That career path also had the advantage of having an on-call mentor who appeared in 862 NHL regular-season games and another 53 in the postseason and is now the associate head coach for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' AHL affiliate.

"My father has been big for me, especially the first few years of my career being able to help me with some of the ups and downs and understanding about the process of being a pro player and different growing experiences you're going to have," Connor said. "He stressed the importance of keeping a good head on your shoulders and a good work ethic. I've been really lucky to have tried to follow in his footsteps and learn off the good example he set for me and our family."

The off-ice knowledge of being a professional hockey player that Gord Murphy imparted on his son is often what resonates the most for Connor.

"He taught me things when I was younger about the different steps you can take off-ice during the season, going home and being able to turn your mind off the game, and then in the offseason making sure you're proactive in getting yourself better and developing," Connor, 26, said. "It's getting that perspective from a coach on what they want to see from you as a player to be coachable and to try to really improve your game and show you're willing to do whatever it takes to win. I've definitely gotten a lot of advice from him and I try to take in as much as I can."

Father and son talk on the phone whenever their respective busy hockey schedules allow, but the conversation isn't always centered around the sport.

"I just want to be a dad, just be a father to him and support him - I'm not his coach," Gord said. "I just try to be there and if he asks questions I'll offer my advice to him but I try to make sure that I'm very sensitive to that. I just want that relationship with him."

Said Connor: "He's been a coach long enough to know you don't need too many cooks in the kitchen to throw too many opinions but he definitely knows my game and knows little pointers here and there that can get me on the right track. It's cool sometimes to have people like that who are outside your room and your team that you can ask for a little pointer here and there and what they're seeing as far as trends in your game."