In NHL.com’s Q&A feature called “Sitting Down with…” we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. Today, we feature Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray.
GRAVENHURST, Ontario — Matt Murray and the Toronto Maple Leafs came to this Muskoka resort town 110 miles north of Toronto this week as part of a team-bonding exercise in preparation for their season opener Oct. 12 at the Montreal Canadiens.
Consider it a successful endeavor, especially for the 28-year-old goalie who is entering his first season in Toronto and is looking to gain familiarity with his new teammates, as he is with them.
Having faced plenty of shots from Austin Matthews In training camp, Murray had the chance to share a cart with the star Maple Leafs center during a team golf outing at the prestigious Muskoka Bay Golf Club on Tuesday. It was a great opportunity for the defending Hart Trophy winner, an honor that goes to the NHL’s most valuable player, to get better acquainted with the newcomer.
“It was cool,” Matthews said. “I rode with ‘Murr,’ and it was nice to just chat with him. He’s obviously a quieter guy, but we had a lot of fun out there messing around.”
Having fun is something Murray hasn’t had much of the past few seasons.
He helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, but he’s experienced some lean times the past three seasons, one with Pittsburgh, the next two with the Ottawa Senators. He went 35-36-8 with a 3.06 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in that span.
Murray was acquired from the Senators on July 11 with a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft for future considerations. It was a chance for a fresh start, one he’s embracing.
“I look ahead,” he said. “I don’t look back.”
In a 1-on-1 interview with NHL.com, Murray addressed a variety of topics, including his new teammates, playing in Toronto, closing the previous chapter of his career and how good he and the Maple Leafs can be.
First off, how productive was this team-bonding experience for you here in Muskoka in terms of getting to know your new teammates better? It must be nicer to golf with Auston than it is to face shots from him in practice.
“I think that was the goal this week; give us all some time together and getting to know each other better. I was at the practice rink in Toronto weeks before training camp started, so I spent a lot of time with the guys, mostly at the rink. Like I said, I’ve been around for a while, but this is different. It’s nice to get on the golf course a little bit, have a few dinners together and get to know each other a little bit better. “
You came to Toronto after a few tumultuous seasons in which the number of doubters continued to grow. How driven are you to muzzle the naysayers who claim your best years are behind you?
“I think there’s always something that you need to prove. On that point, I still take the same approach I have since Day One, and that’s trying to get better each and every day. One step at a time, one evolution at a time . That’s where my head’s at. That’s where my focus is at. You can’t listen to the outside stuff; you have to keep your eyes on the prize.”
How difficult was your time with Ottawa, especially with the series of injuries you had including a concussion?
“Injuries are part of the game, and certainly the collisions are the ones that are hard to avoid. I had a few of those. Look, my time in Ottawa didn’t go as anyone had planned, I don’t think, but I’ve made no secret that you have to look forward. My focus is here now. That’s part of my past. It’s not my concern. Again, I’m only looking at the here and the now. And right now, from a From a physical standpoint, I feel great.”
How do you keep your confidence up through a period like that? Have you always had that belief in yourself dating back to your childhood days playing minor hockey in Thunder Bay? If so, how much does that help when you’re struggling as a pro?
“That’s all part of it. You’re going to go through adversity. Everybody on every team goes through adversity on an annual basis. You are always going to have a period of adversity. I think it’s how you respond to it. How you respond says a lot about the person and the player you are, so it’s about taking things one day at a time. I know that’s a common cliché, but it’s true. That’s all I can really control. Other than that, I just try to focus on things that are in my power and not worry about the other stuff. Just try to do the best I can with things I can.”
You’re an Ontario native. You’ve played in Pittsburgh and Ottawa, where hockey is a big deal. But what’s it been like being in the spotlight that goes hand-in-hand with playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, even in your short time here?
“I’ve really enjoyed my time since I’ve been here. It’s a special place to play. I’ve said it a million times, I’ve been welcomed with open arms from the minute I’ve got here. I had Some familiarity with some of the guys here, which helped. I’m just really, really enjoying it and looking forward to getting started for real in a week’s time.”
You’ve mentioned you and fellow goaltender Ilya Samsonov, another newcomer to the Maple Leafs, have struck up a good relationship. What’s that been like? And, for that matter, what has it been like to be reunited with coach Sheldon Keefe and general manager Kyle Dubas, your coach and GM with Sault Ste Marie in the Ontario Hockey League from 2012-14?
“I’ve gotten to know Ilya, and we get along well. We push each other, yeah, but we also help each other. That chemistry is important in a goalie tandem. As for the [reunion]it’s always nice to be wanted.”
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