Don Murdoch

Donald Walter Murdoch (born October 25, 1956 in Cranbrook, British Columbia) is a Canadian retired former professional ice hockey player. After a standout junior career with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Murdoch made the New York Rangers as a 20-year-old and had an impressive rookie season, scoring 56 points in 59 games his rookie season, including a Rangers rookie record of 32 goals. On October 12, 1976, Murdoch tied Howie Meeker's record for most goals in one game by a rookie with 5, against the Minnesota North Stars. A torn Achilles tendon ended his season in February.

In the offseason in 1977 after his first season, Murdoch was caught by customs agents in Toronto with 4.5 grams of cocaine stashed in his socks. He was suspended by the league for the entire 197879 season (later reduced to 40 games) and later admitted to having a drinking and drug problem.

He played 320 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) but never regained the form of his first season, and retired after stops with the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.

After his playing career, Murdoch worked as a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning, under general manager Phil Esposito.

Don is the brother of Bob Murdoch.

Legacy

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Murdoch at No. 99 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.

Career statistics

See also
 List of players with 5 or more goals in an NHL game

External links

References

Category:1956 births
Category:Living people
Category:Adirondack Red Wings players
Category:British Columbia Hockey League players
Category:Canadian sportspeople in doping cases
Category:Cincinnati Stingers draft picks
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Doping cases in ice hockey
Category:Edmonton Oilers players
Category:Ice hockey people from British Columbia
Category:Indianapolis Checkers players
Category:Medicine Hat Tigers players
Category:Montana Magic players
Category:Muskegon Lumberjacks players
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:New York Rangers draft picks
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:New York Rangers scouts
Category:Sportspeople from Cranbrook, British Columbia
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning executives
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning scouts
Category:Toledo Goaldiggers players
Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers