Larry Murphy (ice hockey)

Last updated

Larry Murphy
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2004
Larry Murphy Mellon Arena Final Game 2010-04-08.JPG
Murphy in 2010
Born (1961-03-08) March 8, 1961 (age 64)
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Los Angeles Kings
Washington Capitals
Minnesota North Stars
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 4th overall, 1980
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 19802001

Lawrence Thomas Murphy (born March 8, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played over 20 years in the National Hockey League, suiting up for the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings.

Contents

He won two back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, the first of two being with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992; and then with Detroit in 1997 and 1998. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

He currently serves as a studio analyst and fill-in color commentator during away games for the Red Wings on Bally Sports Detroit.

Playing career

As a youth, Murphy played in the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Shopsy's minor ice hockey team. [1]

After a stellar junior career with the Peterborough Petes and representing Canada at the 1980 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Murphy was drafted 4th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. In the 1980–81 NHL season, he set National Hockey League records for most assists and points by a rookie defenceman, with 60 and 76 respectively. He was eventually traded to the Washington Capitals for defenceman Brian Engblom and winger Ken Houston early in the 1983–84 season, which did not work out in the Kings' favor long-term because of Murphy's prolonged success in the league.

In his 21-season career (1980–2001), Murphy would eventually play for six different NHL teams. In addition to the Kings and Capitals, he also suited up for the Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings.

In 1995, after being named an NHL second-team All-Star, in the off-season, Murphy was traded to his hometown Leafs from the Penguins for Dmitri Mironov and a second round pick. Leafs fans booed Murphy, the highest paid player on the Leafs, mercilessly as a scapegoat for the lack of success the team was having. He was traded to Detroit for future considerations, and was an integral part of their two consecutive Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998. In the 1997–98 NHL Playoffs, he tied Paul Coffey's record for most shorthanded goals scored by a defenceman in the playoffs with 2.

When Murphy retired after the 2000–01 NHL season, his 1615 regular season games played stood as a record for the most career games by a defenceman; a mark previously held by Tim Horton. In 2003–04, Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils surpassed this mark, finishing the season with 1635 games played. [2]

He was on four Stanley Cup winning teams during the decade of the 1990s, the only NHL player to accomplish this feat. He was a part of the only 2 NHL teams to win back-to-back titles during the decade, the Penguins in 1991 and 1992 and the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

In addition to his NHL championships, Murphy also won a Memorial Cup with the Peterborough Petes in 1979. The Petes also reached the championship game the following year, but lost in overtime.

In 1987, Murphy was a key member of Canada's championship team in the Canada Cup. His six assists tied teammate Ray Bourque for tops in the tournament among defencemen, which included Mario Lemieux's overtime goal in game 2 of the Final against the Soviet Union. He then scored a goal and two assists in the decisive third game, and was also used as a decoy by Wayne Gretzky on Lemieux's tournament winner.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. Finishing his career with 1216 points, Murphy is currently the fifth highest scoring defenceman in NHL history, behind Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis and Phil Housley. [3]

One of Murphy's most notable successes was the "Murphy Dump". During his stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Murphy would often dump the puck down the ice by lifting it high over the opposing team so that it eventually stopped before the opposing goal line. This would not only clear the zone safely, but would not result in an icing call. The "Murphy Dump" was officially coined by Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange. [4]

Broadcasting

He was an alternate color commentator for the Detroit Red Wings during West Coast road trips on Fox Sports Detroit, filling-in for Mickey Redmond. From 2003 to 2006, he shared this duty with former teammate Pat Verbeek. However, following the 2005–06 NHL season, Verbeek left the job as broadcaster to become a scout for the Red Wings, and Murphy took over full-time on west coast road trips. Also in 2006, Murphy started contributing as a studio analyst on pregame, postgame, and intermissions in which he does not broadcast. In the 2007–08 season, Murphy began serving as a "Between-the-Benches" reporter for Fox Sports Detroit when Mickey Redmond was broadcasting home games and filled in for him when he had surgery to remove a tumor on his lung. [5] He also made occasional appearances on the NHL Network's nightly hockey highlight show, NHL on the Fly . In March 2013, Fox Sports Detroit announced that he was fired after being told they weren't satisfied with ratings. [6] [7] On February 14, 2019, it was announced Murphy returned to the team on Fox Sports Detroit in the same capacity for the rest of the 2018–19 season, joining Chris Osgood. [8]

Awards and achievements

NHL records

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1977–78 Seneca Nationals MetJHL 3610203025
1978–79 Peterborough Petes OMJHL 66621278219191042
1978–79 Peterborough Petes MC 50228
1979–80 Peterborough PetesOMJHL6821688988144131720
1979–80 Peterborough PetesMC51674
1980–81 Los Angeles Kings NHL 801660767943032
1981–82 Los Angeles KingsNHL792244669510281012
1982–83 Los Angeles KingsNHL7714486281
1983–84 Los Angeles KingsNHL60330
1983–84 Washington Capitals NHL721333465080336
1984–85 Washington CapitalsNHL791442565152350
1985–86 Washington CapitalsNHL782144655091566
1986–87 Washington CapitalsNHL802358813972246
1987–88 Washington CapitalsNHL7985361721344833
1988–89 Washington CapitalsNHL657293670
1988–89 Minnesota North Stars NHL1346101250228
1989–90 Minnesota North StarsNHL7710586844712331
1990–91 Minnesota North StarsNHL314111538
1990–91 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL445232830235182344
1991–92 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL7721567748216101619
1992–93 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL8322638573122111310
1993–94 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL841756734460550
1994–95 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL481325381812213150
1995–96 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL821249613460224
1996–97 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL697323920
1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL1224602029118
1997–98 Detroit Red WingsNHL821141523722312152
1998–99 Detroit Red WingsNHL8010425242100228
1999–2000 Detroit Red WingsNHL811030404592352
2000–01 Detroit Red WingsNHL57219211260110
NHL totals1,6152889291,2171,08421537115152201

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1980 Canada WJC 51014
1985 Canada WC 82684
1987 CanadaWC60334
1987 Canada CC 81674
1991 CanadaCC80110
2000 CanadaWC30000
Junior totals51014
Senior totals333161912

See also

References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  2. Wharnsby, Tim (November 9, 2004). "Three of the greatest defencemen". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 12, 2018. Only Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils has played more games as a defenceman, 1,635, than Murphy's 1,615.
  3. Murphy at Legends of Hockey/HHOF.
  4. Masisak, Corey (April 19, 2013). "8 Debate: Selanne ranks as all-time greatest No. 8". NHL.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  5. Malik, George (February 28, 2008). "Mickey Redmond says he's doing well, though he'll have to endure chemotherapy". mlive. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  6. Lepore, Steve (March 23, 2013). "FS Detroit fires Larry Murphy, citing 'ratings'". SBNation.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  7. Jr, Dave Bartkowiak (March 23, 2013). "Report: Fox Sports Detroit fires Red Wings analyst Larry Murphy". WDIV. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. Jr, Dave Bartkowiak (February 14, 2019). "Larry Murphy returns to Red Wings broadcast team, replaces Darren Eliot". WDIV. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
Preceded by Los Angeles Kings first round draft pick
1980
Succeeded by