Don Murdoch

For other people named Don Murdoch, see Don Murdoch (disambiguation).

Don Murdoch
Born	(1956-10-25) October 25, 1956 (age 67) Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Rangers Edmonton Oilers Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft	6th overall, 1976 New York Rangers
WHA Draft	12th overall, 1976 Cincinnati Stingers
Playing career	1976–1986

Donald Walter Murdoch (born October 25, 1956) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Detroit Red Wings between 1976 and 1982. He was featured in the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals, playing with the Rangers.

Playing career

After a standout junior career with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Murdoch was selected 6th overall in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Rangers, and joined the team that year as a 20-year-old. He scored 56 points in 59 games his rookie season, including a Rangers rookie record of 32 goals, and finished as runner-up for the Calder Trophy for best rookie. ^{[1] [2]} On October 12, 1976, Murdoch tied Howie Meeker's record for most goals in one game by a rookie with 5, ^[2] against the Minnesota North Stars. ^[3] A torn Achilles tendon ended his season in February.

In summer of 1977, Murdoch was caught by customs agents in Toronto with 4.5 grams of cocaine stashed in his socks. He was suspended by the league for the entire 1978–79 season (later reduced to 40 games) and later admitted to having a drinking and drug problem. ^{[4] [5]}

He played 320 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) but never regained the form of his first season, and retired after stops with the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.

After his playing career, Murdoch worked as a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning, under general manager Phil Esposito.

Don is the brother of Bob Murdoch.

Legacy

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Murdoch at No. 99 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons. ^[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973–74	Vernon Vikings	BCHL		45	50	32	82	69		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		4	1	0	1	9		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		70	82	59	141	83		5	1	5	6	15
1975–76	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		70	88	77	165	202		7	4	3	7	23
1976–77	New York Rangers	NHL		59	32	24	56	47		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	New York Rangers	NHL		66	27	28	55	41		3	1	3	4	4
1978–79	New York Rangers	NHL		40	15	21	36	6		18	7	5	12	12
1979–80	New York Rangers	NHL		56	23	19	42	16		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		10	5	2	7	4		3	2	0	2	0
1980–81	Wichita Wind	CHL		22	15	10	25	48		18	17	7	24	24
1980–81	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		40	10	9	19	18		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		24	11	13	24	24		4	5	0	5	14
1981–82	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		49	9	13	22	23		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		35	10	12	22	19		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Montana Magic	CHL		17	10	10	20	2		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		59	26	20	46	19		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Muskegon Lumberjacks	IHL		32	18	13	31	4		16	6	3	9	26
1985–86	Muskegon Lumberjacks	IHL		12	4	4	8	0		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Indianapolis Checkers	IHL		11	4	3	7	4		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Toledo Goaldiggers	IHL		37	15	23	38	8		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				320	121	116	237	155		24	10	8	18	16

Awards

• WCHL All-Star Team – 1975
• WCHL First All-Star Team – 1976
• NHL All-Star Game selection: 1977

See also

• List of players with 5 or more goals in an NHL game

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

References

1. Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 14. ISBN   978-0470736197 . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
2. Weiner, Evan (13 October 2007). "Murdoch's NHL career was like a comet". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
3. Zipay, Steve (2008). The good, the bad, and the ugly. heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, and gut-wrenching moments in New York Rangers history. Chicago, Ill.: Triumph Books. p. 43. ISBN   978-1572439658 . Retrieved 12 December 2015.
4. McRae, Earl (5 January 1979). "Season on ice: Murdoch played a losing game". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
5. Murdoch's biography at Hockey Draft Central

Preceded by Wayne Dillon	New York Rangers first round draft pick 1976	Succeeded by Lucien DeBlois