Flyers sign Ty Murchison to two-year, entry-level contract

On Wednesday, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere announced that the team has signed defenseman Ty Murchison to a two-year, entry-level contract.

The deal will kick in next season.

Murchison was taken by the Flyers in the fifth round, 158th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. He’s never been the biggest scoring threat from the back end, but his skating ability, physicality and defensive awareness made him one of the best defensive defenseman across his four seasons at Arizona State University.

This season with the Sun Devils, the Corona, California native posted four assists in 37 games, with a plus/minus of +6. He blocked a program-record 98 shots this year, which led all skaters in the NCHC. Murchison served as an assistant captain as the team finished second in the NCHC, ultimately falling to the defending NCAA champion Denver Pioneers in the conference semifinals last weekend.

Across his four years in Tempe, which saw the program go from an independent team to an NCHC squad, the 22-year-old scored nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 145 games, with a career rating of +17.

Murchison will not be unfamiliar with wearing orange and black. He has participated in the Flyers Development Camp over the past three off-seasons.

Prior to playing collegiately, Murchison spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, playing for both the Under-17 and Under-18 teams. He had a chance to represent his country during the 2021 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, posting an assist in five games with the Americans.

The current Flyers (28-36-9) are last in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.