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Kings Article: Hall Of Famer Larry Murphy: The LA Kings’ First Offensive Defenseman

I always felt that this was the worst trade ever...and maybe it was. But after reading this article below, I am thinking perhaps they had no choice. Even Larry Murphy says he needed a change.

I was surprised. I don't remember this episode, quite frankly.

http://theroyalhalf.com/2013/10/cohens-kings-catastrophes-chapter-6/

(Not sure if it is bad form to post another blog on this guy's blog, but the subject is "Larry Murphy"...)
 
Ron said:
I always felt that this was the worst trade ever...and maybe it was. But after reading this article below, I am thinking perhaps they had no choice. Even Larry Murphy says he needed a change.

I was surprised. I don't remember this episode, quite frankly.

http://theroyalhalf.com/2013/10/cohens-kings-catastrophes-chapter-6/

(Not sure if it is bad form to post another blog on this guy's blog, but the subject is "Larry Murphy"...)
Click to expand...

If the Royal Half's story didn't have some of the facts wrong, it world be fine.

The next story tells that part of the story.
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
If the Royal Half's story didn't have some of the facts wrong, it world be fine.

The next story tells that part of the story.
Click to expand...

Not sure what facts you are alluding to. I was actually referring to the news clippings from the Los Angeles Times that he (she?) embedded into the article. The info in the news clippings shocked me, particularly that Murphy agreed a change of teams was probably the best move for him.

Still a horrible trade. We should have worked something out with the guy. ****ing GMs and their hunger for power. How many teams have dispatched HOFers because of a personality dispute or a need to brandish their guns, so to speak?

Maguire was such a piece of ****.
 
Ron said:
Not sure what facts you are alluding to. I was actually referring to the news clippings from the Los Angeles Times that he (she?) embedded into the article. The info in the news clippings shocked me, particularly that Murphy agreed a change of teams was probably the best move for him.

Still a horrible trade. We should have worked something out with the guy. ****ing GMs and their hunger for power. How many teams have dispatched HOFers because of a personality dispute or a need to brandish their guns, so to speak?

Maguire was such a piece of ****.
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Sounds like you are also describing Barry Melrose there. Wanted to get rid of Coffey, got his wish, then had no desire to use Jimmy Carson. But hey, he was happy he got his boys in Shuchuk and Marc Potvin.

He also was largely responsible for getting Sandstrom, Donnelly and Millen out of here. Up until the time Taylor took over (and there is a long list of gaffes within his history as GM as well), this organization was mired with a bunch of terrible decisions.

And Bob Miller has said it many times, he feels that the Larry Murphy trade is the worst trade in Kings history.
 
Ziggy Stardust said:
Sounds like you are also describing Barry Melrose there. Wanted to get rid of Coffey, got his wish, then had no desire to use Jimmy Carson. But hey, he was happy he got his boys in Shuchuk and Marc Potvin.

He also was largely responsible for getting Sandstrom, Donnelly and Millen out of here. Up until the time Taylor took over (and there is a long list of gaffes within his history as GM as well), this organization was mired with a bunch of terrible decisions.

And Bob Miller has said it many times, he feels that the Larry Murphy trade is the worst trade in Kings history.
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I agree with Bob, I've heard it from him also. But read the news clippings. It is clear from those that Murphy didn't want to be here.
 
Ron said:
I agree with Bob, I've heard it from him also. But read the news clippings. It is clear from those that Murphy didn't want to be here.
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Too bad they didn't ****can Maguire and Perry before they decided to move Larry Murphy.

Like the idiot who dealt Sydor and Zhitnik. You go from having a trio of young defensemen to build around with Blake, Zhitnik and Sydor to having Blake and a bunch of journeymen like Michel Petit, Steven Finn, Doug Zmolek, etc.
 
