CBJ of the Day: Ryan Murray

By William Espy

When a Blue Jackets player, more specifically Ryan Johansen, talks about “Norris” in the locker room it may confuse those who do not follow the team very closely. Ryan Johansen has said in the past that his nickname for Ryan Murray is “Norris”, very simply because he feels that Murray has the potential to be the best defenseman in the NHL. While he is yet to become a household name in the league, that is largely due to his injuries. Statistically, he is the Blue Jackets top defenseman if healthy. Look at this chart:

Murray falls into “top pairing” in nearly every category, the only ones he doesn’t are ones that are affected by his young age, injuries or coaching. When Murray was drafted second overall in the 2012 NHL draft behind Nail Yakupov, the Blue Jackets saw something special in him. Something very special. They weren’t the only ones either. The New York Islanders offered their entire draft class for the 2^nd overall pick in order to get Murray and the Blue Jackets are a team who tend to stress quantity over quality it seems. The trade would be denied almost instantly, the Jackets were set on “their guy” Ryan Murray.

Murray’s NHL career has not gotten off to the start he had hoped for, in the 2013-2014 season he only played 66 games for various reasons. That season, he would post 4 goals and 17 assists for a total of 21 points. Not only would that be impressive for any NHL rookie defenseman, it was also Murray’s first year in professional hockey. He spent no time in the AHL prior to the NHL and it didn’t show at all as he would finish tied for 86^th in the league for defensemen.

Then the injury bug hit. He started the season with a knee injury that would sideline him until the tail-end of January. Then three games after he returned, he reinjured the knee. This time he would be out until March however now he would play every remaining game until the season ender on Long Island which he sat out.

STATUS: UNTOUCHABLE

Jarmo Kekalainen whole-heartedly believes that a healthy Ryan Murray would be the Blue Jackets greatest acquisition this off-season. Murray has said that his knee is now completely healed and he has also been working out a majority of the summer. In order to prevent injury, he has changed up his exercise routine and is patiently waiting to hit the ice in preseason.

2015-2016 PREDICTION:

Now that Norris is healthy again, expect him to have a breakout season. Now may be the time when he shows the world that he has the potential to live up to his nickname.