New Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray signs four-year deal with club

OTTAWA — Newly acquired goaltender Matt Murray signed a four-year, US$25-million deal with the Ottawa Senators on Friday.

The Senators traded forward prospect Jonathan Gruden and this year’s 52nd pick in the NHL draft to get Murray on Wednesday. 

The Senators are hoping that Murray can rediscover his form in the nation’s capital after a couple of difficult seasons, including a stunning upset against the underdog Montreal Canadiens during the NHL’s 24-team summer restart that saw him benched in favour of Tristan Jarry.

A two-time Cup champion with Pittsburgh, the Thunder Bay, Ont., native was selected 83rd overall by the Penguins in 2012 and ranks third in franchise history with 117 victories and 11 shutouts. Over 199 career regular-season games, Murray has a record of 117-53-19 to go along with a .914 save percentage and a 2.67 goals-against average. 

But the veteran of 51 post-season outings experienced a sub-par 2019-20, with a 20-11-5 mark, an .899 save percentage and a 2.87 GAA before getting sat down after Game 3 against Montreal in a best-of-five series the Canadiens would take 3-1. 

The rebuilding Senators, meanwhile, desperately needed to address their goaltending after announcing last month they wouldn’t be offering a contract to 39-year-old Craig Anderson, while the health of backup netminder Anders Nilsson remains a big question mark.

Also Friday, the Senators signed forwards Matthew Peca and Logan Shaw to two-way contracts.

Peca’s one-year deal is worth $700,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the American Hockey League.

Shaw’s deal is worth $700,000 in the NHL and $375,000 in the AHL in year one and $750,000 (NHL) and $375,000 (AHL) in year two.

A couple of former Senators were on the move Friday.

Bobby Ryan found a new home in Detroit, signing a one-year pact with the Red Wings after the 2020 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner was bought out by Ottawa, while Mark Borowiecki agreed to a two-year, $4-million deal in Nashville.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2020.

The Canadian Press