Larry Murphy Review!

I was looking through the list of reviews and I didn't see one up for Murphy so I figured I'd write one. I've had him on my team for 200+ games now. Unfortunately I've had his stats reset several times so I cannot list them for you. [https://hutdb.net/17/builder/301086](here is my current team.) Murphy has always been on my first line and played with Redden most of the time. (I just picked up Wilson, I've only had him for about 20 games).

Active Synergies: DR, OJ, 1T, CG, SB, T

Skating 9.5/10

With 93 speed and 94 acceleration Murphy has no problem with keeping up with the fastest wingers down the side boards. His backwards skating is pretty fast and if he isn't going to win the race to the puck he is ALWAYS holding his own right next to the guy agitating him in some way. Murphy is noticeably faster than Redden, Burn, Kieth, and Bucyk just to name a couple of the other guys I've tried on the point. I wouldn't say he is quite as fast as Wilson but what he slightly lacks in speed compared to the fastest players in the game he makes up for in many other categories.

Shooting 9.8/10

I really really wanted to give him the full 10/10 but I could not justify it with his wrist shot. His wrist shot is above average for a D-man but nothing incredibly exceptional. His slap shot on the other hand...oh boy does he have a clapper. With his active Synergies his Slap Shot power and accuracy are both 97 and it shows. One timers, short side slap shots, no angle slap shots this guy can hit them all. I've found that Hero D have generally have dramatically better shots than most other defenseman in the game. Murphy and Wilson are my top scoring D. If you're looking for a strong defenseman with a good shot I highly suggest giving Murphy a shot.

Hands 9/10

He's not the type of player to be pulling off crazy toe drags and walking through two players down the middle. That being said he rarely loses the puck on poke checks and simple one touch dekes. He can stick handle pretty well through traffic but there is a chance he could lose it. He makes hard crisp passes to my wingers out of the zone. One of my better defenseman on the break out because he is strong defensively and can make a solid pass up ice to start the rush.

Checking 10/10

This is where Murphy makes up for any part of his game he is lacking in. Most of the time when he loses a race to the puck I'm not to worried because with his speed he is keeping up with them and you best bad I'm throwing a hard body on the guy with the puck. He can knock down some of the biggest players and he takes checks very well! If Blake or another big guy lays a big body on him he could go down but he's a really tough player! I haven't tried Blake yet so I can't compare but I haven't had any problems at all with Murphy physically.

Defense 9/10

I have yet to find a defenseman that is always in the right place at the right time making the right play and I don't really expect that but I can happily say Murphy comes awfully close. Big body can block a lot of shots. Use him in front of the net and he can clear bodies out. Great at picking up rebounds and like I said earlier usually a great defenseman for that first breakout pass.

All in all I can't compare him to Blake because I haven't tried him. From what I have heard and from playing against Blake I would say they are pretty similar players but I don't know for sure. I picked up Murphy because he was a little cheaper at the time and he has been worth every last coin. I highly suggest him!!