Mike Murphy

Michael John Murphy (born September 12, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for 13 years for the St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings and has been assistant and head coach in the NHL for the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. Murphy also played for Team Canada, winning a bronze medal in 1978, and coached Team Canada, International Hockey League (IHL). Murphy also worked as the Senior Vice President of the NHL's hockey operations.

Playing career As a youth, he and teammate Peter Sullivan played in the 1963 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey from North York.

In the National Hockey League, he played for the St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings. Murphy was captain of the Los Angeles Kings for 7 years and played in Los Angeles for 10 years. He played for Team Canada at the World Championships in 1978 (bronze medal) and was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 1986 World Championships. Murphy was selected to play in the NHL All-Star game in 1980. His career totals in the NHL are 231 goals, and 318 assists for 556 total points in 831 games played.

Coaching career Upon retiring from hockey with the Los Angeles Kings, he became their head coach. Murphy went on to be assistant coach of the Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, and New York Rangers. Murphy was promoted from assistant coach of the Vancouver Canucks to head coach of their farm team, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). Murphy left Milwaukee for an assistant coach position with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. Murphy was then promoted to be the 24th head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

NHL vice-president As NHL vice-president of hockey operations, Murphy was forced to make a tough call during game three of the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup. Murphy disallowed what was first ruled as a 3-4 goal on the ice for the Vancouver Canucks against Murphy's former team, the Los Angeles Kings. The incident is one of many that has called for greater NHL transparency from the public. The official ruling stated that "Video Review was used to determine whether the puck was kicked into the net by Vancouver's Daniel Sedin with a kicking motion. Upon review, it was determined that the puck was propelled into the net by a kicking motion. This was not a deflection. The direction the puck was moving and the force of the skate were the determining factors in concluding 'no goal'". According to rule 49.2 of the NHL, "A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking player’s skate shall be a legitimate goal as long as no distinct kicking motion is evident." Later, in an interview with CBC Hockey Night in Canada, Murphy admitted that the puck was not kicked in a "distinct kicking motion", as the official NHL rules require, yet Murphy maintained his position on the judgement.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1968–69 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr. 44 16 23 39 53 6 1 4 5 6 1969–70 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr. 54 23 27 50 68 6 7 6 13 16 1970–71 Omaha Knights CHL 59 24 47 71 37 11 4 8 12 17 1971–72 Omaha Knights CHL 8 1 4 5 12 — — — — — 1971–72 St. Louis Blues NHL 63 20 23 43 19 11 2 3 5 6 1972–73 St. Louis Blues NHL 64 18 27 45 48 — — — — — 1972–73 New York Rangers NHL 15 4 4 8 5 10 0 0 0 0 1973–74 New York Rangers NHL 16 2 1 3 0 — — — — — 1973–74 Los Angeles Kings NHL 53 13 16 29 38 5 0 4 4 0 1974–75 Los Angeles Kings NHL 78 30 38 68 44 3 3 0 3 4 1975–76 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 26 42 68 61 9 1 4 5 6 1976–77 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 25 36 61 58 9 4 9 13 4 1977–78 Los Angeles Kings NHL 72 20 36 56 48 2 0 0 0 0 1978–79 Los Angeles Kings NHL 64 16 29 45 38 2 0 1 1 0 1979–80 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 27 22 49 29 4 1 0 1 2 1980–81 Los Angeles Kings NHL 68 16 23 39 54 1 1 0 1 0 1981–82 Los Angeles Kings NHL 28 5 10 15 20 10 2 1 3 32 1982–83 Los Angeles Kings NHL 74 16 11 27 52 — — — — — NHL totals8312383185565146613233654

Coaching record Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T Pts Finish Result LAK 1986–87 38 13 21 4 (70) 4th in Smythe Lost in First Round LAK 1987–88 27 7 16 4 (68) (fired) — TOR 1996–97 82 30 44 8 68 6th in Central Missed playoffs TOR 1997–98 82 30 43 9 69 6th in Central Missed playoffsTotal 229 80 124 27 International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1978 Canada WC 10 1 4 5 16