Matt Murray Buries His Marlies Teammate After Being Asked to Say Something Nice About Him

After practice, Murray was asked to share a compliment about Niemelä who is one of the Toronto Maple Leafs' top defensive prospects.

His response?

Murray eventually talked very well about Topi Niemelä's practice performance, but his initial remark playfully made it seem like Niemelä was a bit of an unknown for him.

Whether a joke or an innocent slip, it gave fans a good laugh.

Beyond his locker room humor, Matt Murray is making serious contributions on the ice since the 29-year-old goaltender has been very good in the AHL.

He has a 8-4-2 record, a 1.68 GAA, and a .934 SV% with the Marlies and his good performance has started speculation that he could challenge Dennis Hildeby for the starting role.

Murray has already seen NHL action this season by replacing Anthony Stolarz, who battled injuries earlier this season.

However, Toronto sent him back to the Marlies to get more playing time after missing most of last season due to injury.

As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, Murray's veteran presence is invaluable for the Marlies and the Maple Leafs and iff injuries arise in Toronto's crease, he could be a critical depth option for the playoff push.

For now, though, he's keeping things light and he is also keeping Topi Niemela on his toes.