Maple Leafs assign G Matt Murray to AHL, recall G Dennis Hildeby

Despite a strong start in his return to the NHL, Matt Murray is on his way back to the Marlies.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have assigned the veteran goaltender to the American Hockey League, and in a corresponding move have recalled goaltender Dennis Hildeby, the team announced Saturday.

Murray, 30, made a big impact in his lone start for the Leafs this season on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, making 24 saves on 27 shots and helping the team to a 6-3 win.

The game against Buffalo was his first start in the NHL in 21 months.

Murray, 30, has spent the start of the season with the Marlies. He’s played eight games and posted an impressive .931 save percentage and 1.85 goals-against average on the way to a 4-1-3 record.

The Thunder Bay, Ont. native won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two years in the NHL. He recorded career-highs in save percentage (.930) and goals-against average (2.00) in his rookie season. 

Since then, however, he’s struggled on and off with injuries and has not played more than 38 games in a season since 2018-19. He suffered a concussion at the end of the 2022-23 season, which sidelined him for the remainder of the year, and underwent hip surgery last off-season that kept him out of game action for most of the 2023-24 season. 

Hildeby, meanwhile, has made three starts with the Maple Leafs this season, logging a 2-1-0 record with a 3.68 GAA and .875 save percentage.

The 23-year-old has been solid with the Marlies this year with a 2-2-2 record, 2.73 GAA and .897 save percentage.

The Leafs are down a goaltender with Anthony Stolarz injured. Toronto is back home on Saturday to play host to the New York Islanders.