PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – To tell you how much fun Larry Murphy has had entering the Penguins Hall of Fame, he said the honorary dinner Friday night was so much fun, it felt like he just got there and it was time to go home.
Murphy only spent part of five seasons with the Pens, but what success they had. Traded from Minnesota in 1990, Murphy had 28 points in 44 games. Then averaged a point-per-game as a defenseman as the Pens won the Stanley Cup and Murphy was a playoff best plus 17. The next season 77 points in 77 games and six goals in the playoffs for another championship.
Overall during his time in Pittsburgh, 336 regular season games with 301 points (78 goals), and another 72 points in 74 playoff games.
“When you win a Stanley Cup, I don’t know if it’s cliché, you walk forever, you are binded forever,” Murphy said.
Murphy joins Mario Lemieux, Mark Recchi, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Joe Mullen, Ulf Samuelsson and Kevin Stevens along with head coaches Scotty Bowman and Bob Johnson and GM Craig Patrick.
“To be singled out like this is very exciting and is something I will cherish forever. It’s quite an honor,” Murphy said. “You are on that (Hall of Fame) wall forever.”
Cup memory
You could imagine the whirlwind for Murphy. Growing up in Ontario, the Pens were known for losing more than winning. To be a part of that franchise winning the Stanley Cup was special.
“The reaction of the City of Pittsburgh,” Murphy said of the indelible image of playing here. “It was the first Cup for this franchise. I will never forget the airport when we arrived. I don’t know what time we got back from Minnesota, but it was definitely in the AM. You really got a sense, right then and there, how much that meant to the city.”
“It’s an honor, you are a part of that. One of those 20-some guys that did what was necessary in order for that to happen. I take a lot of pride in that.”
LISTEN to Larry Murphy discuss getting into Penguins Hall of Fame
LISTEN to Larry Murphy discuss getting into Penguins Hall of Fame
