Know a Rookie: Ryan Murphy

There doesn’t seem to be much doubt that Ryan Murphy will be an effective NHL player – it’s just a matter of how soon.

The 20-year-old defenseman, who Carolina chose with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft, brings a unique and coveted skill set to the table. Due to his skating, hard shot from the point and offensive awareness, he seems destined to score points and run power plays for a long time.

Even so, he remains a candidate to spend some time in the AHL during what will be his upcoming rookie season, simply due to the amount of competition he’ll face for a starting job in Carolina and the subsequent argument against rushing him along.

For his part, Murphy seems prepared for either scenario.

“Coming into this year I’m still eligible in junior but I don’t think I’ll be back there,” he said following a practice at last week’s Hurricanes development camp. “I’ll be in Carolina or Charlotte, but either way I’ll be happy, do my best to get better every day and eventually try to earn my spot on the big club.”

With the Hurricanes seeming to have six established defensemen at their disposal for next season in Justin Faulk, Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison, Mike Komisarek, Joni Pitkanen and Andrej Sekera, Murphy could have a tough time cracking that group if all are healthy. However, the possibility that the team could carry as many as eight on its roster could be good news for Murphy and former Checkers teammate Brett Bellemore, each of whom fills something of a specialized role.

If there does end up being a logjam at the position, due to his age and the fact that he’s still developing, it’s unlikely that the Hurricanes would allow Murphy to sit for very long. Even Faulk, already a star defenseman at age 21 and a serious candidate to represent the United States at the upcoming Winter Olympics, spent some time in the AHL during such circumstances before going on to make the NHL’s All-Rookie team that same season.

If Murphy falls into that same boat, the Checkers will enjoy him while they can. Though the team is expecting to have a nice mix of experience and promising rookies who can play in different situations, when it comes to creating offense from the blue line, Murphy is in a class by himself.

“He showed last year that he’s very capable of running a power play,” said Checkers coach Jeff Daniels, who used Murphy extensively during an eight-game stretch following the conclusion of his junior season in Kitchener. “He’s great at creating offense, can make a great first pass out of the zone and just those little things that are tough to teach, he has a knack for doing those things.

In those eight games with the Checkers, including all five during the postseason, Murphy registered a total of four assists.

“I think you saw glimpses last year of what he’s capable of doing,” said Daniels. “He takes the puck behind the net and all of the sudden he’s at the other blue line and then you’re thinking offense. (He’ll be) a nice option to have if it falls that way.”

The experience of already playing some pro games last season, both with Carolina and Charlotte, should help ease his transition to either club.

“I don’t think there was that big of an adjustment for him,” said Daniels. “He’s a kid that had played a lot of big games in the World Juniors, on a good team in Kitchener and for a few games in Carolina. He’s used to the spotlight. He’s a kid that likes to play and is capable of playing at any level.”

As far as Murphy is concerned, that level will be the highest level.

“I’m a confident kid and that’s the way I have to be to play my game,” he said. “Expectations are a good thing. I like to fulfill them or maybe even go past them, and that’s what I’m going to try to do this year.”