Man of the Week: Trevor Murphy

KHL.ru continues its weekly ‘Man of the Week’ column with Trevor Murphy. The Sibir defenseman is among the league’s top scorers and was recently named Best Defenseman of the Month for September.Trevor Murphy has carved a niche for himself as a reliable and offensive-minded defenseman in the league. He always had a knock for points, but this year he has been even more productive than ever, with 17 (3+14) points in 15 games played so far, numbers that put him among the league’s top scorers – that’s uncommon for a defenseman. For his efforts, Murphy has been awarded the Best defenseman honors for September — the first time in his career.Early YearsTrevor Murphy was born on July 17, 1995, in Windsor, Ontario, and his passion for hockey was evident from a young age. He played for the Sun County Panthers AAA, where he showcased his talent alongside future NHL star and Stanley Cup champion Aaron Ekblad. Murphy’s outstanding performance in the 2010-2011 season, where he tallied an impressive 92 points in 59 games, caught the attention of the Peterborough Petes, who selected him in the 3rd round of the OHL Priority Draft.After a trade from Peterborough to his hometown Windsor Spitfires, Murphy continued to excel, earning the assistant captaincy in the 2013-2014 season. His leadership and offensive prowess were on full display as he ranked as the 4th best scoring defenseman in the OHL, amassing 63 points in the next year.Professional Career in North AmericaDespite his success in the OHL, Murphy went undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft. Undeterred, he attended the Nashville Predators’ prospect camp and signed an entry-level contract with the Predators on Sept. 17, 2015. He was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators’ AHL affiliate, where he honed his skills and gained valuable experience.Murphy's hard work paid off when he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes during the 2018 trade deadline. He made his NHL debut on March 24, 2018, against the Florida Panthers and recorded his first NHL goal just two days later in a 4:1 Arizona victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Murphy’s rookie season with the Coyotes saw him split time between the NHL and AHL, where he was among the top defensive contributors for the Tucson Roadrunners with 5 goals from the blueline.Move to the KHLAfter four seasons in North America with limited NHL time, Murphy decided to take his talents abroad. On June 7, 2019, he signed a two-year contract with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL. His time in China was marked by steady improvement, and he collected 8 assists through 17 games before being traded to Ak Bars Kazan near the deadline, on December 4, 2020.Murphy continued to shine in Kazan, registering 8 points through 21 regular-season games and helping the team advance to the Eastern Conference finals. His performance caught the eye of Sibir Novosibirsk, who acquired the defenseman on Aug. 17, 2021, in exchange for monetary compensation.Current Stint with SibirIn his current season in Novosibirsk, Murphy has been a key contributor to the team’s success. His offensive instincts and ability to quarterback the powerplay have made him an invaluable asset. Through the first 10 games of the season, Murphy has tallied 3 goals and 13 points, showcasing his offensive capabilities.Additionally, Murphy was awarded the Best KHL Defenseman for September, finishing the month with 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) in 11 games. He concluded September with a plus-2 differential, registering 31 shots on goal, one hit, nine blocked shots, and two takeaways. Murphy became the first Sibir blueliner to receive the Best Defenseman honors for the month — another testament to his importance to the team.With Sibir currently being the third seed in the Eastern Conference, chances are good for the Novosibirsk side to reach the playoffs. There, Murphy’s play from the blueline will be critical for Sibir — he has already shown that he can contribute even in the postseason.