Lawrence Thomas Murphy (born March 8, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played over 20 years in the National Hockey League, suiting up for the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings. A durable player lauded for his perseverance and longevity with offensive capabilities, Murphy set the rookie record the most points scored by a defenceman with 76 for the Kings in 1981. He was traded in 1983 to the Capitals, where he had four 50-point seasons. He was traded late in the 1989 deadline to the North Stars, where he played until being traded to the Penguins in late 1990 to the Penguins, where he became a mainstay of durability. In the playoffs that year, he had 23 points with 18 assists as the Penguins won their first Cup in 1991; he had 16 assists in the next Cup win in 1992. A series of trades to led him to Detroit in 1997, where he played a key role in defense as the team won consecutive Stanley cups in 1997 and 1998.
Murphy retired in 2001 after playing 1,615 games, which was the most played by a defenceman at the time; his 1,216 points rank among the highest at the position. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
He currently serves as a studio analyst and fill-in color commentator during away games for the Red Wings on Bally Sports Detroit and coaches the 3ICE team in Minnesota.
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Playing career
As a youth, Murphy played in the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Shopsy's minor ice hockey team. Murphy played junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes, where he won a Memorial Cup in 1979. The Petes also reached the championship game the following year, but lost in overtime. He represented Canada at the 1980 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships prior to being drafted 4th overall in the 1980 NHL entry draft by the Los Angeles Kings. In the 1980–81 NHL season, he set National Hockey League records for most assists and points by a rookie defenceman, with 60 and 76 respectively; it is still the record for a rookie playing an entire season as a defenseman. Murphy finished second in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting for his rookie play to Peter Stastny. On October 18, 1983, the Kings traded him to the Washington Capitals for defenceman Brian Engblom and winger Ken Houston early in the 1983–84 season. Each team were equally struggling at the time of the trade, while Murphy bristled at the treatment he received in salary arbitration and Kings coach Don Perry and team GM George Maguire equally stating their unhappiness with Murphy's attitude and play that led to a trade with Washington, who had desired him for two years. The trade ultimately did not work out in the Kings' favor long-term because of Murphy's prolonged success in the league.
Murphy set a franchise record in game one of the first round matchup against the New York Islanders with the fastest two goals scored by a Capitals player in a playoff game, doing so sixteen seconds apart from each other in game one. Mike Gartner scored less than two minutes later to give the Capitals three goals in the span of 2:09 that also set the record for fastest three goals in franchise history and both records still stand. Murphy had his peak in goals in the 1986–87 campaign with 23 goals to go along with 58 assists; he finished third place in voting for the Norris Trophy. Later that year, Murphy was a key member of Canada's championship team in the Canada Cup. His six assists tied teammate Ray Bourque for tops in the tournament among defencemen, which included Mario Lemieux's overtime goal in game two (which Murphy later called the best game he ever played in) of the Final against the Soviet Union. He then scored a goal and two assists in the decisive third game, and was also used as a decoy by Wayne Gretzky on Lemieux's tournament winner. On March 7, 1989, Murphy, alongside Mike Gartner, was traded by the Capitals to the Minnesota North Stars for Dino Ciccarelli and Bob Rouse, with Capitals GM David Poile calling it a move to change the team's lack of success at playoff time, particularly with the struggling power play. In Murphy's one full season with the North Stars in 1989-90, he had 58 assists with 10 goals while finishing with a plus-minus of -13.
Broadcasting and coaching
He was an alternate color commentator for the Detroit Red Wings during West Coast road trips on Fox Sports Detroit, filling-in for Mickey Redmond. From 2003 to 2006, he shared this duty with former teammate Pat Verbeek. However, following the 2005–06 NHL season, Verbeek left the job as broadcaster to become a scout for the Red Wings, and Murphy took over full-time on west coast road trips. Also in 2006, Murphy started contributing as a studio analyst on pregame, postgame, and intermissions in which he does not broadcast. In the 2007–08 season, Murphy began serving as a "Between-the-Benches" reporter for Fox Sports Detroit when Mickey Redmond was broadcasting home games and filled in for him when he had surgery to remove a tumor on his lung. He also made occasional appearances on the NHL Network's nightly hockey highlight show, NHL on the Fly. In March 2013, Fox Sports Detroit announced that he was fired after being told they weren't satisfied with ratings. On February 14, 2019, it was announced Murphy returned to the team on Fox Sports Detroit in the same capacity for the rest of the 2018–19 season, joining Chris Osgood.
In 2022, he was approached by Craig Patrick about coaching in 3ICE, the newly created three-on-three ice hockey league about being a head coach. He became head coach of 3ICE Minnesota, which plays in the NHL offseason.
On August 20, 2026, Murphy was select alongside Jim Rutherford, Jack McGregor, & Marc-Andre Fleury for induction into the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on November 14th before the Penguins play against the Ottawa Senators.
Awards and achievements
Member of four Stanley Cup winning teams: 1991 and 1992 (Pittsburgh), 1997, 1998 (Detroit)
Selected to three NHL All-Star Games: 1994, 1996, 1999
Selected to three NHL second All-Star teams: 1987, 1993, 1995
Inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (2004)
3ICE Eddie Johnston Coach of the Year Award: 2023
NHL records
Most points in a single season by a rookie defenceman: 76 in 1980–81 season
Most assists in a single season by a rookie defenceman: 60 in 1980–81 season
Most assists by a defenceman in a Stanley Cup Final: 9 (1991)