Maple Leafs’ Murray has “lots to provide” in getting back from hip surgical procedure

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The imaginative and prescient didn’t come to Matt Murray.

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The Maple Leafs goaltender couldn’t image himself sitting at house in a rocking chair on the porch, considering life after retiring from the Nationwide Hockey League.

That choice by no means crossed Murray’s thoughts as he labored his approach again throughout nearly all of final season following bilateral hip surgical procedure final fall. Nobody would have discovered fault had Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, known as it a day on his NHL profession.

“I simply really feel like I nonetheless have lots to provide,” Murray mentioned on Tuesday. “And I additionally needed to do proper by Dr. (Bryan) Kelly, who did nice work (in working on Murray) and has helped me really feel lots higher.

“All the blokes who put in effort and time with me in my rehab course of, I felt like I needed to make one thing out of it. I wish to do proper by them.”

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Included in that group have been Leafs assistant power and conditioning coach Artie Hairston, who labored with Murray every day on the staff’s facility on the Ford Efficiency Centre; Leafs director of excessive efficiency Wealthy Rotenberg; and Jon Elkin, Murray’s longtime goalie coach.

“It obtained to some extent the place I felt prefer it was beginning to have an effect on different issues,” Murray mentioned of the time main as much as his surgical procedure. “My hips have been at all times sore. It led to some groin stuff, some low again stuff. I simply felt like my entire physique wasn’t working correctly the way in which it must be. Dr. Kelly talked about that you simply recuperate lots higher if you’re youthful (from hip surgical procedure). We determined it was the correct time to get it finished.”

Murray took a big step towards returning to the NHL when he performed in three video games for the Toronto Marlies final April. Then got here a brand new one-year contract with the Leafs, signed on July 2 with an AAV of $875,000 US.

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On Sunday within the Leafs’ 6-5 pre-season time beyond regulation loss in opposition to Ottawa, Murray made eight saves on 11 photographs in aid of Joseph Woll.

The bulk has pencilled in Woll and Anthony Stolarz, rightfully so, to be the Leafs’ goaltending tandem for 2024-25. How can Murray, who turned 30 in Might, work his approach into that dialog?

“It’s competitors,” Murray mentioned. “I simply must deliver all the pieces I’ve on daily basis, depart all of it on the market and let the remainder handle itself.

“The largest factor that I realized (throughout his rehab) is having the correct staff round you may make all of the distinction. Right here in Toronto, it’s a particular group. Not simply the blokes within the room, however within the coaching room and the gymnasium guys, everyone that creates an unbelievable setting. That’s invaluable.”

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CAPTAIN ABSENCE

Eyebrows have been raised when captain Auston Matthews departed halfway by means of the apply for gamers who weren’t slated to play in Ottawa in opposition to the Senators on Tuesday night time.

Matthews didn’t stick round after the Leafs switched pads midway by means of, heading for the dressing room beneath his personal steam.

For sooner or later, no less than, don’t attain for the panic button.

“Simply an upper-body factor,” coach Craig Berube mentioned. “It’s not severe. He must be high-quality.”

Winger Calle Jarnkrok, in the meantime, was not on the ice on Tuesday and is each day with a lower-body damage.

TATTOO YOU

Steven Lorentz obtained some ink finished in the course of the summer time and the massive winger was glad to point out it off on the finish of his scrum with reporters.

Lorentz lifted his shorts over his proper thigh, revealing a tattoo of the Stanley Cup, signifying the title he gained with the Florida Panthers in June.

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“I’ve two legs for a cause, proper?” Lorentz mentioned with a smile. “So hopefully we will get one on the opposite facet right here quickly too.”

For now, the purpose for Lorentz is to earn a spot on the Leafs roster. In camp on knowledgeable tryout, the 6-foot-4, 216-pound Lorentz is vying for a spot in Toronto’s backside six. He’s in robust — Max Pacioretty, additionally with the Leafs on a PTO, has an inside monitor at a contract and his signing may create a domino impact amongst jobs — however Lorentz isn’t discouraged.

After coping with an upper-body difficulty, Lorentz participated in apply on Tuesday, skating on a line with Matthews and Mitch Marner.
“Huge, sturdy, bodily and easy,” Lorentz mentioned of what he may deliver to the Leafs. “Doesn’t get rather more sophisticated than that. After I’m not enjoying my recreation, I’m attempting to do an excessive amount of, and I’m not making performs. My type is chip and chase, skate by means of guys and use my dimension to my benefit.”

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When he had his day with the Cup this summer time in Kitchener-Waterloo, Lorentz visited a neighborhood hospital with it and likewise had a celebration at his fiancé’s home. Giving in to his German roots, Lorentz and others ate sausage and sauerkraut out of the mug, however plans for what would have been an extra-large Caesar apparently didn’t pan out.

“I requested if we may rim the cup with Caesar rimmer,” Lorentz mentioned, “however we weren’t allowed to try this.”

Has Lorentz imagined what it might be prefer to win the Cup with the Leafs?

“I’ve tried,” the 28-year-old mentioned. “Rising up a Leafs fan … that is such a hockey metropolis. It’s no secret, it might simply be mayhem if the Leafs have been capable of do it.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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