Red Wings draft Will Murphy 172nd overall

The Detroit Red Wings selected Will Murphy with the 172nd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft:

Murphy’s still only 17, but he’s 6’4″ and 205 pounds, and he played for the Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL this past season. Per EliteProspects:

Will Murphy can ram through opponents. At 6-foot-4, the defenceman has the range and strength needed to work the boards and protect higher-danger areas. He uses his stick to deny space, push opponents wide, and then finishes by immobilizing them. He knows his role inside a team and isn’t afraid to use his stature to intimidate. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

Murphy spoke with the Cape Breton Post’s Jeremy Fraser:

“At the start of the year, I obviously wanted to get drafted, but I wasn’t sure how the year was going to do,” said Murphy. “Throughout the year, I tried to focus on my game and stay focused on me and getting better each day instead of the things I can’t control like the draft.”

Murphy appeared in 54 games with the Eagles, missing 10 of the club’s regular season contests due to an injury. When he was on the ice, the six-foot-four, 209-pound Murphy had two goals and four points along with 45 penalty minutes and a +2 rating.

While his offensive production may not have met his expectations, Murphy contributed in other ways through his solid defensive play and physical game.

“My first season in the QMJHL was definitely a fun year with a lot of change since I had to move away from home for the first time and also get comfortable in the league and playing against stiff competition,” said Murphy.

“If I could do it all over again, I don’t think I would change a thing as I’m pretty happy with how it went.”

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!