When I was young I always wondered why an NHL team didn’t hire an 800-pound guy and just lay him in front of the net. The guy wouldn’t need an athletic bone in his body. He would just lay there and the other team wouldn’t be able to score. At the time it seemed like a great idea.
Back in 2016, Jim Rutherford and the Penguins made the right move. They kept two time Stanley Cup winning Matt Murray instead of fan favorite Marc-Andre Fleury. It was a no-brainer. It was the correct move at the time. Murray was cheaper, younger, taller, better. Had faced the best, and he had beaten the best of the best. He was simply the best.
While Penguins fans were in their back to back Cup coma, the NHL changed the rules on them. The tall lanky Matt Murray whose pads were so large he used to have trouble fitting through the door to the rink had his pads shrunk. First, the NHL shrunk his leg pads in the middle of last year and then this year they shrunk his chest protector pad. Matt Murray the guy who used to make it look so easy letting his huge equipment do the work, is now vulnerable.
Murray looks small in net. Murray is finding that he is having to go down low way more than he used to. He lacks the giant leg pads that did the work for him. The gaps in the upper part of the net has exposed his weak glove hand. The giant chest protector that used to cover the majority of the top of the net is no longer there to do the work for him.
Matt Murray’s incredible .930+ playoff save percentage shrunk to a measly .908. His regular season .920’s save percentage shrunk with his pads down to .908.
The NHL’s shrinking of the pads has accomplished its goal. The time of the nonathletic ridiculously large padded goalie has come to an end. The NHL now has the more goals it was looking for at the unintended consequence of making goaltenders that are athletic way more valuable.
There are doubters among us. A few believe the problem is the Penguins’ defense and not the shrinking of the pads.
The unproven yet athletic Casey DeSmith has done a great job behind the same Penguins defense as Murray. Playing most of the Penguins harder games and in net for more games than Murray this season, DeSmith has been able to rack up a .916 save percentage ranking him 11th overall in the NHL. At one point, before Murray came back from injury, before DeSmith received only the back end of the back to back games, Casey DeSmith was #1 in the NHL in save percentage.
Facts are facts. Mike Sullivan has been cherry picking the easy games for Matt Murray. As an example, on a recent road trip the Penguins had back to back games the first night the Penguins were playing the perennial bottom feeder Arizona Coyotes. The next night the Penguins would be traveling to Vegas to play a well rested Golden Knights team. Murray got the easy Coyotes game, DeSmith got the tough Golden Knights.
One could also look at the numbers and say Marc-Andre Fleury’s numbers aren’t much better than Murray’s, but at the same time Fleury’s coach isn’t handing him the easy games. He plays all of them.
Sullivan has finally been questioned why DeSmith was being played the hard games instead of Murray in games like the game against top home scoring team in the NHL the Tampa Bay Lightning the other night. Sullivan said that he was putting in the player(s) who he believed was the best for the job. You may remember that line from when he used to play Murray over Fleury.
While I have no doubt Murray is trying learn the different style of goaltending he needs to survive in the NHL, it may be what has made him injury prone. After two years of excuses and injuries the Penguins should be in search of another athletic goalie while 25th ranked goalie Matt Murray finds out if he can become the dominant goalie he once was while using the smaller pads.
There are rumors that Jonathan Quick or Cam Ward may be available for the right price.
*on an odd side note, while I was writing this, the Post-Gazette pulled their article “Casey DeSmith gets surprise start against high-powered Lightning” which had many quotes by Sullivan about how DeSmith was top ten save percentage in the league and others. Weird.
Hi Phil,
I never gave the size of the pads much thought. I don’t recall much press around town talking about it either, and not in reference to Matt Murray, good or bad. This could be a first. Good catch and an insightful, interesting take!
I’ve always harbored some misgivings about Murray, but from a personal, leadership kind of perspective. I don’t think he likes being a number one. I don’t think he has the personality, temperament, or durability for it. Even when he was getting the top dog treatment while Fleury was here, he still could consider himself the second guy because lots of others did, too, and he had a bonafide number one and team leader to hide behind in Fleury. To this day he still gives me that “I wish I could hide somewhere” vibe. This also could be a reason for Sullivan to do what he can to shield him. I agree it’s obvious Sully is cherry picking Murray’s spots while realizing this isn’t that Murray he thought he was.
