Murphy was great junior defenceman with the Peterborough Petes before he moved to the NHL. I think he still holds the record for points--and maybe goals too--by a defenceman in his rookie season with the LA Kings.
Leaf fans never took to Murphy. The team was lousy, he was scapegoated by fans and became the target of their frustration. I think his confidence suffered as a result, and his time in Toronto was probably the low point of a HOF career. I am sure he was thrilled to move on to Detroit, and obviously he still had much to offer the Wings.
I like Larry Murphy as a player very much, and consider him underrated despite his election into the HOF--he sort of gets lost in the shuffle when folks discuss contemporary blue liners.
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