Penguins trade top goaltending prospect, Matt Murray immediately gets injured
Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Matt Murray left practice on Monday with an injury. It’s too bad the Penguins just traded their top prospect, Filip Gustavsson, to the Ottawa Senators.
Matt Murray left the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice early on Monday after taking a puck to the head, the team shared:
Coach Sullivan says that Matt Murray left the ice early today and is being evaluated.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 26, 2018
The timing of this injury, only the latest for Murray, is rather unfortunate for Pittsburgh. Why? Well, general manager Jim Rutherford just gave up the Penguins’ top goaltending prospect, Filip Gustavsson, in the trade with the Ottawa Senators to acquire center Derick Brassard.
Whoops.
Minutes before the end of practice, Murray was forced to leave the ice after taking an Olli Maatta slap shot to the head.
Head coach Mike Sullivan wouldn’t confirm that Murray was being evaluated for a concussion, only that he was being evaluated. According to Chris Bradford of DK Pittsburgh Sports, “Murray was temporarily dazed but appeared more angered at first” and eventually left the ice on his own power.
Per Sam Wener of the Post-Gazette, there are no further updates on the severity of Murray’s injury, and he’ll be evaluated again tomorrow:
No update on Matt Murray, per Rutherford. Will be evaluated again tomorrow morning.
— Sam Werner (@sjwerner11) February 26, 2018
While head injuries don’t need to exist on a superlative scale — they’re bad, period — Murray’s is obviously especially unfortunate given the Penguins’ new lack of depth behind him.
If Murray misses time, the Penguins could call on Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith.
Jarry’s recent outings haven’t gone particularly well. Having stepped in for Murray earlier this season following the death of Murray’s father, Jarry was supplanted by DeSmith between the pipes. Jarry has gone 10-4-2 with a .916 save percentage this year, giving up four goals on 16 shots against the Florida Panthers on Saturday before getting pulled.
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Pittsburgh didn’t make any goaltending moves prior to Monday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, so the Penguins are apparently prepared to move forward with one of their existing options if it turns out that Murray’s injury keeps him off the ice.