The argument to keep players from playing international hockey will certainly be made once again following the World Cup of Hockey with some significant injuries leaving some NHL teams without star players as training camp opens and even into the start of the regular season.
After Panthers’ defenceman Aaron Ekblad was forced to leave Toronto following reports that he was dealing with a concussion after a game against Finland, the Pittsburgh Penguins could be looking at starting their season without their Stanley Cup winning goalie Matt Murray.
According to Penguins’ vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford, Murray could miss anywhere from three to six weeks with a broken hand. The injury – which could keep him out until November – was suffered on September 19 when Team North America lost 4-3 against Russia at the World Cup.
At just 22, Murray led the Penguins to the Cup last season playing 21 games for Pittsburgh in the postseason with a record of 15-4-2 to go along with a 2.08 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.
During the regular season, he played just 13 games with a 9-2-1 record, an impressive 2.00 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.
Murray was projected to split time with Marc-Andre Fleury during the upcoming season, but will likely have to work his way back into the lineup following this disappointing setback.