That night in June 1986 at the old Montreal Forum, Joe Murphy was on top of the world.

The big right winger had just been picked first overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings.

Now, 32 years later, Murphy’s life is very different from his 15 years in the NHL where he earned more than $13 million.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Murphy is now living rough on the streets of Kenora and battling mental illness.

The portrait painted is of a balding man, who uses a bungee cord to keep his pants up and goes around barefoot wearing a black winter coat with a hole in it.

Murphy told the Free Press that everything changed for him when he started getting concussions.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “But I love my life and this place. I’m in and out at times. I’m feeling a little better.”

And then there are the drugs. He admitted to using crystal meth.

But Murphy is nothing if not stubborn and won’t seek treatment for the mental illness that plagues his life.

“I’ve had some depression and I’ve had some anxiety,” Murphy said.

“I think it’s a combination of things that have happened to me. Maybe, a brain injury from a concussion, for sure, and from some other things that have happened to me in my life, and I think it’s affected me emotionally with anger.”

He added: “I’ve gotten very good. … The anger is a sin, and in the temple, Christ displayed how he got rid of the anger and how you cannot sustain the anger.”

Murphy may be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) that has become a bitter reality for modern athletes.

CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head and symptoms include depression, memory loss, emotional instability, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.

It’s a long way from that night at the Forum.

“My grandfather came to the draft,” he said. “It was just a big deal for me. They watched a lot of games, my grandpa and grandma.”

He added: “It brings back memories of things going on, and how fast it goes. … Went to world juniors and got a silver medal. Back to Michigan State and we won the NCAA championship that year, too.”

Murphy landed in Kenora after getting in a fight in Sioux Lookout and being charged. His court appearance was in Kenora.

“This is how I got here,” Murphy said. “This is the reason I’m here. I was arrested there, got sent to prison here, spent a little time, got out and I didn’t know where I was.”

But now there may be some hope.

A source told TSN that officials who administer the NHL/NHLPA Emergency Assistance Fund have agreed to pay for a room for Murphy in a local motel.

The room is paid for until the end of October.

Now, winter is coming and Murphy told the Free Press he has to get inside.

“I have to get into a shelter or I’ll freeze to death,” he said.