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Towering 6-Foot-5 Winger Signs New Deal With the Penguins
News for most NHL teams can be slow before training camps begin to really get going, but for the Pittsburgh Penguins, sitting back and waiting to see how things shake out doesn't appear to be an option.
Every team who wants a chance at the Stanley Cup needs size and grit up front, and for Kyle Dubas and the Penguins, they may have gotten just that, as it was announced Friday morning that the team had brought in some sizable reinforcements to bolster their forward group.
Penguins Sign Murray to Professional Try Out
The Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli announced Friday morning that the Pittsburgh Penguins had signed forward Brett Murray to a professional try out ahead of the team's pre-season training camp.
The Pens are bringing in forward Brett Murray on a training camp PTO, per Frank Seravalli
Murray, 27, is a big bodied winger who had 27 goals & 22 assists in 66GP with AHL-Rochester in 2024-25.
Murray is entering his 7th year of professional hockey, where he's almost exclusively played in the American Hockey League (AHL). While his six points in 26 career NHL games doesn't jump out at you, Murray has been quite productive at the AHL level thus far, especially for a forward of his frame. His size and skill combination was clearly enticing enough for Pittsburgh to want him at their training camp.
NHL Longshot?
While it would be easy to write off Murray as someone fighting for a spot on Pittsburgh's minor-league affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, we believe their could be more to this signing.
Forwards like Murray are usually longer-term projects once they get to proffessional hockey. Many don't make the jump to NHL action immediately, taking years to marinate in the AHL, refining their game and learning what it means to be a pro.
At 27 years of age, and coming off of his most productive season in the AHL to date, Murray could be primed to make a big push and finally crack an opening night NHL roster. His size would allow the Penguins to insulate their star talent, while still having the skill to play with players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Some fans, however, don't think Murray has what it takes to crack Pittsburgh's NHL squad, instead theorizing that he'll be a one-and-done in their AHL program.
Calling it now Murray ends up with an AHL contract this year then off to Switzerland next year
Who knows, maybe Murray will surprise us all and pull off the impossible. It sure would make for a good story.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 12 | 45 ANSWERS Towering 6-Foot-5 Winger Signs New Deal With the Penguins Will Brett Murray see NHL action this season? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 57.8 % |
| No | 19 | 42.2 % |
| List of polls | ||