per season, is also expiring this year. Muzzin has been on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) for the past few years due to a series of injuries, including a back injury and a neck injury, which currently keeps him on the injury reserve list.

Treliving made it clear that Muzzin will not be playing this year, as his injury has not sufficiently healed for him to endure contact. It has been widely speculated in the league that his career as a hockey player is over, primarily because of the severe neck injury he sustained.

The Maple Leafs are now faced with the urgent need to make roster decisions, as they are currently almost $3 million over the salary cap. With the season rapidly approaching, the team must ensure cap compliance before the puck drops in game one.