Nothing has really been going on in the world of hockey transactions, but last week’s move for the Penguins to add forward Brett Murray to a PTO was something that totally slipped by the radar here somehow.
Murray, 27, was a fourth round pick of Buffalo and had been in the Sabres organization as a pro since 2019. It’s been mostly at the AHL level, though he has amassed 26 career NHL games (including three
last season, and peaking with 19 in 2021-22).
As has been the case with a lot of recent Pittsburgh adds, Murray brings size to the equation standing at 6’5” and 228 pounds. He’s also an accomplished AHL player, scoring 27 goals and 49 points in 66 games last season with Rochester with another 49 point season (23G+26A) back in 2021-22.
Depending on how training camp goes, Murray could be in-line to sign an AHL deal with the Pens’ organization and be something of a replacement for the departed Boris Katchouk for Wilkes-Barre. Murray produced nearly identical AHL stats as Katchouk last season (49 points in 67 games for Katchouk) and would fit as a type of AAAA ringer to add a quality minor league player to the organization. Katchouk departed over the summer as a free agent, signing with Tampa.
The Penguins are only carrying 46 of their allotted 50 NHL contracts, they should have space to sign Murray to a big league deal if it works out and perhaps see him as more as a replacement to the Emil Bemstrom role as an NHL/AHL swing player that is bound to spend the majority of the time in the minor leagues while being able to add some spot NHL time based experience on his resume.
It’s very deep depth for the organization but offers another training camp storyline to follow along with tomorrow to see what Murray makes of his tryout and what the future plans could be for him as far as joining the organization in some capacity for the season. The AHL level team can always use a high-end player for their league to help the younger prospects along and Murray could be positioned to add that if all goes well.
