Former NHL 1st-rounder Ryan Murphy says North American hockey let him down; 'very frustrating'

Following a two-year stint in the AHL, defenceman Ryan Murphy is back in Russia playing for Ufa Salavat. Murphy, drafted 15th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2011, was a highly-touted prospect who could never seem to get a firm grip on a spot in the lineup on an NHL team. After Carolina, he played for Minnesota and one game with New Jersey before heading to Russia for his first stint in the KHL. In 2020, he signed in the AHL in an attempt to get back to North America, but things didn't work out. In an interview with Championat.com, Murphy explained what he felt went wrong.

"Two years ago I went back there (North America), I decided to take one last shot. Decided I was going to put everything down for one season and see what happened next," said Murphy.

"Signed a contract in the Vegas system, showed great hockey. I was voted best defenseman in the AHL, made the first All-Star team and got nothing for it! It was very frustrating," he added.

"I was surprised because I was finally dominating one of the best leagues in the world, what else could I do? Decided I was going to play one more year. Went to Detroit, we didn't have the best team, but I played great. I was the top scorer among defensemen, top 10 scorers, then I got hurt. I missed the rest of the season, but the club still had 50 games to call me up to the lineup. I didn't understand what was going on. It was the last nail in the coffin, I realized - enough is enough. I'd rather go to a league where the main thing is to win and play those who are better. Where you don't get pushed around for the sake of developing young guys who just might become good players in the future. I think North American hockey has let me down. In some ways, they've lost their way there in terms of how to run clubs."

Asked why he felt he didn't get the chance he deserved, Murphy, now 29, said the game in Canada and the US has changed over the last few years. Teams are only concerned with 18 and 19 year old players and their development.

"One phrase I remember being told in the AHL was, 'wins are important, but not to the detriment of player development.' That is, they want to win, but if it hinders youth development, they don't care," said Murphy. "That made me think about it. If we're not playing to win, then what's the point? I won't speak for the NHL, I haven't played there in a long time, but in the AHL it was. Somebody else was called up, but not me."

Murphy was asked if he ever questioned why he wasn't called up. He insisted that he did, but no one would give him a clear answer."

"The last two teams in the AHL told me to my face that they were waiting for me to come back, and in the summer they said we don't need you anymore," said Murphy. "It wasn't fair. And I'm not the only one, many players have gone through this. My advice to these players is to leave, come here, to the KHL, where the main thing is winning. I think more and more players will begin to understand this."

"We were brainwashed as kids into thinking the NHL was the only option. But there are so many leagues in the world where you can play and make a living, and the KHL is the best after the NHL."

Murphy mentioned in the interview that he's now living with Josh Ho-Sang in Ufa, another highly-touted prospect who could not find a regular NHL spot and ended up signing in Russia.

Source: Championat.com

MUST READ

1 hour ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Don Cherry Brutally Calls Out Darnell Nurse for Actions Leading to Ryan Reaves' Suspension

1 hour ago  |  By Tyler Ball Columbus Blue Jackets Linked in Trade to 75-Point Scorer by NHL Writer

13 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Unforeseen Events Nearly Force Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Hockey Club Game to be Postponed

15 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks NHL Department of Player Safety Makes Official Ruling On Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes

16 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Canadian Team Unexpectedly Places 6-Foot-3 Enforcer on the NHL Waiver Wire

16 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Elliotte Friedman Hints at Trade of 30 Million Dollar Defenseman to Canadian Team

19 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch 900-Game NHL Veteran Likely to Retire After Refusing to Sign With Canadian Team

20 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Addresses Struggling Player Nick Robertson in New Interview

MORE STORIES