• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
CHL

2013 World Juniors: Will Ryan Murphy Finally Crack Canada’s Roster?

By David OConnor November 30th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Ryan Murphy (Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

Getting cut from any competitive team is disappointing. Hearing the same disappointing words of rejection in back-to-back years flat-out sucks.

Ryan Murphy has felt that pain before. With the 2013 World Junior Championships approaching, he’s hoping he won’t have to listen to those words again.

A first-round selection of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2011, Murphy was a somewhat unexpected cut off last year’s Canadian team. Most members of the media felt his smooth-skating, offensive style would land him a spot on the final roster.

“Life goes on; it’s not the end of the world. I still have another year to crack the team,” said Murphy after being cut last year.

That time is now, and Murphy is well aware of the pressure he’s facing to not only make the final roster, but to perform well in the tournament.

“I think the first word that comes to mind is disappointed,” Kitchener Rangers head coach and general manager Steve Spott told the Waterloo Region Record after learning Murphy wasn’t going to make it last season.

Fortunately for Murphy, he has a familiar face on his side this time around: Spott will be Canada’s head coach for the upcoming tournament in Ufa, Russia.

Nepotism screams aloud at Murphy. While it’s inevitable that Spott will have a hard time sending him back to Kitchener, are all the cries of favoritism justified?

There’s no clear answer to the question; it all comes to down to the pros and cons of Murphy’s game.

Ryan Murphy (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Skating and mobility are his obvious strengths. Running powerplays and breaking out of his own zone are others.

Concerns arise when discussing his defensive effectiveness and responsibility. It’s not as though they’re horrible; from a grand perspective, there has to be a reason Spott gives Murphy as much as time as he gets. It can’t all be because of offensive talent.

“We need guys who can carry the puck out of trouble, move the puck, guys that are very strong defensively in their own end,” said Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada’s head scout, on what the team is looking for.

Murphy knows his role on Canada’s final team won’t be to go out and score goals. The NHL lockout will be providing Canada with plenty of offensive talent up front.

Most often, defencemen who make Canada’s final 22-man roster for the World Juniors are the best of the best. There normally aren’t too many who don’t have a decent shot at making the National Hockey League.

These blueliners don’t usually put on the Canadian sweater because they’re expected to lead the team in points. Responsibility in their own end comes first, and Murphy’s well aware of that. But he also knows he’s certainly capable of playing that role of defensive stability.

Murphy hasn’t had a great season so far with the Rangers. Expectations were high, and he hasn’t been able to meet them as of yet. He’s Kitchener’s captain this season, too, and that has placed even more weight upon his shoulders.

Coming into his third selection camp, Murphy intends to stick to his strengths and hope for the best.

Truth be told, his chances of making the team are pretty good.

“I’m just going to go out there and show them what I’m trying to show them in the league and my own style of game, and hopefully things work out for me.”

_____________________________________________

Follow @DavidOConnor95

  • Tags
  • 2013 WJHC
  • Kitchener Rangers
  • Ryan Murphy
  • Steve Spott
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 25th 12:05 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins’ Offense Takes a Step Forward in the Right Direction

Jan 25th 11:55 AM
NHL Rumors

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Flyers, Canucks, Jets Drove Laine Out, More

Jan 25th 11:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Vanecek Playing His Way Into Samsonov’s Starting Role

Jan 25th 11:25 AM
All-Star Weekend

5 Oilers You Didn’t Know Were All-Stars

Jan 25th 11:15 AM
Column

Wild Weekly: A Pair of Series Splits Against Ducks & Sharks

Jan 25th 11:05 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

3 Marlies Players to Watch This Season

Jan 25th 10:45 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers Facing Conundrum With DeAngelo

Jan 25th 10:35 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Shootouts Highlighted the Weekend Action

Jan 25th 10:25 AM
Anaheim Ducks

3 Takeaways From Ducks’ Series Against the Avalanche

Jan 25th 10:15 AM
San Jose Sharks

3 Takeaways From Sharks’ First Series With Wild

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information