Flyers: How Ty Murchison Fared in Thrilling NHL Debut

If one game can be taken for anything concrete, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found themselves a useful new piece on defense with prospect Ty Murchison.

Murchison, 22, played 14:56 in a successful NHL debut that ended in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, and he earned every minute, including the one he played on the penalty kill.

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This decision from the Flyers was less a pat on the back for hard work and strong performances in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and more of a belief that one of their young players who was playing well earned an NHL opportunity and a chance to stick.

Egor Zamula sat in the press box as Murchison, freshly called up from the AHL, took his place in the lineup.

Emil Andrae, Adam Ginning, and now Murchison have all gotten in over Zamula at different points this season, and the latter’s extremely poor skating and lack of mobility may have been the difference-maker in favor of Murchison.

‘My Heart Was Beating About a Hundred Beats Per Minute’: Ty Murchison on His Flyers Call Up On Sunday, Ty Murchison sat in Lehigh Valley’s facility thinking it would be a normal morning—practice, meetings, the routine that has been both comfort and crucible for a 22-year-old defenseman trying to force his way into the conversation.

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“He can skate really well. That’s what I like about him, and he’s competitive,” Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet remarked after the win. “I thought he did a great job for us tonight. I think he backed in a couple of times, but that’s normal and we’ll work with him on that.”

“He’s a good skater, and he’s got some stiffness to him. That’s what I like. When you have defense that can skate and have stiffness to ’em – I think he went into the corner one time, not scared, and took a hit from [Ryan Reaves], kind of went at it with him. That’s a good luxury to have.”

As Tocchet mentioned, Murchison was a little…