The well-worn track between the NHL and AHL for a pair of Dallas Stars players saw more traffic today. As announced by the team Sunday afternoon, forward Fredrik Olofsson and goalie Matt Murray have been loaned to the AHL’s Texas Stars.
Murray heading to the AHL could be a sign that backup Scott Wedgewood is ready to return from an undisclosed injury that’s kept him out for much of the past few weeks. Wedgewood last played just over two weeks ago and was heating up with a .920 save percentage in his last five starts, although a lack of goal support left him with just a 1-4-0 record. An AHL presence for most of his career, the 30-year-old Wedgewood has done well since earning the full-time backup gig in Dallas.
The “other” Matt Murray made his NHL debut three nights ago, stopping 19 of 21 shots in a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. He returns to Texas, now indisputably the team’s third-string goalie after Anton Khudobin was dealt to the Blackhawks in this week’s Max Domi trade.
Olofsson, 26, is still waiver-exempt and will likely continue to return to Texas as breaks in Dallas’ schedule allow. With accruing salary cap space nor roster limits in consideration after the trade deadline, Olofsson’s deployment by Dallas isn’t affected by any financial motivations. The undrafted free agent has played in 20 games with Dallas this season, registering a goal and three assists.