Coming out of camp this season, I thought DeSmith was the better of the two. He was at that point. He is more athletic, faster, and has better reflexes. I think he’s still learning how to command the crease and hopefully will get better at it. Unfortunately, he’s not going to grow another inch or two. Just the same, I don’t fret when he’s getting the start.
I also saw some potential in John Muse, but he’ll ever get a shot at the show.
I’ve been a fan and following the team since they were The Hornets. There have been some good goalies here in those 50 some years, but they never had a franchise goalie until Barasso, then Fleury. They’re rare birds.
And, I loved the 800 lb. guy thing. I used to think that, too — Sumo Goalie. Ironically, those giant pads made lots of goalies look like an 800 lb. guy. Maybe that’s why they did it.
— 55
Hey 55,
That is a good point about Murray and leadership. I wonder if he was thrown into that position before he was ready? Fluery lived through the bad times so he knew how to handle not doing well right from the get go.
The “I wish I could hide somewhere” vibe you talk about, I wonder if the mysterious upper body “injuries” that Murray gets could be panic attacks or something. They seem to happen at very opportune times before big games. Like during warmups before the first round of the playoffs two years ago. He also seems to only come back when the team seems to have it back together.
I understand that Sullivan is trying to build up the confidence of his two time Stanley Cup winning goalie, but I have to wonder if it is all for naught. There have been very successful platooning goalie systems in the NHL. This may be a good time for Sullivan to implement that.
I will be interested to see what game Murray starts this weekend. He has been given the first game of back to back games all year, but this weekend the first game is against a high scoring Calgary team. The second won’t be easy either, a well rested Rangers squad. Barring a Murray “injury” he will have to face one of the teams.
Amazing you followed the Hornets! People always forget they were the first ice hockey team team to play at the Civic Arena and the first to win a Cup! Fans who supported them back then are the reason Pittsburgh was granted an NHL franchise.
Go Hornets! Yes, they won the Calder Cup a few times — 1952, 1955 and 1967, the year before they joined the NHL. I was disappointed they changed the name to the Penguins.
Sorry. That was my post. Don’t know why it made me anonymous.
— 55
Hi Phil,
Problems with Murray can be multiple: equipment, technique, physical strength, off-ice issues, atrocious D-squad, etc.
Personally, I prefer DeSmith to Murray. Casey shows more athleticism, resilience and an uncanny will to fight for the puck. He reminds me of Flower to some extent. Murray is a talented goalie but I think he was assigned a role that may not be suitable for him: the no.1 goalie spot.
Just picture this: he plays 72 games with the WBS Penguins, has astounding numbers, is recalled by the Pens, wins 15 out 21 playoff games in 2015-16 with 923 Sv%, does even better in 2016-17 with 937 Sv%, benefits from a two-headed monster (Sid, Geno) scoring like a metronome, relentless work from 3rd-4th lines, a decent D-line, and finally wins 2 Stanley Cups!
And it all happened in 2 years! Can you imagine the expectations generated from such a high level of performance? Those 2 Stanley Cups set the bar unbelievably high for Murray. How can you live up to such expectations?
I am not in Murray’s shoes but it must have been pretty daunting for him to pick up where he left off. I can imagine the amount of pressure placed on him. That’s why Fleury was a very reassuring presence for him.
Since he has been playing in the NHL, Murray never played more than 49 games in the regular season. No.1 goalies such as Pekka Rinne, Carey Price, Tukka Rask have often played 60-70 games. I often wonder if Murray can play that amount of games. Since he is injury-prone, we will never know.
Again, he is a very good goalie, but may not have the personality and the stamina to be a no.1 goalie with a team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups and on which expectations are leaving no other choice but to deliver.
Hey Jorez,
Interesting. Those are hard expectations to live up to and with the NHL changing his equipment at the same time. When Murray played behind Fleury he also was the beneficiary of a soft schedule while Fleury played the hard games.
Poor Niemi came in and only played the 2nd game on back to back nights against teams that were rested. Murray has never had those games added to his save% to show what it would really be if he was a true #1 goalie. Yet his numbers were still not great last year.
I never really had any expectations for Murray, because I had never seen him take on #1 goalie duties. Right now I would at least like to see Sullivan split the goalie duties. If a goalie is on a streak leave him in.
Hey Phil,
I echo Jim’s sentiments…great to have you on the writing side again! And wow…you wrote a mouthful…or something like that … 🙂
I never put two and two together and considered that equipment changes may have negatively affected Murray’s play. But I must admit you give some compelling evidence.
