The Hockey Legacy of Larry Murphy
Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Murphy first laced up skates on frozen ponds where he developed an uncanny ability to read plays before they unfolded. His junior career with the Peterborough Petes was a masterclass in two-way defense, culminating in being drafted 4th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 1980—a pick that would reshape three franchises. Rookies rarely quarterback power plays, but Murphy’s 76-point debut season announced a new era of offensive defensemen.
Murphy’s career crescendoed in the early 1990s with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where his seamless transition game became the secret weapon of Mario Lemieux’s high-flying squad. The 1991 Stanley Cup run showcased his genius: a 23-point playoff performance capped by a mesmerizing assist on Ron Francis’ Cup-clinching goal against Minnesota. Three years later in Detroit, his veteran savvy helped mentor a young Nicklas Lidström while anchoring the ‘Russian Five’ era—his no-look stretch passes becoming as iconic as the Winged Wheel itself.
Post-retirement, Murphy’s influence lingered in the DNA of every puck-moving defenseman from Duncan Keith to Cale Makar. His 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech—delivered with characteristic humility—revealed how he studied chess strategies to anticipate plays. Today, coaches still use clips of his 1997 playoff shift against Colorado, where he broke three forechecks in 45 seconds without breaking stride.
- The 1987 Canada Cup: Murphy’s coast-to-coast goal against Czechoslovakia—dangling through four defenders—became the tournament’s most replayed highlight
- 1,000th Point Milestone: Achieved in 1997 with a signature slap-pass deflection, making him just the second defenseman to reach the mark
- The ‘Murphy Deke’: His patented fake-slapshot-to-backhand move that fooled goalies in 11 consecutive seasons
- 1998 Stanley Cup: At 37, he logged 28 minutes in Game 4 against Washington while battling food poisoning
- Jersey Retirement: The Penguins honored his #55 in 2021 with a video tribute featuring Lemieux calling him ‘the smartest player I ever shared ice with’
- Broadcasting Career: His analytical breakdowns on Hockey Night in Canada introduced new stats like ‘secondary assist chains’