Dallas Stars Reward Goalie Matt Murray with One-Year Deal

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

UPDATE: Murray's recall is all but assured now as Remi Poirier has been recalled from Idaho to Texas.

When goalie Matt Murray signed a two-year AHL deal this summer, it was pretty clear that he was on the Dallas radar for future prospects. All the summer signals became clear today as Murray converted his AHL deal to an NHL deal, signing an entry-level contract with Dallas for this season.

Murray has been exceptional for Texas so far in his career. He went 5-1 last year to finish the season on a tryout and has started the year 2-2 but with a 2.00 GAA and .926 SV%. It's an exciting reward for the youngster and a good get for the Stars on a free agent pickup.

This also opens the door for Dallas to recall Murray if there are any injuries to Jake Oettinger or Scott Wedgewood, an option they did not have previously and one they will avail themselves of immediately. With Anton Khudobin's early-season struggles in Texas (3.61 GAA, .881 SV%), this deal makes sense right now without the additional info on Oettinger's injury. With cap constraints and waiver considerations in play, Murray should get a recall this week to back up Wedgewood.

Here's the release:

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed goaltender Matt Murray to a one-year entry-level contract which runs through the 2022-23 season.

Murray, 24, has appeared in five games this season for the Texas Stars, the Stars’ development affiliate in the American Hockey League, posting a 2-2-0 record, including one shutout. In his first professional season, he ranks fourth among rookie goaltenders and shares 10th in the league with a 2.00 goals-against average and ranks fourth among rookies and 16th in the league with a .926 save percentage. Murray finished the 2021-22 season on an amateur tryout with Texas, earning a 5-1-0 record, a 1.68 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.

Prior to joining Texas, Murray played five seasons with University of Massachusetts (NCAA) where he helped UMass to their first NCAA championship in 2021. He finished his amateur career with a 83-43-4 record, a 2.21 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 143 games.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound native of St. Albert, Alberta signed a two-year AHL contract with the Texas Stars on July 18.