The Devils today traded their fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Ryan Murray.
Murray, a 6-feet, 1-inch, 205-pound, 27-year-old native of Regina, Saskatchewan, was the Blue Jackets’ first-round pick (2nd overall) in the 2012 Draft. He has played 347 career NHL games over seven seasons (all with Columbus) and has 15 goals and 95 assists totaling 110 points to go with 104 penalty minutes and a plus-13 plus/minus average. Over his 347 games, he has averaged 20:21 of ice time. All of this information comes from the Devils’ official PR release.
He has participated in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games where he has a goal and two assists (three points) and four PIMs.
The PR release mentioned that Murray, last season, had two goals and seven assists (nine points total) in 27 games played, he averaged 19:57 of ice time in the regular season. In the 2020 playoffs against Toronto Maple Leafs (qualifying round) and Tampa Bay Lightning (first round), he played in nine games and had a goal.
The release also notes that 2018-19 was Murray’s best season to date, as he “set career highs in assists (28), points (29) and plus/minus (+20), while leading the club in average shorthanded time on ice (2:32) in 56 games.”
Devils Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald said: “Ryan is a smart, two-way defenseman who fills a need on the left side of our top four. His poise, defensive acumen and transitional game will pair nicely with our current defensemen on the right side and he will play an important role for us.”
Murray just turned 27 on September 27. He played from 2009-10 to 2012-13 with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League and was the team’s captain “in his last two seasons.” He played 191 WHL games, scoring 22 goals and 99 assists for a total of 121 points. In the WHL playoffs – he played in 20 – he notched six goals and 10 assists totaling 16 points and taking eight PIMs.
Murray played for Canada internationally at the 2016 World Championships (winning a gold medal) and the 2012 World Junior Championship (winning a bronze medal). He also took part in the 2012 and 2018 World Championship where Canada did not medal. He played for Team North America (the team of players from the United States and Canada under-20 if I recall correctly) at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.