Another depth signing for the Red Wings on free agency day:
Ryan Murphy two-way with DET
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 28, 2021
We don’t have additional details for the length or compensation as of right now, but the term “two-way” for a 28-year old is doing all the necessary work for us.
For clarification, a two-way contract means Murphy will be paid less at the AHL level than at the NHL level. He will still be eligible for waivers.
Murphy is a former 12th overall pick of the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s bounced from them to Minnesota and New Jersey but hasn’t played any of his 175 total NHL games since the 2018-19 season, which is the last time he had an NHL contract.
Murphy played all of 2019-20 in the KHL and returned to North America with the Silver Knights in the AHL last season.
Overall, this signing is about the fact that Brian Lashoff and Dylan McIlrath are both free agents and the Griffins need help. If he’s able to put it all together and live up to his draft pedigree at age 28, I’ll be thrilled beyond words, but I’m not going to suggest anybody expect that of him.