I guess my main concern with Murray is durability. He’s never played more than 53 games in a season…and that was in junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie way back in 2012-13. Given that and a general downturn in his performance, I think he needs to be paired with a solid 1A goalie.
I wish I shared everyone’s enthusiasm over DeSmith. While I like his mental makeup and coolness under fire, over his last six starts…virtually ever since he signed his new contract…Casey’s really struggled, to the tune of a 1-4-1 record with a 4.18 GAA and .877 SVPCT.
Granted, he hasn’t started on a consistent basis. But he’s looked vulnerable to say the least…especially on odd-man breaks. As we all know, an all-too-frequent occurrence with the black and gold.
Although there’s no guarantee how well anyone else will respond playing behind the Pens’ oft-leaky defense (remember Annti Niemi?) I’d probably feel safer with a veteran 1A to share the load and perhaps even press Murray a bit.
He seems to respond to a challenge.
Rick
PS–I’d still be curious to see how Tristan Jarry might perform in a 1A role.
Hey Rick,
Thanks! Desmith’s last six starts 1-4-1 recod is a prime example of how he is getting the shaft. Two of the games were the back end of back to back games against away teams that were rested, and one of the games was an away game against the top scoring team at home the Lightning.
He also had a Chicago game in there who the Penguins haven’t beat since 2010. Since Desmith had a poor game against Chicago in December I thought for sure Murray would get the call. Since the Pens hadn’t beat Chicago since 2010, I guess Sullivan didn’t want to put Murray in a game where he could lose.
Desmith had .925+ save percentage the normal games.
I don’t really know if the Penguins are handing Murray the easy ones because they want to build his confidence or if they are shopping him. What I do know, is that if he can’t do the job of a #1 it’s a big problem.
I agree with you that on odd man breaks and breakaways, Desmith seems very vulnerable. His overtime 3 on 3 record and shootout record is abysmal. Maybe with more playing time?
I too would be very interested in what Jarry can do, but his WBS numbers are not really that great. Best bet would be If Murray has yet another injury they can put him down in WBS for a rehab assignment and try out Jarry.
Hi Phil
Great to see you writing again. You raise a great point. The smaller equipment has definitely put more burden on Murray. He seems like a fish out of water these days. Yes he stops the puck but with the confidence he showed in the cup winning years.
Question I have for you Phil. You have been doing this for 10 years plus so you have seen a lot of Pens Hockey. Do you trade Murray or hope for the best? The team in front of him today in 2019 is definitely weaker than the Cup winner in 2016. I think a trade would be better but for a star winger and maybe a high draft pick? Then try to get a rent a goalie.
Either way we are weaker in net than 2017.
Your thoughts ?
Jim
Hey Jim,
I would not trade Murray and hope for the best.
I really think that Sullivan should be giving DeSmith a chance. Every level he has played at he has worked his way up to a .920 save percentage. The first time Murray was “injured” this year. Desmith came in an did a fantastic job. The Penguins were looking horrible and they had 7 out of the next ten games against playoff teams. Desmith won every one of those games against contenders and was ranked 2nd in save percentage in the NHL. Murray got healthy right when the Penguins went on a streak of playing 8 out of 11 games against non contenders. Murray did well, but it was Desmith that got the team going against a tough schedule.
Sullivan relegated Desmith to only the hard games again, other than a couple Minnesota games.
With the Pens other goalies, Jarry isn’t doing horrible, but also not great in WBS. Nailers goalie John Muse played 5 games for WBS and put up great numbers. I went and watched Muse play in Wheeling a couple weeks ago when the Pens were on break. I think he let in 6 goals and looked horrible.
Can DeSmith carry the team? I have no idea.
I really think the Penguins should pick up another goalie just in case.
I will be addressing the “Star” winger trade idea in an upcoming article.
Who writes this crap. In no way shape or form was or is Murray better than Fleury. That myth is dead
No to Cam Ward. Leave him in Chicago where the refs love the Hawks and allow them to keep puck out of the net by slashing..cross checking..interfering. Refs dont love Pens.
So now we know the truth.
Sully moddlecoddles Murray.
But hes not Coaches Pet..RIGHT.
Murray will never improve v his glove hand..cause it’s in his head..he won 2 cups.
Mentor DeSmith..small…agile and the future with the smaller pads and chest protector. Bettman wants more goals.
Fans want more goals..
The days of Andre the Giant in goal are numbered.