Douglas Murray, Canadiens agree to one slow, nearly immobile year
It took a while for Douglas Murray to sign with another NHL team, which is understandable when you consider he made Hal Gill look like Usain Bolt last season while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Murray signed a 1-year, 1-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, bringing his 6-3 and 240-pound frame to a blue line that could use that size, at the sacrifice of speed.
(But hey, bright side: They have a new traffic cone for when Galchenyuk learns how to parallel park.)
He played between 17-20 minutes most games last season, as the 33-year-old split time between the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. His ice time plummeted in the postseason, where he was a minus-4 and struggled to be a difference maker in his own zone.
(Two second-rounders for a Murray rental now appears like a rare Ray Shero misstep.)
That said, he fills a need for the Habs on defense and brings a wealth of experience. Low cost – $1.5 million according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet – and not much asked of him.
Well, except for those asking what it was like to date Elin Nordegren. Or how he invented that beer tap.
