Michael Stuart: Senators Sign Matt Murray to Four-Year Contract

I’m good with this deal. Term is right....money may be a bit high, but it shows they Scrooge is willing to spend, and this isn’t a cap team, so overpaying by a bit isn’t a big deal.

Boro to Nsh, 2 years 4 mil (total). Good for him.

Boro to Nsh, 2 years 4 mil (total). Good for him.
- sensarmy_11

Yep. More than hes worth but like siad, happy for him.

Hiw far from the floor are they?

10,512,500 from cap floor 29/50 contracts, 12/23 roster spots

10,512,500 from cap floor 29/50 contracts, 12/23 roster spots
- Athrin

Should be fairly easy to make it there, even with a lot of those being ELC.

Should be fairly easy to make it there, even with a lot of those being ELC.
- david22

They’ll be well over the floor. If all they do is sign RFAs to their QOs and fill out the rest of the roster with ELCs, they’ll still be a few mil over the floor.

this was a bad trade and this is a bad deal, should have signed a UFA for 1-2 years instead if nilson is injured long term, only saving grace is if he regains his form but that is also bad as OTT will move farther from last place to nab best chance at 1st OA next year. He will be 30 when deal is up, could be a problem if he gets outplayed by one of sens prospects in a year or 2. AAV does not mater, the term could be a problem tho.

Should be fairly easy to make it there, even with a lot of those being ELC.
- david22

Brown 4-4.5m, Tierny 4-4.5M that is 8-9M there

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!
Gamble is the pefect word. Sounds like a gambler spending money he doesnt have by backloading this contract.
How can they cheap out on so many players and then overspend on Murray? Makes me wonder who will be the next to jump ship. Im guessing Hogberg isnt to thrilled right now.
This was a bad signing. The only way it works out i think is if defence comes around and helps him out and if that happens maybe its the d that should be getting paid.
Ugh

TheMurray deal has a strange structure. No bonus, first year is only $4m and he does not have a no trade clause in the first year. of the deal.

Im guessing Hogberg isnt to thrilled right now.
- Jp11

I'm seriously not sure what people are thinking when they say things like this, or that Brannstrom must be upset about the addition of Gudbranson or Brown.

Did you really think Hogberg would just be handed the #1 job, after just 28GP in the NHL, with a career 3.25GAA and .901 sv%? I like Hogberg well enough, but that doesn't even assure you the inside track on the back-up job. Now maybe in a couple of years, Hogberg steps up into more of a #1B role, and you have to make a hard choice. But that's a problem they don't have right now, because despite being only 6 months older than Hogberg, Murray has quite literally 10x the NHL experience, and 2 Stanley Cups.

The same basic idea goes for Brannstrom... why are some people so concerned about his ice time next year? He has undeniable potential, but he played a relatively sheltered 3rd pairing role last year, and didn't look particularly great doing it. If you expect a bigger role on an NHL team, then play better hockey, and things might start happening. But the opportunities don't come first... you have to earn them. And if you can't earn ice time away from spare parts like Reilly or Brown, then what are we really talking about?

did you guys see the pay structure? It increases each year, starting with $4mill this year, ending with $7 and 8 mill in last two years. No bonuses.

So Melynk won't have to pay that money if he sells and if they trade Murray, someone else gets stuck with higher cash outlay. Sneaky sneaky.

My guess is they hope Murray has a good couple of years and then trade him.

If they have to put hoburg on waivers, I don't think anyone takes him. Not with all the other goalies out there. I like hoberg.

So the (statistically-speaking) worst goalie in the league gets a higher AAV than the guy (Markstrom) who was quite possibly the best goalie in the league this past season?

So the (statistically-speaking) worst goalie in the league gets a higher AAV than the guy (Markstrom) who was quite possibly the best goalie in the league this past season?
- AxlRose91

On what planet is .899, 2.87, and a 20-11-5 record the “statistically-speaking” worst goalie in the league.

Murray had one off year, but is 4 years younger with better career numbers. They spend 250k more per year to get 2 less years of term.

On what planet is .899, 2.87, and a 20-11-5 record the “statistically-speaking” worst goalie in the league.

Murray had one off year, but is 4 years younger with better career numbers. They spend 250k more per year to get 2 less years of term.
- sensarmy_11

Ummmmmm....dude, did you read the blog that you’re currently commenting on?

Check out the big chart right in the middle, followed by the comment: “Matt Murray was the worst starting goalie in the NHL this season”

On what planet is .899, 2.87, and a 20-11-5 record the “statistically-speaking” worst goalie in the league.

Murray had one off year, but is 4 years younger with better career numbers. They spend 250k more per year to get 2 less years of term.
- sensarmy_11

he's referring to advanced stats.

but curious to see how the goalie with one of the best advanced stats from 18-19 will do in Ottawa

On what planet is .899, 2.87, and a 20-11-5 record the “statistically-speaking” worst goalie in the league.
- sensarmy_11

Perhaps the league in question excluded Bobrovsky, Dubnyk, Rinne, Lundqvist, Anderson, Bernier, Smith, Holtby, Gibson, and Jones for no particular reason. Not to mention that despite an admittedly low sv%, his GAA was very comparable to Lehner, Price, Andersen, Quick, Crawford, and Fleury.

Murray had an off-year to be sure, but he's more than capable of providing at least solid goaltending to this team. Plus, they're essentially buying only the remaining prime years of Murray's career, vs. the risk of Markstrom being 35+ for nearly 1/2 of the term of his new contract.

he's referring to advanced stats.

but curious to see how the goalie with one of the best advanced stats from 18-19 will do in Ottawa
- DutchSenators

i buy into advanced stats for players, it's useful.....but for goalies it's just stupid.

Murray had an off year but is a good goalie......i'll take Murray over Markstrom for sure.

Ummmmmm....dude, did you read the blog that you’re currently commenting on?

Check out the big chart right in the middle, followed by the comment: “Matt Murray was the worst starting goalie in the NHL this season”
- AxlRose91

you actually read the blogs on this site? (no offense Michael)

Saw Craig Button on TSN pool do a review of the prospect pool of the Canadian NHL teams. He started with Ottawa and said no team in the NHL can match the organizational depth of Ottawa and the Sens are going to be a huge factor very soon.

Looking really good

you actually read the blogs on this site? (no offense Michael)
- sensarmy_11

Saw Craig Button on TSN pool do a review of the prospect pool of the Canadian NHL teams. He started with Ottawa and said no team in the NHL can match the organizational depth of Ottawa and the Sens are going to be a huge factor very soon.

Looking really good
- spatso

Absolutely. From top to bottom there's a ton of strength in the system right now. Only question is whether they'll be in a position to pay for it in a few years when the bill comes due and they want to compete. But, for now, it's hard to be anything but optimistic about where things sit.

Ive seen the poopshow thats played in front of Hogberg. His save percentage is not realistic. Put him on a penguins team with Crosby Malkin and few other elite players and im sure his stats are not much worse than than Murrays.