The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a surprising roster shake-up, leaving the hockey world—and especially their fans—questioning whether this move will pay off.
Murray had bilateral hip surgery in September 2023 and is still working on his recovery. He participated in training camp but the team has decided to go with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz as their goaltending duo this season, with Dennis Hildeby as a potential call-up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $875,000 extension with the Maple Leafs on July 2. Although he didn’t play in the 2023-24 season, there were hopes he could contribute to the goaltending rotation upon his return from injury.
Rifai had an impressive training camp and was seen as one of the standout players in the organization during September. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews praised his development after practice on September 20.
“He played some games with us last year and has worked really hard,” Matthews said. “You can tell he wants it and continues to improve; I’ve been quite impressed with his commitment and the way he plays on both sides of the puck.”
Rifai’s physical play and readiness to defend his teammates were highlighted during camp, especially after he won a fight against Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky in a tense preseason game on September 28. He signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs on September 5.
There was speculation that Rifai might have secured a spot on Toronto’s roster as the No. 6 or No. 7 defenseman, given his skill set that aligns with what head coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving are looking for.
With these waivers, it seems that defenseman Conor Timmins is likely safe for the opening night roster, although Toronto has until Monday to finalize their decisions.
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