Ryan Murphy

History

2009-10: Ryan Murphy skated in 62 games for the Kitchener Rangers as a 16-year-old OHL rookie. He was second amongst Kitchener defensemen with 39 points; scoring 6 goals with 33 assists and was minus-three with 22 penalty minutes. Kitchener finished second in the Midwest Division and reached the Western Conference finals in the playoffs. Murphy scored 5 goals with 12 assists and was minus-two in 20 playoff games.

2010-11: Murphy was the OHL's second-leading scorer amongst defensemen, trailing only Windsor's Ryan Ellis (NSH), in his second season with the Kitchener Rangers. He scored 26 goals with 53 assists and was plus-22 with 36 penalty minutes in 63 games. Kitchener finished second to OHL champion Owen Sound in the Midwest Division but lost a first round playoff series to Plymouth. Murphy had 2 goals with 9 assists and was plus-one in the seven game series. Murphy was the leading scorer for fourth-place Canada at the 2011 U18 World Junior Championship; scoring 4 goals with 9 assists and finishing plus-two in seven games. Ranked ninth amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings, he was selected by the Hurricanes in the first round (12th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Murphy attended camp with the Hurricanes and signed an entry-level three-year contract with Carolina in September before returning to Kitchener for his third OHL season. He bounced back after missing time during the year with concussion issues and was one of the OHL's top offensive defensemen; particularly in the playoffs. In 49 regular season games he scored 11 goals with 43 assists and was plus-14 with 30 penalty minutes. Kitchener finished second in the Midwest Division and lost to eventual OHL champion London in the Western Conference finals. Murphy scored 2 goals with 20 assists in 16 playoff games and was minus-two with 12 penalty minutes.

Future

Murphy is likely in his final OHL season as a member of the Kitchener Rangers. He should turn pro in 2013-14.