It doesn’t guarantee that he’ll return to the lineup any faster, but it’s at least a start.
Instead of looking outside of the organization to find a backup goalie on Tuesday, the Checkers signed Mike Murphy to a professional tryout contract. Murphy, the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (76) and wins (39) by a goaltender, had spent the last week practicing with the team after returning from a five-month absence from professional hockey.
The contract is the first official agreement of any kind between Murphy and either the Carolina Hurricanes or the Checkers. The Hurricanes, who drafted him in 2008, still own his NHL rights as a restricted free agent.
At the time of the signing, there was no update as to when Murphy, released from Spartak Moscow of the Russian league in November, would be available to return to game action. Were it not for the Hurricanes’ recall of John Muse from Charlotte leaving the Checkers with just one goaltender on the roster, it’s unlikely that the parties would have arranged the contract so soon.
Rookie Rob Madore, who stopped 59 of 61 shots in his first two AHL appearances last week, is expected to get the start against Norfolk on Tuesday. When Dan Ellis returns to health in Carolina (the initial recovery timetable on his leg laceration could see that occur as early as next week), both parties will likely have to revisit Murphy’s status.
Murphy, 24, has a 2.67 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 96 total AHL games with Albany and Charlotte. He led the Checkers to the Eastern Conference Final in their only playoff appearance in 2010-11, going 7-7-0 with a 2.57 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.
