Report: Senators' Murray nixed potential trade to Sabres

Ottawa Senators goalie Matt Murray apparently could've found himself with the Buffalo Sabres if it wasn't for his no-trade clause.

The Sens and Sabres were in deep trade talks about the netminder, but Buffalo is on Murray's 10-team no-trade list, and he was unwilling to waive, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The trade would've included Ottawa swapping its seventh overall selection for Buffalo's No. 16 pick and the Sens retaining a portion of Murray's salary, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Murray to the Senators in October 2020 in exchange for a second-round pick and a prospect. Two days later, he signed a four-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million.

The 28-year-old has only appeared in 47 games across two seasons with Ottawa due to injuries and lackluster play, and he's sported a .899 save percentage in that time. The Sens signed goaltender Anton Forsberg to an extension in March and also have Filip Gustavsson in the fold, so the team appears ready to move on from Murray.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the mix for Murray, and he would agree to a move there, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins played his junior hockey with the Soo Greyhounds under current Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe.

The Sabres, meanwhile, have just one goalie under contract for next season in 41-year-old Craig Anderson. Buffalo also has $34 million in cap space and looks willing to use it to gain assets or, in this case, move up in the draft.