Matt Murray will remain a Toronto Maple Leaf after signing a one-year, $850,000 contract extension on Monday. The 30-year-old last appeared in the NHL in 2022-23 with Toronto but made three appearances with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2023-24, putting up a 4.03 GAA and .846 SV%.
Arguably the biggest defensive free agent is off the market early on Monday as Seattle has signed reigning Stanley Cup Champion Brandon Montour to a seven-year deal worth $49.98 million ($7.14M AAV). The 30-year-old smashed his career highs in 2022-23 after he ended the season fifth in the NHL in defensive scoring with 16 goals and 73 points in 80 games but came back down to earth in 2023-24 with eight goals and 33 points in 66 games played.
Fisker Molgaard is Seattle's 2023 second-round pick (52nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kraken on Saturday. The 19-year-old centre spent 2023-24 in Sweden's top league with HV71 (SHL) and had nine goals and 21 points in 50 games played.
Kakko was a healthy scratch for Game 2 but will return to New York's lineup with Jimmy Vesey being out week-to-week and join the Rangers' third line. The 23-year-old winger has struggled throughout the playoffs this year, with a goal, two points and 17 SOG in 11 games played.
Price was selected in the third round by the Kraken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman scored 13 goals and added 42 assists in 62 games with Kelowna (WHL) this season.
Rehkopf was the 50th overall pick of Seattle in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Canadian center-iceman scored an impressive 95 points (52G / 43A) in 60 games with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) this season.
Tolvanen will draw back in for the Kraken's regular season finale on Thursday after missing their previous game for an undisclosed reason. Tolvanen has 16 goals and 25 assists in 80 games this season.
The Kraken will go back to Daccord for their regular season finale on Thursday after Philipp Grubauer got the nod in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Though he conceded playing time to Grubauer during the latter half of the season, Daccord has undoubtedly enjoyed a breakout campaign. The 27-year-old netminder owns an impressive .916 SV% across 49 appearances this season, though a lack of a goal support has limited him to an 18-18-11 record. He might have a hard time finishing off his season on a winning note, as the Kraken find themselves as +150 underdogs in Minnesota on Thursday.
Grubauer will be back between the pipes for the Kraken's penultimate game of the season on Tuesday after Joey Daccord got the nod in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Blues. After struggling mightily throughout the first few months of the 2023-24 campaign, Grubauer turned his season around after returning from a lower-body injury in mid-February. The 32-year-old netminder owns a 9-6-1 record and a .915 SV% across his last 18 appearances. He draws a difficult matchup tonight with the Kraken being +185 underdogs in Winnipeg.
Tolvanen's absence from Tuesday's lineup is a surprise, with the team not announcing it prior to warmups. Cale Fleury will draw into the Kraken lineup as they opt to dress seven defensemen.
Stephenson will not play on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks due to an undisclosed ailment. The 29-year-old Stephenson has 51 points (16G / 35A) in 75 games this season, including a four-assist performance on Friday.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson will not pay on Tuesday, allowing Mahura to re-enter the lineup. Mahura has nine-point (0G / 9A), 37 hits, and 26 blocks in 29 games this season.
Gaudreau has not played the last two games but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Gaudreau has five goals and 15 points in 65 games this season.
Murray has not played this season after undergoing hip surgery in October. Murray could see some game action with the Marlies during his loan and if all goes well, provides the Maple Leafs with added goaltending depth for the postseason. But he'll be behind Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll, and Martin Jones on the depth chart, so he very likely won't see any games with the Maple Leafs this season.
