Matthew Murray Bio
Matthew Murray (born May 25, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays the goaltender position for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Murray rose to prominence after replacing veteran Marc-André Fleury during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs and leading Pittsburgh to its fourth championship that same spring. He added a second consecutive title in 2017, becoming the first goaltender to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in his first two NHL seasons. Murray has also suited up for the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs before signing with Seattle in 2025.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing roughly 180 pounds, Murray built his reputation on poise, rebound control, and a calm demeanor in high-pressure moments. In recent seasons his career has been interrupted by injuries, yet he continues to compete at the highest level.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Murray was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He developed his game through the Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association, beginning in local AA programs before moving up to the Thunder Bay Kings AAA program for his minor midget season in 2009–10. That year he posted a 2.28 goals-against average with six shutouts across 40 games and helped the Kings go 3–2–0 at the OHL Cup, drawing the attention of Ontario Hockey League scouts.
Murray’s father, who passed away in January 2018, was originally from Scotland, while his mother is from the Netherlands. The family environment encouraged competitive sport, and Murray committed to a full-time goaltending path at an early age.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following his standout minor midget campaign, Murray was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. He spent three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, refining his technique and logging heavy minutes for the Greyhounds. On September 4, 2013, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him to a three-year entry-level contract, formally launching his professional career.
Murray quickly proved he was ready for the next step, dominating the American Hockey League during his first full professional assignment and forcing the Penguins to consider him for NHL duty.
Matthew Murray Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
During the 2014–15 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Murray set an AHL record for the longest shutout streak at 304 minutes and 11 seconds, surpassing the mark previously held by Barry Brust. He then recorded his tenth shutout on March 22, breaking the rookie record originally set by Gordie Bell in 1942–43, and finished the year with 12 shutouts. Murray swept the league’s top individual honors, claiming the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s best goaltender and the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as its top rookie.
Recalled by Pittsburgh on December 15, 2015, Murray made his NHL debut four days later in a 2–1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He earned a second recall in February 2016 and started nine games to close out the regular season. On April 19, 2016, at 21 years old, he became the youngest goaltender in Penguins history to start a postseason game, turning aside all but one goal in a 3–1 victory over the New York Rangers. Two days later he recorded his first playoff shutout in a 5–0 win over the same opponent.
Pittsburgh Penguins Breakthrough (2016–2020)
Murray remained Pittsburgh’s playoff starter through the 2016 postseason and led the Penguins past the San Jose Sharks to capture the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup. He finished the run with a .923 save percentage and a 2.08 goals-against average, becoming just the sixth rookie goaltender to start a Stanley Cup Final since 1976. The Penguins quickly rewarded him with a three-year extension carrying an average annual value of $3.75 million.
The 2016–17 season brought more accolades. After briefly losing his job to the returning Marc-André Fleury, Murray reclaimed the starting role and produced 32 wins, a .923 save percentage, a 2.41 goals-against average, and four shutouts. He finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting, was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, and was later selected to the 2017 NHL All-Playoff Team. He also notched his first NHL point with an assist on December 8, 2016.
During the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Murray split duties with Fleury before taking over in the Eastern Conference Finals against Ottawa. He posted a 25-save shutout in a 7–0 win, then delivered consecutive shutouts in games five and six of the Final against the Nashville Predators to clinch a second straight title. He was the first goaltender in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup in each of his first two seasons.
Health issues soon complicated his tenure. A concussion in the 2017–18 season and another in October 2018 limited his availability, though he still posted the longest playoff shutout streak in Penguins history at 225:49 and on April 18, 2018, became the fastest goaltender to reach 25 playoff wins. On October 12, 2019, he recorded his 100th NHL victory, a 7–4 win over the Minnesota Wild, reaching the milestone in 166 games.