Ron said:
I agree with Bob, I've heard it from him also. But read the news clippings. It is clear from those that Murphy didn't want to be here.
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That is not true, according to Murphy himself, not to mention his good friend, Jim Fox.
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
That is not true, according to Murphy himself, not to mention his good friend, Jim Fox.
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The part about the arbitrator was very interesting. How the hell do you offer a lower amount than the Kings offer?
Murphy: I want 1.5 mil
Kings : We'll offer 1 mil
Arbitrator: you'll get 400 k
Murphy : WTF...trade me.
[all dollar amounts made up]

The other part I loved was trading for Rick Martin.
March 10, 1981: Sent a third round pick in the 1981 NHL Draft and a first round pick in the 1983 NHL Draft to Buffalo in exchange for Rick Martin, who could barely walk upon arrival in Los Angeles. Martin played only four games for the Kings before being forced to retire because his knees and back were in such bad shape. Adding insult to injury, the Sabres used the 1983 first round pick to select goaltender Tom Barrasso, who was eventually traded to the Penguins. Barrasso went on to backstop the Penguins to two Stanley Cup Championships in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
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Didn't players need to pass a physical before being traded? Today, the trade would be voided before the ink dried on the transfer papers.
 
Ziggy Stardust said:
Too bad they didn't ****can Maguire and Perry before they decided to move Larry Murphy.

Like the idiot who dealt Sydor and Zhitnik. You go from having a trio of young defensemen to build around with Blake, Zhitnik and Sydor to having Blake and a bunch of journeymen like Michel Petit, Steven Finn, Doug Zmolek, etc.
Click to expand...

Zhitnik was Gretzky's fault. We did get Boucher in that trade though.
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
That is not true, according to Murphy himself, not to mention his good friend, Jim Fox.
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Am I missing something here, Gann?

Here is his quote to you:

“I was very disappointed. I loved playing here. Washington was a good experience for me, and we had a strong team there, so it worked out well. But the day I was traded? I was bummed, because as rough as things were here, I always felt that things were going to get better, that the team was going to be better, and I wanted to be part of it.â€
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Here is his quote to Sam McManis in the Times article:

"I'm not surprised," Murphy said. "I knew they were trying to work out a deal with Washington. I went in and talked to George Wednesday night and we agreed it would be the best thing for everybody. I wasn't playing well here and maybe the best thing was to get out of the whole mess I made for myself."
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How do those two quotes square? They don't. What is for sure is Murphy's statement to you 32 years later (!) and his contemporaneous statement to the Times.

As a matter of course, in the field of law, a contemporaneous statement is the one that is going to win at the end of the day. I'm going to have to go with the contemporaneous statement myself...he may not have wanted to "get out" with a no-holds-barred attitude, but it is clear that he wasn't begging to stay either. Given his statement, he wanted a fresh start elsewhere and that is what he got.
 
this is what i was afraid was going to happen with DD holdout, lets be happy it didn't turnout to be a pissing contest and he is now with the leafs or someone else............how many bad memories did that article bring back, rogies first game behind the bench we get a tie that stops a five game losing streak but keeps a 13 game non-winning streak alive damn those were bleak years, not just the streaks but the outlook for the team and the fact that we probably were there and cheered when we didn't lose again lol
 
Ron said:
Am I missing something here, Gann?

Here is his quote to you:



Here is his quote to Sam McManis in the Times article:



How do those two quotes square? They don't. What is for sure is Murphy's statement to you 32 years later (!) and his contemporaneous statement to the Times.

As a matter of course, in the field of law, a contemporaneous statement is the one that is going to win at the end of the day. I'm going to have to go with the contemporaneous statement myself...he may not have wanted to "get out" with a no-holds-barred attitude, but it is clear that he wasn't begging to stay either. Given his statement, he wanted a fresh start elsewhere and that is what he got.
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"The best thing for everybody" could mean quite a few things, especially under the circumstances with the arbitration thing. As for knowing Maguire was trying to work out a deal with Washington, that started once Murphy told Maguire he wouldn't sign for what the arbitrator came up with.

Sure he wasn't begging to stay. After what the arbitrator did, would YOU beg to stay, under those circumstances? Arbitration was binding. The only way he could stay with the Kings was to accept the arbitrator's ruling. His only option was to ask to be traded.

FWIW, Fox confirmed what Murphy told me, but like I said, believe what you wish.
 
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Man, Larry Murphy sure was a special Dman for the Kings. He had a great shot, great anticipation, great skating stride, great puck control, great period.

Ken Houston, well he was gone after a season or so. I sure liked Brian Engblom. He has more than just an adequate defenseman. But the loss of Larry Murphy for those two? It was the worst of many bad deals made by GM George McGuire. But thank god those days are way over, and we have DL here to watch over the team now :yo:
 
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