Murphy, 21, leads all Checkers skaters this season with 17 assists and seven power-play assists/points, and his 17 points rank tied for first on the team. He is one of eight AHL defensemen to hold a share of his team’s scoring lead, and ranks third among AHL blueliners in assists. The Aurora, Ont., native began the season with Carolina, registering one assist in six games before being assigned to Charlotte on Oct. 28. In 58 NHL games with the Hurricanes, Murphy (5’11”, 185 lbs.) has notched two goals and earned 11 assists (13 points). Carolina drafted Murphy in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft.