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Detroit Red Wings: Solving the Joe Murphy mystery

By Tyler Samson

Manager of the Detroit Red Wings ice hockey team Jacques Demers (left), poses with his team's first round, first place pick, Canadian player Joe Murphy, (second left), team vice president Jim Devellano (second right), and team scout Neil Smith in the NHL Entry Draft at the Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, June 21, 1986. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
Manager of the Detroit Red Wings ice hockey team Jacques Demers (left), poses with his team's first round, first place pick, Canadian player Joe Murphy, (second left), team vice president Jim Devellano (second right), and team scout Neil Smith in the NHL Entry Draft at the Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, June 21, 1986. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /
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On Wednesday, August 22, TSN aired a documentary solving one of the NHL’s biggest mysteries on what happened to former Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Joe Murphy.

A former first overall draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, Stanley Cup winner, and NHL veteran Joe Murphy is finally coming out of the shadows. Ever since he was cut by the Washington Capitals in the 2000-01 season, the NHL community has been wondering what happened to Murphy.

TSN has put that question to rest in their new documentary, Finding Murph, in which they find Murphy homeless, distressed and in need of help in Kenora, Canada.

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He embarked on his NHL career in 1986 when he was drafted first overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Red Wings. The product of Michigan State University did not gel well with them in his four years with the team.  In his stint with the Red Wings, Murphy played 90 games, scored 14 goals, contributed 18 assists and clocked 71 penalty minutes.

Murphy’s hockey career really bolstered during the 1989-90 season when. Midway through the season, the Red Wings traded him to the Edmonton Oilers in part of a six-player deal. With the Oilers, Murphy saw more playing time then he did in Detroit. Therefore, he was able to showcase his offensive capability. Murphy’s hard nose play proved to be a major contribution to the Oilers winning the Stanley Cup in the 1989-90 season.

After three impressive seasons with Edmonton, he bounced around from Chicago, St. Louis, San Jose, Boston and Washington. Ultimately, Murphy’s final NHL career numbers were 779 games played, 223 goals, 295 assists and 810 penalty minutes.

Throughout his NHL journey, news spread that Murphy was an odd guy and not the best teammate. In Boston, he accused players and trainers of tampering with his skates and sticks, all of which his claims were proven wrong.

Not only was he having issues in the locker room, but on the ice as well. It was said that Murphy would routinely curse at Bruins’ head coach Pat Burns as well as question his teammates’ work ethic. Murphy became a liability for the Bruins organization, which ultimately led to Murphy being released by the team in the 1999-00 season.

Washington Capitals’ general manager, George McPhee, took a gamble on Murphy and claimed him off of waivers. His time in Washington was short lived as he got into an altercation outside a club and was immediately sent to the AHL. Joe never reported to the AHL. Instead, he chose to retire.

After his playing career, Murphy pursued a general manager and coaching job for the GMHL Alliston Coyotes.   His time in Alliston was brief as he announced his resignation in the middle of the playoffs after facing numerous allegations in which he ultimately received a Trespass Order.

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In 2018, it was reported that Murphy had settled into the small town of Kenora in Ontario.  On July 6, Murphy did an interview with KenoraOnline in which he discussed his post-concussion symptoms and the failure of the NHL to help him get help.

The TSN documentary about Murphy really spotlighted the struggles he is facing. In his career, he made over $15 million as well as had a wife and daughter. Now he is homeless living in the shrubs of Kenora, divorced and has not seen his daughter in over ten years.

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It is clear that the NHL needs to step in and help their former players. Not only is Murphy in dire need of help, but so are former players like Matt Johnson who is homeless in California suffering from post-concussion symptoms and Johan Franzen who has been getting treatment for his post-concussion problems. These players have given so much for the sport, now it is time for the NHL to give back.

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