Name: Connor Murphy
Position: Center
Birthday: 1996-04-02 (Age 19)
2014-15 Team: Chicago Steel (USHL)
2014-15 Stats:
GP | G | A | Points | PIM |
60 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 38 |
Measurables: 5'10, 174 lbs
Final Rankings:
Did not qualify for final NHL Central Scouting rankings.
The Skinny
Murphy has won multiple awards and is an all-around solid player for his age. While there was an outside chance of him getting drafted last year, he was ultimately passed over and relegated to making the jump to the USHL after outgrowing the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). To give you an idea, he recorded 96 points in only 49 games in 2013-14 with the Caledonia Corvairs as an assistant captain.
Connor Murphy is by no means a flashy player, but he is always in the right place and happens to work well with skilled wingers. He's not at the point where he will score a ton of goals, but he's good at making that initial play to set up a scoring chance, with great vision for passing lanes.
He is a tad undersized for his age and will bulk up in time to join the Wolverines in 2014-15.
Draft Prediction
Unfortunately, Murphy's transition from the GOJHL to the USHL proved to be harsh on him, and his numbers and draft stock took a beating to the death.
"The first time I saw him, he was everywhere, always on the puck and making plays," said Joe Wolke (MnBJoe). "At the end of the year, he was worn out. Half of the time he didn't impact the play, and he skated to the bench looking broken at the end of his shift."
There's a chance that he could be drafted in 2016 provided that he has a good year in Ann Arbor, but as of right now Connor Murphy will be on the outside looking in at the 2015 NHL Draft. His stock was a lot higher in 2014, but as of now it seems as if there are less benefits to reap.