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Hurricanes director of amateur scouting: Murphy ready to try and win NHL job

Ryan Murphy

12th overall pick Ryan Murphy by the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during day one of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Xcel Energy Center on June 24, 2011 in St Paul, Minnesota. (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered.) (June 23, 2011 - Source: Nick Laham/Getty Images North America)

Carolina’s defense left something to be desired last season, but at the same time, Justin Faulk had a great rookie season and might represent part of the long-term solution.

Top-tier prospect Ryan Murphy also represents a big part of the Hurricanes’ long-term plan, but will he be ready to make the jump to the NHL next season? And, if he is, will he be a significant part of the solution?

Carolina’s director of amateur scouting Tony MacDonald recently talked to the NHL.com about Murphy.

“I think he’s ready for the challenge of stepping up and trying to win a job at the [professional level],” MacDonald said. “He’s the same type of player as an Erik Karlsson in Ottawa. I don’t want to compare the two, but he plays the same type of game that Karlsson plays … he’s a dynamic defenseman who makes a lot of things happen off the rush. He is an excellent quarterback on the power play, so the offensive skill he brings to the table is one reason we feel he might be ready to make a contribution.”

His offensive abilities have already been showcased at the OHL level. He had 54 points in 49 games with the Kitchener Rangers last season and 79 points in 63 contests in 2010-11.

Converting on power plays was certainly an area Carolina struggled with last season, but Joni Pitkanen missed most of the season and they added Joe Corvo over the summer. The two of them, complemented by Jamie McBain and Faulk should provide the Hurricanes with a reasonable group of defensemen that can help with the man advantage.

That’s not an argument against Murphy joining their roster in 2012-13. If he plays with Carolina next season, he’ll be attempting to make the jump straight from the OHL to the NHL and it’s probably too much to hope for that he can pull off that transition while being the team’s primary power-play quarterback. It might be to his benefit if he can be eased into the lineup.

So maybe Murphy will be part of the Hurricanes’ opening game roster and it wouldn’t be shocking if he ends up having a great career, but the stage doesn’t seem to be set for him to be a major part of the Hurricanes’ short-term solution.