Connor Murphy
| Birthday: 1993-03-26 | Position: D |
| Eligible for draft: 2011 | Shoots: Right |
| Drafted: 2011 | Height: 6-3 |
| Acquired: 1st round (20th overall), 2011 | Weight: 185 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- B
History
2008-09: Connor Murphy scored 7 goals with 11 assists in 35 games for the Ohio Blue Jackets U16 midget major team.
2009-10: Murphy played for the U.S. NTDP U-17 team and the NTDP squad that played in the USHL. In 8 games for the U-17 team, he scored 1 goal. Murphy registered no points in 2 games for the USHL club. Murphy is the son of former NHL defenseman Gord Murphy.
2010-11: In 9 games for the U.S. NTDP’s USHL team, Murphy scored 3 goals and added 1 assist for 4 points. Murphy played for the USA’s gold medal team at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 3 goals and adding 1 assist for 4 points in 6 games. Murphy has committed to Miami University for the 2011-12 season.
2011-12: After being selected by the Coyotes in the first round (20th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, Murphy backed out of his commitment to play college hockey at Miami, deciding to play junior hockey instead. He signed with Sarnia in July 2011 but his OHL debut with the Sting was delayed when he suffered a knee injury at the U.S. National Team Evaluation Camp that required surgery. Murphy signed a three-year entry-level contract with Phoenix in August 2011. He played his first game for the Sting at the end of November and made an immediate impact,. Murphy scored 8 goals (six on the Sting power play) with 18 assists, and was minus-three with 26 penalty minutes in 35 regular season games. Sarnia finished second in the West Division and in the six-game playoff series with Sarnia Murphy scored once (on the power play) in the six-game playoff series and was minus-two with 2 assists and 6 penalty minutes.
2012-13: Murphy got off to a strong start in his second OHL season with Sarnia before suffering a season-ending knee injury while playing for the USA in the gold medal game of the 2013 World Junior Championship. In 33 OHL games he scored 6 goals with 12 assists and was +14 with 32 penalty minutes. Murphy had 1 assist and was +5 with 2 penalty minutes in seven games at the WJC. The USA defeated Sweden, 3-1, in the gold medal game.
Talent Analysis
A rangy blueliner who is a very mobile skater, Murphy is still growing into his size and high potential. He is a smooth skater who gets around the ice and plays a smart, confident game with and without the puck. Plays with some good physicality and is very effective with a long reach and wing span.
Future
Murphy will begin his AHL career with Portland in 2013-14. Coming from Sarnia as one of the best blueliners in the OHL, Murphy will have his work cut out for him finding his spot in a loaded Phoenix defensive depth chart.
