Goaltender Matt Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, has officially joined the Seattle Kraken after signing a one-year, $1-million contract as free agency opened on July 1. The move marks a new chapter for Murray following his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a recent podcast appearance, Murray offered candid reflections on his time in Toronto and shed light on his decision to sign with Seattle, while also sharing his perspective on a notable trend within the sport: the state of goaltender development.
For Murray, wearing the Maple Leaf held significant personal meaning. He described his time in Toronto as having a “special place in my heart,” a sentiment deeply rooted in family history. The Thunder Bay native shared that the Maple Leafs were his father`s favorite team, and a Leafs game was the very first NHL contest he ever attended. He characterized the opportunity to don the jersey as the “honour of a lifetime,” emphasizing his enjoyment of every second spent with the club.
The decision to join the Seattle Kraken was influenced by familiarity. Murray pointed to the personnel within the Kraken organization as a primary draw. He highlighted existing relationships with figures like Jason Botterill, with whom he won two championships during their time together in Pittsburgh where Botterill served as assistant general manager. He also noted connections with Lane Lambert, who was with the Leafs last season, and the Kraken’s new goaltending coach, Colin Zulianello. This network of known faces seemingly provided a comfortable bridge to his new team.
Beyond his personal career moves, Murray offered a thought-provoking analysis on what he perceives as a current deficiency in the development pipeline for quality goaltenders. His theory is rather straightforward, albeit somewhat disheartening: “I don’t think it’s as cool to be a goalie as it once was.” He suggested that the inherent “cool factor” goalies historically possessed might have served as an incentive for more kids to aspire to the position.
Furthermore, Murray cited the intense pressure and frequent blame directed at goaltenders as potential deterrents for young players choosing the role. He also expressed a view that modern goaltending techniques, while technically proficient, might have sacrificed some of the athleticism and individual flair seen in previous eras. “Goalies do look a little bit cookie-cutter to me nowadays,” he observed, suggesting that the focus on technical uniformity means many emerging goaltenders visually resemble one another. In his estimation, observing goalies today sometimes feels “not as much fun as it once was,” which could contribute to the reduced appeal for budding players.
Despite his general critique of modern goalie trends, Murray holds a particularly high regard for his former Maple Leafs teammate, Joseph Woll. He expressed admiration for Woll, stating, “I love Joe; I loved all the time that I spent with him.” Murray specifically praised Woll`s mental resilience, attributing it to a broad perspective on life that helps him navigate high-pressure situations effectively. He concluded his thoughts on Woll by declaring, “in Toronto, they got a real keeper there in my opinion.”
Murray spent the past three seasons as part of the Maple Leafs organization, although injuries limited his appearances significantly, particularly last season where he played only two games, posting a 3.54 goals-against average and an .879 save percentage. He now joins a Kraken goaltending tandem that includes Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord, adding experienced depth to their netminding group.