Don Murdoch

For other people named Don Murdoch, see Don Murdoch (disambiguation).
Don Murdoch
Born (1956-10-25) October 25, 1956 (age 68)
Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Edmonton Oilers
Detroit Red Wings
NHL draft 6th overall, 1976
New York Rangers
WHA draft 12th overall, 1976
Cincinnati Stingers
Playing career 1976–1986

Donald Walter Murdoch (born October 25, 1956) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Detroit Red Wings between 1976 and 1982. He was featured in the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals, playing with the Rangers.

Playing career

After a standout junior career with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Murdoch was selected 6th overall in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Rangers and joined the team that year as a 20-year-old. He scored 56 points in 59 games his rookie season, including a Rangers rookie record of 32 goals, and finished as runner-up for the Calder Trophy for best rookie.[1][2] On October 12, 1976, Murdoch tied Howie Meeker's record for most goals in one game by a rookie with 5,[2] against the Minnesota North Stars.[3] A torn Achilles tendon ended his season in February.

On August 12, 1977, Murdoch was caught by customs agents at Toronto's Pearson Airport with 4.5 grams of cocaine stashed in his socks.[4] He was suspended by the league for the entire 1978–79 season (later reduced to 40 games) and later admitted to having a drinking and drug problem.[5][6]

He played 320 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) but never regained the form of his first season, and retired after stops with the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.

After his playing career, Murdoch worked as a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning, under general manager Phil Esposito.

Don is the brother of Bob Murdoch.

Legacy

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Murdoch at No. 99 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1973–74 Vernon Vikings BCHL 45 50 32 82 69 — — — — —
1973–74 Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL 4 1 0 1 9 — — — — —
1974–75 Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL 70 82 59 141 83 5 1 5 6 15
1975–76 Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL 70 88 77 165 202 7 4 3 7 23
1976–77 New York Rangers NHL 59 32 24 56 47 — — — — —
1977–78 New York Rangers NHL 66 27 28 55 41 3 1 3 4 4
1978–79 New York Rangers NHL 40 15 21 36 6 18 7 5 12 12
1979–80 New York Rangers NHL 56 23 19 42 16 — — — — —
1979–80 Edmonton Oilers NHL 10 5 2 7 4 3 2 0 2 0
1980–81 Wichita Wind CHL 22 15 10 25 48 18 17 7 24 24
1980–81 Edmonton Oilers NHL 40 10 9 19 18 — — — — —
1981–82 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 24 11 13 24 24 4 5 0 5 14
1981–82 Detroit Red Wings NHL 49 9 13 22 23 — — — — —
1982–83 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 35 10 12 22 19 — — — — —
1983–84 Montana Magic CHL 17 10 10 20 2 — — — — —
1983–84 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 59 26 20 46 19 — — — — —
1984–85 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 32 18 13 31 4 16 6 3 9 26
1985–86 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 12 4 4 8 0 — — — — —
1985–86 Indianapolis Checkers IHL 11 4 3 7 4 — — — — —
1985–86 Toledo Goaldiggers IHL 37 15 23 38 8 — — — — —
NHL totals 320 121 116 237 155 24 10 8 18 16

Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 14. ISBN 978-0470736197. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Weiner, Evan (13 October 2007). "Murdoch's NHL career was like a comet". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  3. ^ Zipay, Steve (2008). The good, the bad, and the ugly. heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, and gut-wrenching moments in New York Rangers history. Chicago, Ill.: Triumph Books. p. 43. ISBN 978-1572439658. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  4. ^ Vienneau, David. "Hockey Star Faces Cocaine Charge". Toronto Star. No. 18 August 1977. Toronto Star. p. 14. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  5. ^ McRae, Earl (5 January 1979). "Season on ice: Murdoch played a losing game". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  6. ^ Murdoch's biography at Hockey Draft Central
Preceded by New York Rangers first round draft pick
1976 		Succeeded by