Ottawa Senators Era (2020–2022)
On October 7, 2020, Pittsburgh traded Murray and a 2020 second-round pick to the Ottawa Senators for Jonathan Gruden. Two days later he signed a four-year, $25 million extension. His first year in Ottawa ended with a head injury in March 2022, after which Ottawa signed Anton Forsberg and explored trade options. A proposed deal sending Murray and the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft to the Buffalo Sabres collapsed when Murray refused to waive his no-trade clause.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2022–2025)
On July 11, 2022, Ottawa traded Matthew Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with two future draft picks in exchange for future considerations, retaining 25 percent of his salary. He played Toronto’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens but soon suffered an adductor injury that kept him out for weeks. His first Maple Leafs victory came on November 15, 2022, against Pittsburgh, and he posted his first Toronto shutout on December 6 against the Dallas Stars. The 2022–23 season ended early after a concussion on April 2.
On October 9, 2023, Murray underwent bilateral hip surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2023–24 NHL regular season. After a conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies, he signed a one-year extension on July 2, 2024. He opened 2024–25 in the AHL and was recalled on December 20, 2024, after an injury to Anthony Stolarz. That same day he stopped 24 of 27 shots in a 6–3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Seattle Kraken Era (2025–Present)
Murray signed with the Seattle Kraken as a free agent on July 1, 2025, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $1 million for the 2025–26 season. He joined the organization as a veteran presence expected to stabilize the goaltending group.
Driving Style and Strengths
Murray is widely regarded as a composed, technically sound goaltender who relies on positioning and tracking rather than flashy athleticism. He excels at handling cross-crease movement and has consistently delivered in elimination games, evidenced by his historic back-to-back playoff performances. Throughout his career he has been praised for his mental toughness and his ability to rebound quickly after setbacks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights include back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, the AHL shutout streak of 304:11 set in 2015, a Penguins franchise-record playoff shutout streak of 225:49, and his October 12, 2019, milestone of 100 NHL wins in just 166 games. He also represented Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and backstopped Canada to a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.
Matthew Murray Career Wins
Matthew Murray has compiled more than 100 regular-season wins in the NHL, highlighted by a 32-win campaign in 2016–17 and two Stanley Cup championships. He reached the 100-win mark in only 166 games, tying Pete Peeters for the seventh-fastest goaltender to do so since the 1967 expansion.
Stanley Cup Playoff Highlights
Murray owns a career playoff record defined by his back-to-back titles. He led the 2016 Penguins to the Stanley Cup as a rookie starter, then split duties with Marc-André Fleury in 2017 before reclaiming the crease and posting back-to-back shutouts in the final games to clinch Pittsburgh’s second consecutive championship. His franchise-record playoff shutout streak of 225:49 stands as one of the most dominant postseason runs by a Penguins goaltender.
Other Wins and Performances
Murray captured every major AHL award in 2014–15 and represented both Team North America and Team Canada on the international stage. He also posted his first Toronto Maple Leafs shutout against the Dallas Stars on December 6, 2022, and delivered a 24-save performance in his December 20, 2024, return to the NHL with Toronto.
Matthew Murray Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Murray was raised in Thunder Bay by a Scottish-born father and a Dutch mother, giving him a mixed Canadian-European heritage. His father, who died in January 2018, remained an important influence throughout his early professional career.
Personal Life
Murray married his high school sweetheart, Christina Sirignano, on June 20, 2019. The couple has been a steady presence throughout his professional journey, including the difficult injury stretches that marked his later seasons in Ottawa and Toronto.
2025 Season Performance
Murray joined the Seattle Kraken on July 1, 2025, on a one-year, $1 million agreement for the 2025–26 campaign. The signing marked a fresh start for the two-time Stanley Cup champion, who is now competing in the Pacific Division after years in the Eastern Conference.
Entering the season healthy, Murray is expected to share the crease and provide veteran stability behind a younger Seattle defensive core. His familiarity with high-pressure situations, developed during Pittsburgh’s playoff runs, makes him a trusted option for the Kraken coaching staff in tight games.
Outlook for 2025 centers on durability and consistency. If Murray can stay healthy, his experience and championship pedigree give Seattle a reliable insurance policy as it continues to build toward sustained contention.