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20 NHL Draft Prospects In 20 Days - Ryan Murray

June 4, 2012, 8:08 AM ET [8 Comments]
Eric Smith
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Up until the draft I will be putting out 20 NHL Draft Prospects in 20 days. I will be certain to cover all the top guys but also some players that can be had in later rounds. I will end up with a mock draft the day before the draft. Hope you enjoy.

When a player is so smooth and plays the games in a way that looks effortless along with little to no mistakes and he plays defense, it's easy for people to forget how good he is. Ryan Murray is that kind of player.

NHL Central Scouting's B.J. MacDonald agrees, "I think Murray is more like a [Scott] Niedermayer; he just does everything under the radar and so smooth you hardly notice it. His skating is probably the best in the [WHL], but you don't really notice that so much because you almost take it for granted he's been there for three years. He never gets out of position and I've never seen him lose a one-on-one battle. He's always, defensively, in the right spots. He just does everything so seamlessly that he reminds me of Niedermayer only because he does everything so well at such a high level and after a while, you don't even notice it."

Coaches won't miss it though as they all crave for a blue liner that can play both ways as well as Murray does and brings unique leadership skills that is hard to find.

In the 2010/2011 season, Murray was named the youngest captain in the history of the Everett Silvertips at 17 years of age. He then went on to have an outstanding season scoring 46 points in 70 games but really turned it on late by scoring 33 points in the last 36 contests as the Silvertips made a late push to make the playoffs.

This year Murray fought with a high ankle sprain that he suffered early in the season and limited his season to 46 games but was still able to lead all their defenseman with 31 points and again pushing the Silvertips into the postseason where he scored five points in their four games that included three goals.

David Burstyn, McKeen's Director of Scouting, makes it clear what you will get from Murray that won't show up on a stat sheet.

“Ryan Murray oozes character and has a plethora of leadership skills as he has been the captain of each of his teams since he was 10 years old, excluding this year’s WJC,” Burstyn said. “Murray was brilliant in the finals weeks of the season to help Everett get into the playoffs and he showcased an offensive dimension not yet seen before in their opening round playoff loss to Tri-City. A breathe-taking skater equipped with a 360 degree turning range and glossy pivots, he has modest size to defend however it is his game reading ability and hockey sense that makes him stand out. Murray, laboured through an injury ravaged season due to a high ankle sprain but possesses a strong two-way game and more importantly has the maturity to be able to step into the NHL next season”.

Murray is the one prospect that most experts believe that is a “for sure” NHL player in his first year which is highly unusual for defense prospects. The reason is his feel for the game as well as how he is a positional defenseman instead of overpowering opponents. It's not to say that the 6'1” 205 pounder is a fly weight but depends on both is body and stick position to be effective on the defensive end of the ice.



Murray is so good that it's not out the realm of possibility that the Oilers would take him first overall as he fits their need far more than Nail Yakupov. Rumors have swirled almost from the time that the Oilers won the draft lottery that they want to trade out of the top pick with the Columbus Blue Jackets and take Murray second overall but if they can't pull off the trade, they may take him first overall anyway.

“He is such a smart steady player,” Mark Edwards, Director of Scouting for HockeyProspect.com. “I’ll be very interested to see what the Oilers do in that number one overall position.”

Oilers team president Kevin Lowe did little to hide his love for the game of Murray as he stated on 630 CHED in Edmonton .

“He's played remarkably well for a young fellow and I've talked to the other GMs and scouts that are here [at the World Championships] and they all agree that he's going to play in the National Hockey League next year, no question," Lowe said.

”There's no surprise why Central Scouting has him rated second. He's the top player. And often with the top players, or occasionally with the top players, they're not ready to play in the National Hockey League, but I don't question his readiness for next year.”

Obviously everyone has focused in on the “He's the top player” part of the quote but even before Lowe made the statement, there was little doubt that Murray will hear his named call at the NHL entry draft very early.
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